Thread: Home Made Shave Soap

Greetings all!

Does anyone have any experience with making their own shave soap? I have done some research on the subject and sure looks like a real pain in the ass. However, I'm just not sure. I'm looking at the economic side (but haven't figured it out yet) but also the quality and knowing what ingredients goes into the soap that you make.

Just seems to me if that I'm going to bitch and complain about the soap, it should be myself that I hold accountable. Any thoughts on attempting this?

Check out the Soap forum, I'm sure there are some recipes there. Personally I prefer to make soap concoctions. Some of my blends involve using bath soap as a base and then adding chunks of low priced shave soap to get the quality of lather I want. Sometimes I have a winner and sometimes not.

Economically , I can't see it, as a hobby that you don't expect to see a return sure! As to knowing what's in your soap you know, it's printed on the package or available on the website, are you making your own bath soap and shampoos? You will use more of that than shave soap, so not very economical. As to cost just buy Arko and then you will save money. My opinion only but there are more things to worry about than my shave soap. And try as you may, chances are it,ll never be as good as some of today's soaps that have had lots of time and money spent to make it so good. Tc

I have been interested in the same idea, and even found a natural grocery that sells most of all ingredients found in most soaps. Tallow, cocoa butter, Shea Butter, coconut oil, and bentonite clay, and essential oils to get the fragrance. The problem is for me is that each of those ingredients are pricy and I would be looking at spending almost $100 just to get started, and I don't have a recipe or even know what I am doing.

So for now I have been mixing cheap soaps like col conk and VDH luxury soap together with a little coconut oil and essential oils to get the aroma that I like and so far I can get a pretty decent lather out of it too. Is it as good as more expensive soap? I wouldn't know since I haven't used any others other than AOS sandlewood puck.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Economically , I can't see it, as a hobby that you don't expect to see a return sure! As to knowing what's in your soap you know, it's printed on the package or available on the website, are you making your own bath soap and shampoos? You will use more of that than shave soap, so not very economical. As to cost just buy Arko and then you will save money. My opinion only but there are more things to worry about than my shave soap. And try as you may, chances are it,ll never be as good as some of today's soaps that have had lots of time and money spent to make it so good. Tc

I agree. It would be cool to customize the soap and try different scents, etc., but I don't see it being a money saving deal in the end.

It is fun to make your own soap. However, the cost of the equipment, supplies and fragrances required to make your own shaving soap for personal use is considerable when compared to the cost of buying a good quality, but moderately priced soap that will typically last for months. If you want to do it just for the pleasure of doing it, that's great. Just be aware, that you will not be saving money. With regard to soap recipes, like tc said, the ingredients are printed on the label. All you have to do is figure out the proportions, which is not as hard as you might imagine once you understand how to make soap.

I agree with TC.

For the money and quality of the lather, you cannot beat Arko. Buy it by the 12 pack from Amazon.

To all who responded I Thank you for the feedback. TC - you points were well taken. If all I worry about is soap, well I should just quit shaving with a straight razor. You're right, there's much more to this than soap. Thanks for the wake up call!

I just thought it might be novel to give it a try. Again, I appreciate all of you!