Thread: Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap - first time user

Now I should say that most of my soaps are third tier or below. The likes of which are; Arko, Williams, Col. Conk, Derby, all three Proraso's, Cella etc.. I have only one cream right now that is my favorite and that is Crabtree & Evelyn Moroccan Myrrh, the performance is very good and the smell puts me into a intoxicatingly delightfully medieval trance where I am being fed grapes by 10 Egyptian Goddesses throwing themselves at me while belly dancing. So, that puts us back into today, where I've had my first shave with Mitchell's. The best and closest ATG grain shave out of all my soaps. Is it the lanolin that the other soaps are lacking that causes this? It is a real performer and I highly recommend it to new users or people who have not tried it. It has, in my description, a semi sweet light musky and patchouli fragrance to it. Smells great, but not overpowering in the very least while not being too mild! I also have on order some possibly higher tier shaving soaps such as; Tabac, MdC(15 gram sample), Razorock XXX, D.R. Harris Arlington and La Toja which will be here this week also.

MWF is a good soap but is thirsty. Don't be put back by the cracks as it dries. Put some water on the puck before your next use.

Arko is a very good soap and for the price one of the best buys for shaving soap.

Once you try MDC and Tabac you may be spoiled. They are two soaps I will always have in the den. MDC requires very little loading. 8 or 10 brush swirls is sufficient for two passes.

'Da Fat' is good stuff! You will love the Tabac too. Two soaps that will never leave the den!

I like wool fat as well and always keep some on hand. I think you will really enjoy the D.R. Harris Arlington too.

When I first bought a puck of "The Fat" I thought I had made a big mistake. I live in a place with fairly hard water and I had a hard time getting it dialed in. Now, I would never be without it. It has a permanent place in my soap rotation. Since it is very dry here, I tend to cover it up sooner than I do with other soaps so it never quite cracks for me. It works perfectly for me, especially in the winter. Enjoy!

I'm early into my first puck of Mitchell's. I did not grate it, like I do my Green Mountain's. Will I be happier if I grated it? I seem to load and load but always end up with marginal lather and have to go back to the puck for my second pass. Using a 26x52 3-band badger this month, cold water. Suggestions?

Wait until you try some of the artisanal soap being offered; just as good as MWF, but with such lovelier scents.

Originally Posted by cau

I'm early into my first puck of Mitchell's. I did not grate it, like I do my Green Mountain's. Will I be happier if I grated it? I seem to load and load but always end up with marginal lather and have to go back to the puck for my second pass. Using a 26x52 3-band badger this month, cold water. Suggestions?

Here's what works for me. I squeeze the brush more dry that I would for most soaps. Then I load it like I hate it and want to get rid of it...the puck is huge so don't worry....then I face lather and keep adding water, just a few drops at a time, until the lather explodes. It takes some patience and some trials, but, Oh Man, is it worth it.

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Here's what works for me. I squeeze the brush more dry that I would for most soaps. Then I load it like I hate it and want to get rid of it...the puck is huge so don't worry....then I face lather and keep adding water, just a few drops at a time, until the lather explodes. It takes some patience and some trials, but, Oh Man, is it worth it.

Thanks. I'll give the Mitchell's another try. I usually add water by running the tap lightly and dipping the brush tips in the splash in the sink. Am I adding water too quickly?

Maybe. I keep the water running into the sink and dip the tips into the water and then swirl on my face repeated times until the lather is right. With MWF, you have to add water just a little bit at a time.