Thread: Oleo Soap - Rougere

My first impression of this stuff wasn’t that great. Not only did the soap look like poorly made oatmeal pored into a tub, When I took my first whiff, it smelt more like a hay than a rose.




But every now and then, first impressions really are way off base. After lathering up, you note a nice rose scent that’s subtle, but there. According to the propaganda, it’s “scented with notes of rose, geranium, oud, lavender, patchouli, oakmoss, coumarin, tonka, & vetiver.” I’d agree. But if you want massive rose from the soap, note it’s not really there.

As importantly or maybe more so, it lathers up like a champ. The cushion is fantastic. Maybe there is something to the duck fat that they use? Either way, if you feed it water, she lathers, she’s slick and cushioning! And when you are done, the face feels great. Nice.

Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Water, Kokum Butter, Potassium Hydroxide, Palm Kernel Oil, Duck Fat, Sodium Hydroxide, Castor Oil, Glycerin, Jojoba Oil & Sodium Lactate

So it’s a great soap, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t speak to it’s compliments. I got the splash and the balm too - I’m a layering king! The splash is so refreshing and the rose scent from it is outstanding, and no where near as subtle. I use it after the shave and let my face freeze for a bit before I finish with a touch of balm... damn! My face just can’t take all that rose love! My face just feels so awesome afterwards.

How awesome is it?

Gents, I got a lot of soaps. I love my soaps! I LOVE mixing it up. Here lately though, for the last two weeks anyway, I just haven’t been able to use anything but this stuff... it’s that good.

Very nice review. I agree, Oleo Soapworks soaps are excellent.

Thanks for the review. I have four of the Oleo Soapworks Canard (duck fat) soaps and am quite pleased with the performance. I find them to be similar in performance to Wholly Kaw, Cold River Soapworks Glide formula, and Barrister Reserve formula, all great soaps in their own right.

I have not purchased the Rougere scent yet, but that is one of the soaps on my wish list. Right now, my soap cabinet is overflowing, so I need to work through some others first.

It is my impression that the Rougere is supposed to be a Fougere with a rose note added for good measure. Your description seems to indicate that objective was achieved. Since Fougeres are normally though to be masculine scents, you would not want the rose note to dominate.

Originally Posted by RayClem

Thanks for the review. I have four of the Oleo Soapworks Canard (duck fat) soaps and am quite pleased with the performance. I find them to be similar in performance to Wholly Kaw, Cold River Soapworks Glide formula, and Barrister Reserve formula, all great soaps in their own right.

I have not purchased the Rougere scent yet, but that is one of the soaps on my wish list. Right now, my soap cabinet is overflowing, so I need to work through some others first.

It is my impression that the Rougere is supposed to be a Fougere with a rose note added for good measure. Your description seems to indicate that objective was achieved. Since Fougeres are normally though to be masculine scents, you would not want the rose note to dominate.

That makes complete sense! Thanks.

Oh and I know what you mean re: too many soaps. I keep my stash down to 5 or 6 myself, but couldn’t help myself and got the Kaw sample set. They lather like champs too. I’ll get one eventually with the balm to match. Unless I get another Oleo first.

What’s your favorite so far and why?

Let me help you out Ray. Send me all your soaps so you can start over. You know you want the room for more.

I too find oleo a great soap. My smeller dont work well enough to sense all the smells so i like mine to kick me in the chin with scent. But performance wise, its hard to beat. And W.K. is right up there too. Its a bit more buttery feeling but the after shave face feel is just great.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Let me help you out Ray. Send me all your soaps so you can start over. You know you want the room for more.

Jerry, I would send you the soaps, "but my wife won't let me". I took that quote from a used car dealer's sales pitch I heard long ago. He advertised "I would give them away, but my wife won't let me".

After figuring out the best soap/water ratio for my soaps, I get good performance from nearly everything in my den, including some creams like Kiss My Face and Cremo. Generally, my preferences end up being based on scent, post shave feel and sometimes price. For example, I have a couple of Chiseled Face soaps. I get good shaves using them, but I do not find the scents to be to my liking. They are not unpleasant, but I do not find them to be inviting.

I love the performance and post shave feel of Wholly Kaw donkey milk and some of the scents are nice, but at the price point of $24-26 for 4 oz., I am reluctant to purchase multiple scents.

For me, one of my favorite soaps is WSP Formula T. I rate it a little below the top soaps in performance, but I love Leighton Lee's scent profiles. At the price point of $15 for 4.7 oz, it is a great value. I have purchased eleven different scents. Although I like some of the scents better than others, there is not a single one I dislike.

The problem is that there are other scents from some of soapmakers already in my den.

Then there are other soapmakers like Declaration Grooming, Grooming Department, Bufflehead, Noble Otter, etc. that I would love to try. However, unless I live to be a hundred, I doubt I will finish all the soaps that are currently in my den.

I really should purchase sample tins, but I love loading the brush from a full size tub.

I agree with all the above reviews... I've got a generous sample of the Oleo Excursion and upon opening I thought it smelled a lot like a number of other soaps i have... It took a little while before i used it but wow does it produce a beautiful, thick, slick and creamy lather... I would give it a tier 2 rating for sure... The sample I received is easy 15+ shaves. Im trying to rid my soaps down to a dozen or so but i have a feeling when this is gone i'll replace with some more Oleo.. Thanks for the nice original review earcutter