Thread: Osma Soap

FINAL UPDATE

So the week's up and I need to close this with either a solid yes, or a solid no - so here goes. So far when I've talked to other guys about this soap, I've called it "interesting." And it is just that! Interesting in an ever so good way!! Here is what I mean.

These week long reviews are great in that today I looked down at the dice beside my old DE, it said 5. Which probably means 7. 7 uses. For me, that's well past the time I need to replace... but I thought, hey why not. Now normally I wouldn't do this, especially with a soap that isn't all tallow, but in the name of science, why not.

The first pass... no, the first stroke told me the blade was too old, but it would shave all the same. And because Osma soap lather is liquid(y) compared to say a Wholly Kaw Tallow lather that's nearly as close to a solid as a liquid can be, I was concerned. But I didn't need to be! Interesting!! A lather that's creamy but still more liquid, can protect. And protect it did. Like a champ. I got a great shave!! And for hours after, I was still touching my face noting how soft it was.

And that's where this soap SHINES! We talk about soaps leaving you feeling good, this soap really, really conditions MY face. I LOVE this soap. But it is a little boring. The lather is ok, the scent is ok... it's all ok. But the sum of its parts are excellent.

The puck I got will last me a seeming lifetime. Will I replace it when it's done? You know, I might. Interesting is good. This stuff gives me an incredible shave. Heck, I might just use it again tomorrow in spite of the week being up. I like it that well.

Wanted to give my impression of Osma shaving soap while still fresh in mind (just shaved).
I purchased the refill puck and it is a substantial, hard soap (130g). The price is reasonable being under 20 dollars. After transferring into a mug I set about my usual routine. Fill my scuttle with warm/hot water and soak the brush (a Thater 3 band). I cover the soap in a layer of warm water. Strop today's razor (a Boker Silver Steel) and take a shower. Dump the soak water from the scuttle and shake out the brush leaving it just damp. I dump the 'bloom' water from the soap into the scuttle and begin working the puck. With this soap it took close to a minute before the thick proto-lather formed. Then face lathered adding water from the bloom until I had a slick, rich lather. It took a lot of water.
The scent was pleasant; I would describe it as menthol-like but I'm not good at describing scents. Clean and not strong. My wife liked the smell.
I had a 3-pass shave yesterday and generally shave every other day, but I'm off to Canada early tomorrow and needed to get a shave in today. I was planning on just a 2-pass shave today but the lather was just wonderful and produced 3-passes of rich, slick, non-dissipating lather. I could have gotten another pass out of it easily. I've not used Alum before but I detected a tingle during the rinses which I attributed to that. It was not unpleasant.
After rinsing, your wet face is super slick for touch-ups.
The final cold water rinse and dry was followed up with witch hazel as always. The bay rum AS was bracing but not stinging. No irritation.
The face feel is everything I could have hoped for; at least as good as MWF and, dare I say it, probably better.
So, in summary:
Scent was clean and pleasant but not remarkable.
Lather was just wonderful; I did not find it problematic at all. Very slick and stable.
Face feel is amazing. Really.
Good call guys I'm extremely pleased.
Paul

I’m genuinely pleased to hear it Paul!

Originally Posted by earcutter

I find a lot of guys using hard water as an excuse to not work a decent lather.

It's kind of crazy, making lather isn't rocket science in the least, but there is some voodoo involved.
It took me a long time to realize that some soaps can absorb insane amounts of water and how to test my soaps.

+100

This soap would be THE ONE if only had a decent scent.

Originally Posted by ischiapp

+100

This soap would be THE ONE if only had a decent scent.

I don’t mind the scent - I’m just having a hard time finding a splash and balm to go with it. But that’s half the fun lol.

After following this thread I tried to find someone who sells the OSMA shaving soap in Canada. No luck.

I emailed the Italian Barber who carried it at one time and got a very short reply, “It was a dud and didn’t sell so we don’t stock it anymore.”

I am curious if anyone in Canada still sells it.

Originally Posted by DZEC

After following this thread I tried to find someone who sells the OSMA shaving soap in Canada. No luck.

I emailed the Italian Barber who carried it at one time and got a very short reply, “It was a dud and didn’t sell so we don’t stock it anymore.”

I am curious if anyone in Canada still sells it.

Man, maybe I better order another puck to keep on hand!

OP - can’t you shop USA and have em ship it? What about Amazon? Edit. Amazon.ca doesn’t have anything

Hey guys, what’s this stuff?



https://www.westcoastshaving.com/col...n-shaving-soap

It’s a different soap that Osma makes - no alum in this one. It’s available in a truly fine heavy glass jar or as a refill. Scent is a light floral. Like the alum-containing soap it performs well and is easier to lather than the alum-containing soap.

Cheers, Steve

Just shaved with my alum-loaded osma puck this evening and it was terrific. Don't understand why folks don't like the scent. To me, it is very, very nice. Subtle, but very, very nice.