Thread: Just realized how much I missed Williams Mug Soap

After years of avoiding it because of my sensitive skin I again bought a pack of Williams Mug shaving soap. I figured that it might work again now, because I have given up on finding the mildest possible soap, and instead focus on using pre-shave and after-shave treatments to avoid getting uncomfortable. This seems to work well with other soaps, so I whipped up the Williams lather and oh boy, that fragrance is just sooo sweet. Love it. Turns out that I was also previously too impatient when making the lather from this soap, now I work on it until it is nice and thick. What do you guys think of Williams?

I've been using it at least once a month for several years and still like it. Love that clean scent.

Personally, I have to work too hard to get a good lather from modern Williams so it is at or near the bottom of my list of soaps to use.

Bob

There are much too many great new artisan soaps to bother with Williams, either old or new, for me.

I'm certain I will never get around to trying out Williams as what I've got sounds much better and will last me 1.5 lifetimes anyway.

I sure love the plethora of soap/cream choices in this sport; there's something for everyone plus several more to boot.

I’ve got a puck of vintage Williams which I use once in a great while, the scent is way different than the new stuff, and it’s tallow base gives gobs of creamy lather. The new stuff is horrible by comparison. Just my 2 cents.

Gentlemen,

In my youth, I used Williams soap a few times. I loved the fragrance: clean and soapy, like stepping into a barbershop. Whether the soap was any good or not was not that much of a consideration; I was too uneducated in the proper shaving world. I used other soaps, too, one of which must have been Van der Hagen.

Looking back on those days, with today's vast supply of fine shave soaps and creams available, the only thing I miss about the Williams is the fragrance. I love that fragrance — as I do the old time barbershops.

Originally Posted by celestino

There are much too many great new artisan soaps to bother with Williams, either old or new, for me.

Amen, brother!

When I started shaving decades ago, I used either Williams Mug Soap or Old Spice. They worked, but modern artisan soaps and creams are far superior, but you have to pay for that performance.

I also like Mama Bear and Trumper's by the way. But I still think there is a certain freshness to William's that I like. Would be curious to know if any of the artisan soaps you talk about has a similar scent though.

I have a couple pucks of Williams; one I bought when I first started shaving with a straight and now use to clean strops and one a friend gave me I have not used yet but am going to. Have always liked Williams, although there are better brands out there, and have never had a problem with it but it does like water and lots of it, added slowly of course...............

Guess I'm going to have to break in that new puck!