Thread: Old Fashioned Soap?

Originally Posted by BobH

In other words no current soap would meet the OP's requirement. Seems reasonable but why not make life simple and pretend MWF fits the bill.

Bob

MWF is looking like a good candidate here.

Honestly it's more about getting a similar experience than anything else. Even if it's not the same formula, but is created in a similar way. Or perhaps even created in such a way as to imitate older soaps E.g: less of "modern industrial processes" and "modern scents"...iirc 18th and 19th cent. scents used to be much more subtle than they are now. It's interesting to note though, that basically no soap recipe has survived more than 100-150 years?

At the Wisconsin meet two years ago a couple of people took the lye soap challenge as a lark. Both reported much better shaves than they expected though neither were going to make the switch.

https://sharprazorpalace.com/get-tog...ml#post1782047

Originally Posted by Tathra11

Mitchell's Wool Fat. On the carton it says "ORIGINAL 1893 FORMULA". It's good stuff.

Ok, that changes my opinion a bit about The Fat.

Maybe older soaps were simpler and could be made today. Here’s an excerpt from the American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record vol 22 from 1892-1893 (pretty sure, you can find it on Google Books). My image of the 2 pages is disjointed and contains other non-related material, but here’s a transcription.

‘Almond Oil Shaving Soap by the Cold Process

Saponify 85 parts tallow and 15 parts sweet almond oil at a temperature of 45-46 degrees C with 25 parts soda lye and 25 parts potash lye (without cocoanut oil).

Saponification takes place early. The soap gives a brilliant creamy lather, possesses a beautiful white color, and bars do not shrink but preserve their straight edges. The soap cuts beautifully.’

This is the only reference to really old shaving soap that I’ve seen, but I suspect other formulas may exist. Finding them seems to be a problem.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

At the Wisconsin meet two years ago a couple of people took the lye soap challenge as a lark. Both reported much better shaves than they expected though neither were going to make the switch.

I still have some if anyone coming to the meet wants to give it a try

Originally Posted by rolodave

I still have some if anyone coming to the meet wants to give it a try

Ben there done that...............

Well, the famous Dutch brand "De Vergulde Hand" has been around since 1554.

Originally Posted by Pithor

Well, the famous Dutch brand "De Vergulde Hand" has been around since 1554.

This sounded so compelling that I now have a tub on the way.

Pete <:-}

Originally Posted by petercp4e

This sounded so compelling that I now have a tub on the way.

Pete <:-}

Really like the their shave stick. You won't regret it.

Bob