DIY shaving soap recipe

I have been shaving with a straight razor for about 5 years now. I was told on here when i started this to use a good soap...in which i used taylor of old bond street pucks. And i have been buying that ever since. However i am wondering if it would be cheaper to just make a DIY shaving soap. I also am sick of ordering it online, when i run out. However i am skeptical, because i have tried some cheaper pucks, and those soaps are horrible when shaving. I am wondering if it is possible to do a DIY shaving soap that gets anywhere near taylor of old bond street?

Well diy and artisan soap are pretty much the same thing, sort of. There are some fantastic artisan soap and many others that fall somewhere in between. I would think it will require some regions research, consultation,and experimentation.. you may wind up with many unsatisfactory soap until you get your recipe figured out, you may get lucky early on. If it interests you, you should try. I hope you find your way to making a great soap. I have had many soaps, some are fantastic and I buy them more than once. There are so many to try and so many good ones that I have not ventured into this rabbit hole yet. Good luck.

Theres lots of info on the net, a lot of the soaps use a hot lye process, the initial outlay for the equipment and ingredients are quite high, so that's a factor.
Ive thought about it a few times as it seems like it would be fun but have been worried that it would be a disappointment.

While it may be possible to produce your own shaving soap, the cost and time required to do so is going to far outweigh the cost and inconvenience of purchasing a soap in the marketplace. It you consider ordering replacement soaps online to be inconvenient, you are not likely to fare well as a soapmaker. If ordering is inconvenient, just order several soaps on one order and have enough soap on hand to last a year (or a decade).

It's the type of thing to be looked at not from the standpoint of supplying yourself with soap but as a hobby. With that angle, buying the supplies and gear and learning the art is the goal.

When you look at it that way well, we all know hobbies can get expensive.

However, if you are successful who knows what it could lead to.

I've seen stuff on the 'tube that cooks the batch in a slow cooker. It doesn't have to be pricy.

If you are looking to save money and haven't tried it yet I would suggest arko shaving soap. Some don't like the smell but I enjoy it, https://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-.../dp/B000VAWZ2U

How many refill pucks can you possibly go through in a year? If you calculate the cost of soap per shave, I can't imagine saving much, if any, if you made your own soap. If your goal is to enjoy your shave, I'd keep using the soap that performs well for you.

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Originally Posted by evnpar

How many refill pucks can you possibly go through in a year? If you calculate the cost of soap per shave, I can't imagine saving much, if any, if you made your own soap. If your goal is to enjoy your shave, I'd keep using the soap that performs well for you.

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As with many hobbies, the end result of it is not to save money but to do it just because it's fun!

Christian1 hit it on the head brother... For the price nothing is better than Arko.. Get a decade worth for $20.00...

My overall goal was to save money in the long run either by making my own soap or buying it. But i just assumed cheap soap was not good soap either. If the Arko pack lasts a decade for only 20 bucks and is does a good shave, then im all for that. I dont really care about scent.

I go through 1 puck of Taylor of Old Bond Street every 2 years. I just hate ordering it online because i am forced to buy something else from Amazon to get free shipping. I just ordered it an bought two pucks for 40 bucks. 10 bucks a year is not bad....but 20 bucks for 10 years sounds even better. I will surely try it, next time i order something form amazon ( ihate paying for shipping).

I just dont think i can go to junk soap anymore after using Taylor of Old Bond Street. I tried a puck from Walmart and i just threw it out because it did not give a good shave.

I have never tried taylor of old bond street but if you like it and are complaining about $10 per year for a soap you like ............

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Originally Posted by metulburr

My overall goal was to save money in the long run either by making my own soap or buying it. But i just assumed cheap soap was not good soap either. If the Arko pack lasts a decade for only 20 bucks and is does a good shave, then im all for that. I dont really care about scent.

I go through 1 puck of Taylor of Old Bond Street every 2 years. I just hate ordering it online because i am forced to buy something else from Amazon to get free shipping. I just ordered it an bought two pucks for 40 bucks. 10 bucks a year is not bad....but 20 bucks for 10 years sounds even better. I will surely try it, next time i order something form amazon ( ihate paying for shipping).

I just dont think i can go to junk soap anymore after using Taylor of Old Bond Street. I tried a puck from Walmart and i just threw it out because it did not give a good shave.

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Incredible - No - more like unbelievable!

I Get wanting to make your own soap but unless the apocalypse comes I don't really think that's going to be a viable option from an affordability standpoint. Do it for the joy of doing it.
I took a recommendation from one post or another for Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap and boy am I glad I did. Mensroombarbershop.com has it for $12.50 per puck and the pucks are large enough to last several years easily. It's not as inexpensive as the Arko (although I don't know how big those bars are. The Mitchell's is 125 g) but I still think that's very affordable but forget about the price with that. I would buy that at three times the price. I can't decide whether to shave with it or smoke it. I would marry that soap but that would just be... weird.
Let me put it to you this way. buy the Mitchell's on my recommendation and if you're not absolutely satisfied I will buy what's left and pay the shipping.
Edit: oh, and buy an alum block while you're there. You'll thank me later

I naturally tend to do thing on my own as opposed to buying in anything I do. When my kids were in diapers we made homemade wipes. I will build something if i need it, instead of buying it at a store. I will fix my own car instead of taking it to a mechanic. Often times these are cheaper than going out and buying things. On rare occasions it is not cheaper when you have to buy a large amount of items to even get started. But usually will be cheaper in the long run. I have a lifetime of shaving ahead. I dont ever plan to have facial hair, so I know i will be shaving a lot. That was my initial interest in starting to use a straight razor in the first place....to not buy razors. So buying such expensive soap seems like its contradicting to the purpose of starting. However i have come to love shaving with a straight razor that i will never go back.

Ive actually never heard of an alum block til now. I will also check out Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap. Thanks for the tip.

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Originally Posted by metulburr

...Ive actually never heard of an alum block til now. I will also check out Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap. Thanks for the tip.

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Even the mountain men like Jeremiah Johnson and Daniel Boone had to get some things from down on the flat like lead for bullets/balls and gunpowder. Even the Indians had to trade with the white man for powder. There's no shame in it...unless you want to live entirely off the grid like Gilligan's Island.
The alum block is the same principal as a styptic pencil but you go over your whole face (the shaved part at least.) It stops any bleeding by constricting the skin. It is a mild antiseptic and helps with razor rash. After I've shaved and rinsed the soap I rinse my face with cold water and rub the alum block all over then leave the alum on while I dry my razor off and strop it before putting it away then rinse, then aftershave. Actually I use rubbing alcohol but that's still aftershave.

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Originally Posted by Christian1

If you are looking to save money and haven't tried it yet I would suggest arko shaving soap. Some don't like the smell but I enjoy it, https://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-.../dp/B000VAWZ2U

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Thanks. I just bought the arko soap 12 pack. Checked the reviews and there actually is one person that said they swore by taylor of old bond street and switched to Arko and was just as good if not better. I will report back after trying it for awhile. That is much more reasonably priced if it lasts that long and is good, so i hope it is as good as you and other say. :)

I wasnt trying to make soap because i enjoy it. I was just trying to make it cheaper. But researching it the hassle of making soap and cost of materials makes it cheaper to just buy it (Even high priced soaps). I was just trying to reduce the cost, not become self sufficient.

I do have a styptic pencil, but only need it when i am rushing and cut myself. If i get a good lather, and make sure my razor is sharp, i dont have razor rash. Usually that is a sign to me that i need to slow down or tone up my razor. I also dont use aftershave. I do have multiple types, but i just dont understand the purpose of it besides scent?

I only use AS if i've nicked myself or have some irritation. I think the original purpose was to sterilize the face. Seems if i use it it helps the wounds heal faster and become less irritated looking.

The alum block is an antiseptic. It also constricts the pores and prevenst irritation. When you live in a climate where it is 90° + 7 or more months out of the year (It's not uncommon here for it to be in the '80s on New year's Day. I usually barbecue) and especially when you work outside no matter how much you tone your razor or take your time It will burn when you sweat. The alum block prevents that completely for me. I've been riding around in a van with no AC for over 3 years and I never get burn from a shave. Perhaps you don't work in that same kind of environment or maybe that's not an issue for you where you live and I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just further explaining the use of it. I don't use a scented after-shave either. I use rubbing alcohol. Plain old 70% solution isopropyl alcohol. I have never really cared much for the scent and because of zicam I lost most of my sense of smell anyway (although some of it has come back but that's beside the point) but I've always worked in the trades and it's just never been a thing for me. I use rubbing alcohol as a further antiseptic.
I don't want to come across as preachy because everyone has to do it the way that works for them. If what you do works for you then keep doing it that way. I've always done it my own way also. On the other hand I've learned a lot from people who have told me things they do when I already had a set way of doing it.

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Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

The alum block is an antiseptic. It also constricts the pores and prevenst irritation. When you live in a climate where it is 90° + 7 or more months out of the year (It's not uncommon here for it to be in the '80s on New year's Day. I usually barbecue) and especially when you work outside no matter how much you tone your razor or take your time It will burn when you sweat. The alum block prevents that completely for me. I've been riding around in a van with no AC for over 3 years and I never get burn from a shave. Perhaps you don't work in that same kind of environment or maybe that's not an issue for you where you live and I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just further explaining the use of it. I don't use a scented after-shave either. I use rubbing alcohol. Plain old 70% solution isopropyl alcohol. I have never really cared much for the scent and because of zicam I lost most of my sense of smell anyway (although some of it has come back but that's beside the point) but I've always worked in the trades and it's just never been a thing for me. I use rubbing alcohol as a further antiseptic.
I don't want to come across as preachy because everyone has to do it the way that works for them. If what you do works for you then keep doing it that way. I've always done it my own way also. On the other hand I've learned a lot from people who have told me things they do when I already had a set way of doing it.

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Thank you. Your knowledge is insightful to me. I dont (or havent yet) had problems, but it is good to know if i do, that an alum block would help that.

PS its gets down to -20F here at times at in winter. I think the last winter got down to -40F with wind chill. 90F+ is only a few rare times in June/July/August. The weather station puts out a warning when its that hot here. Ive even seen places cancel events because of worry about dehydration. On the other hand they will not close schools as buses are plowing through snow with their bumper. Go figure.

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Originally Posted by metulburr

Thank you. Your knowledge is insightful to me. I dont (or havent yet) had problems, but it is good to know if i do, that an alum block would help that.

PS its gets down to -20F here at times at in winter. I think the last winter got down to -40F with wind chill. 90F+ is only a few rare times in June/July/August. The weather station puts out a warning when its that hot here. Ive even seen places cancel events because of worry about dehydration. On the other hand they will not close schools as buses are plowing through snow with their bumper. Go figure.

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Yowza! That's cold. Coldest I've ever seen it get here is 13° overnight. That's still cold but nothing like negative digits. Also that's once in the entire time since we moved here in 1973. Some years we only make it to the 30s a couple of times overnight and it is rare that the high is below 40.

Funny, I was just looking at a map. Elmira. That's not far from where my dad is from. He grew up in Retsof which is just across the valley from Geneseo. Retsof is where the salt mine was until some foreign company bought it and busted through into the river flooding the mine. I still have some family up there: a whole buttload of cousins, some of which I've never even met. I haven't been up there in a long time though. It's beautiful country up there.