Thread: Mitchells Wool Fat

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

I'm starting to think there's something wrong with me. I do not like MWF. I love Tabac. I don't think they smell anything alike. I think MWF smells nasty. I get the soap smell, but there's something under it... kind of "dairy"-esque. I love the smell of Tabac. I think the MWF lather sucks (boar, badger, lots of loading, not a lot of loading, some water, lots of water, not enough water). I think the Tabac lather is explosive, cushioning, and slick.

Every time I read these threads I go back and try the MWF again and I remain unimpressed. I guess I'll be trying it again tomorrow. But then my crappy lather ****es me off and then I have to way 24-48 hours to shave again.

IMHO, MWF does not lather like as well as ALL other tallow soaps I've tried (DRH, P106, PC, Tabac, PdP, Haslinger). So you could have fooled me if you tell me it has tallow in it. Perhaps the lanolin counteracts it somehow.

I'll keep trying MWF. I've used it probably a dozen or more times with subpar results every time.

Woe is me.

Well, I'm a MWF newb to be sure but it's already one of my favorites. There is definitely a scent and it puzzles me that people call it unscented. Google the ingredients. A significant number of the ingredients in the list are fragrance compounds (citrus, chamomile). I smell kind of a light talcum powder type smell. I really like the smell of MWF.

Here's why I posted though; compared to my other soap of choice, Mama Bears, I've found the MWF is not as user friendly or is more finicky. Heck, Mama Bears soap for me explodes with lather almost by just looking at it. The MWF takes much longer for me to work it into the thick rich lather I'm looking for. Once there though, it's very nice. I don't mind the bit of extra effort between the two.

Chris L

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Mine was a sample hence no ingredient list. As I recall, it was described as unscented, and I have seen several posts in the past saying the same thing. When I got it, there was a faint aroma, but I figured it must be from the other soap sample sent with it.

Having followed this thread a bit, I decided to search for mine and smell it again. Yes there is a very mild scent to it, which is not really detectable without having in within 1/2 foot from the nose, and once lathered it is even milder to the point it practically is unscented. I imagine they add very little scent, since as I understand it MWF is targeted toward people with sensitive skin, so adding a lot of scent would be counter productive to achieving that goal. If you compare MWF to many other soaps which are scented, it's actually very understandable why some think/say it is unscented.

Regardless of scent, it is a nice soap.

That's true. Really, even "unscented" soap has SOME scent. I do believe I have a hypersensitivity with smells. I've found my MWF scent to be light, but quite noticeable; thankfully, I like the scent. The scent of Tabac was too much for me.

Chris L

Originally Posted by bassguy

My guess is yes, soaps last a long time with proper use, especially the triple milled hard soaps. How much do you have left?

enough to make twentyfour months this december, seems to be less oily or waxy now so it will get changed come winter, that waxyness seems to work well in the drier winter months and the windy days ice fishing.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

That's true. Really, even "unscented" soap has SOME scent. I do believe I have a hypersensitivity with smells. I've found my MWF scent to be light, but quite noticeable; thankfully, I like the scent. The scent of Tabac was too much for me.

Chris L

Chris,

I thought it was your wife who said the fragrance of Tabac was too much for you.

Originally Posted by Bruce

Chris,

I thought it was your wife who said the fragrance of Tabac was too much for you.

Ha ha, admittedly, I shared her sentiment although not as vehemently!

Chris L

Gentlemen,

I tried Michell's for the first time yesterday and was impressed.

It has a mild and pleasing fragrance, quite refreshing, and the lather and the glide are equal, if not better, to many of the other high end soaps I have tried.

Thank you for the suggestion. I think the soap will remain in the permanent rotation.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I tried Michell's for the first time yesterday and was impressed.

It has a mild and pleasing fragrance, quite refreshing, and the lather and the glide are equal, if not better, to many of the other high end soaps I have tried.

Thank you for the suggestion. I think the soap will remain in the permanent rotation.

That's the only soap I use, Obie. I love the stuff.

Originally Posted by zib

and another favorite is T&H 1805. The fragrance is just intoxicating.

I'd have to agree here Zib... I only have a sample size but man is this stuff awesome. At first I wasn't so sure about the smell as I was using the west indies lime from them, but now... It's been my favorite to date.

Mike

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

MWF works really well as a Super Lather soap, too. My favorite soap for super lather so far.

Mitchel's is probably the best shave soap made, IMHO. The only soap that comes close is LA TOJA shave soap and stick. You should try it. You can get it at Vintage Scent.

After using it exclusively for over a week now, I can say that the MWF lather coupled with the hard water I have in my home seems to dry out on my face somewhat. Not nearly as bad as TOBS cream, but I did not have this minor issue with Mama Bear soaps I've used extensively.

In no way is this drying characteristic a "deal breaker". It just requires me to reapply from my shave bowl during the shave. I'm still experimenting with the amount of water, amount of "load" on the damp brush, and the amount of time to create lather. It's still my new favorite soap.

Chris L