Thread: TOBS Sandalwood Soap lathering problem

Month ago I bought TOBS Sandalwood soap and I have problem with making lather. I must say that I used many brands and never before had similar problem.
The lather from TOBS breaks down quickly (when I lather left side and go to the right side the leather from the left side breaks down, it seems the leather "evaporate"). I tried with boar and badger brushes. I tried with tap water and distilled water. I tried with much water and with drier brush. I tried with lot of soap and with less soap. The problem still there.
So, I need advice if someone had similar problem with TOBS sandalwood soap?????

Originally Posted by king1976

So, I need advice if someone had similar problem with TOBS sandalwood soap?????

Hi

This was one of my first purchases after Prorasso which I started on. In short, I hated it big time. It never gave much cushion or moisture, not to mention it certainly did not smell of sandalwood to me - more like urinal cubes! I could get a lather out of it though, albeit a fairly weak one that became more frail with each pass.

TOBS cream on the other hand is far better, although no where near the best. I like Penahligon's, Tabac and more recently have fallen for XPEC which is the best.

I ended up throwing away the puck of TOBS soap and using its container for a puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat.

I've not tried TOBS sandalwood, but if you like sandalwood soaps I highly recommend GFT. I have the sandalwood soap, cream and skin food from there and all are excellent.

I also have a Trumpers moisturiser that I use as a preshave and their Spanish Leather cologne. I highly recommend their products, they're always excellent!

+1 on the GFT sandalwood skinfood. Great product and the scent is a nice interpretation of sandalwood. Head and shoulders above TOBS's take.

While on the subject of alternative sandlwood products, Thiers Issard (yes, they make soap too) do a lovely smelling sandalwood puck. OK perfromance, I got mine from the Invisible Edge.

My First soap, but luckily I bought the TOBS sandalwood shaving cream too! When i was learning to make lather with this soap, i though soaps were bad and creams were alright, so I made super lather! But then i bough some other soaps other company's and loved them. But anyways, I can make make good lather with just there cream but the soap isn't an impressive lather, but i like there sandalwood very much.

I guess I'll be the voice of dissent here....

TOBS sandalwood soap was the first (higher end) soap that I bought after being introduced to traditional brush lather via Proraso, which was my first purchase. It seems to be very hit or miss, either you like it or you don't. For me it makes fine lather, and the scent is pleasant. I can not complain. I also can't explain why some people have no luck with this soap where I am happy with it (one member even compared it to Williams!), just as I have little luck with TGQ yet many members swear by it. This is clearly where the personal preference comes into play.

To the OP: if you have tried every trick in the book and a soap simply doesn't work for you, just move on. However, I would suggest keeping those soaps which you initially didn't like - one day you just may find that your opinion has changed.

1. Quarter the cake with a knife.
2. Pour in 2-3 teaspoons (10-15 mL) mineral or vegetable oil.
3. Wait a day.
4. Try lathering again.

If you wish, you can melt the cake in a microwave and stir the oil in instead of cutting the cake.

The problem is that the soap either has too much surfactant ability, which the oil will reduce, or the fatty acids are too short chain or unsaturated (which is why tallow and lanolin are touted). In either case, the oil will help, and also will lubricate your face. Hand cream works well too.

I usually use soap with Palmolive cream because I could never get a satisfying lather from soap alone but I recently tried TOBS lavender soap in a wooden bowl.It's the first time I've been able to get a good lather.Maybe I am just getting better at lathering but it's great.I was worried at first regarding the lavender scent.I didn't want to smell like an old lady but there is not much of a scent.