Thread: Erasmic Shaving Soap

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

Thank you for the useful information on Erasmic. The brand seems to have had its ups and downs.

Regards,

Obie

But, given the relatively low price, worth a try.

Originally Posted by GeauxLSU

But, given the relatively low price, worth a try.

My dear Wayne:

I could not agree with you more. I shall give it a try and post my thoughts.

Many thanks.

Regards,

Obie

I have a tube of the cream.

The smell is great and exactly as described.

Lathers readily and quite easily.

The cushion, on the other hand, is not fantastic. The shaves I have had with it have been typical for what I have come to expect from Glycerine based soaps. A little bit harsh.

Saying that, I can see myself always having some on hand because I really do enjoy the scent and find myself just feeling like using it every now and then. It is that kind of product.

Worth noting is that I have heard a whisper from a British member that the production of the cream may soon be discontinued. Not sure of the accuracy of this information but it would be a shame if this was the case. Would indeed need to stock up on some.

Originally Posted by BullGoose

The Erasmic shave soap stick used to be a tallow based soap that was a great performer. A few years ago, it was reformulated into a non-tallow soap that I found to be less than impressive. I heard a rumor about a year ago that Erasmic decided to bring back the tallow formula and gents in England were reporting that they could indeed get the tallow based formula at their local drug store. Unfortunately, this tallow formula has not made its way across the pond yet (as far as I know). At least I have not been able to find it.

The Erasmic soap bowl on the other hand has always been a glycerin based soap.

I have a brand new Erasmic shave stick which cost me 70p/$1.10. It has a very sweet barbershop scent which brings my 50's childhood rushing back. I live in Lancashire where the water is very soft, and there are no problems getting a good lather with this stick, which I have grated into a little plastic bowl with a snap lid, rather than follow Erasmic's instructions to wet the face with warm water, rub the stick over the beard, then offer up the wet brush. Must look like a drunken old bird trying to find her mouth with her lipstick.

The reason for the quite creamy lather is probably the presence of coconut oil and added glycerin. Plus it contains geranium oil, known for genuine skin healing properties. I cannot see any tallow, though it certainly feels as if it's in its make up.

"Sodium Palmate, Sodium Cocoate, Aqua, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide,Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citral Citronellol Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate"

Tallow based soaps in general seem to be dwindling on the shop shelves here. Too cheap, probably. A victim of people assuming something dearer made with palm oil is therefore better. It's not particularly complicated to make, and it's really easy and cheap to buy tallow as either beef dripping or pork lard, although fewer pharmacies now stock fullers earth clay powder, which turns a basic soap recipe into shaving soap. It all gets more complicated when you want to make up a recipe of different fats and oils, which of course you do.... tallow for cushion, coconut oil for absolutely unsurpassed sudsing, olive oil, glycerin etc., because of the varying saponification values.

Easier to spend $1.10! Good stuff.