Thread: I tried MWF...Eh..

I did not care for the soap myself.Just about every soap/cream that I have tried performed better.

I really think water has a lot to do with success on the different shave soaps. I haven't had much luck with MWF or Tabac myself. I'm just thinking that the tallows and my water don't work well together...it's not the brushes as I have three super badger & three silvertip brushes...maybe it's me.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I really think water has a lot to do with success on the different shave soaps. I haven't had much luck with MWF or Tabac myself. I'm just thinking that the tallows and my water don't work well together...it's not the brushes as I have three super badger & three silvertip brushes...maybe it's me.

That is a point that is not made often enough.
I am fortunate enough to do quite a bit of traveling, and I can assure you that it is a lottery game each and every time with a few of my soaps. MWF included.
This is why I nowadays use only the very best of creams when travelling.
Water quality has a big bearing on the end result.
Every time I read a review of a soap or cream, this is what's in the back of my head.
What soap x does at the home of person Y, will not necessary tell person z much at all.

Originally Posted by Wintchase

Not so much gang...I plunked down 20 bones and gave it a shot..Next to it was Proraso (a high first). Ogallala sandelwood and then a Williams puck. To be Honest I found that William and MWF seemed to be about the same? I know I will get blasted for this heretic statement, but I just had to say something. I hear all the hoopla about MWF and I jus tdon't get it?

Anyone else think that MWF is okay? But definitely not worth 20 bucks?

Gentlemen:

Williams was my first shaving soap. That was many years ago. From what I recall, I liked the fragrance as well as the lather, glide and cushion. Then I moved on to other soaps, and tucked Williams away in my memory, not because Williams was a bad soap; rather, because the world of shave soaps offered me fascinating discoveries.

Years later, after trying scores of soaps, some of which I liked and some not, I found Mitchell's Wool Fat. I love the soft and clean fragrance. The lather, glide and cushion are superb. I doubt my shave den will ever be without Mitchell's Wool Fat. Is my only puck of Williams of long ago, then, equal to my puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat of today?

Equal in what way?

I have not used Williams for years and, therefore, cannot say how I would like it today. Perhaps I would, or I would not. I am tempted to buy a puck, not to test it against Mitchell's Wool Fat, but to relive my early shaves. But even then I will not attempt to compare the two soaps, because I take things for what they are, and that includes each person's taste. Who am I to say my taste is better than anyone else's?

"To be Honest I found that William and MWF seemed to be about the same," says our good friend Wintchase. I find no argument in that, because it comes as an opinion. Another person might says he finds no comparisons between the two, that Mitchell's Wool Fat is far superior to Williams. Nor do I have an argument with that, since that statement, too, is expressed as an opinon.

I take all my shave soaps for what they are. For the most part, my soaps are of high quality: Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, L'Occitane, Provence Sante Verlaine, Truefitt & Hill, and so on. I have some that I think are of a lesser quality. I take them for what they are and try to spike them with a touch of glycrin and Arko shave cream. When they are gone, they will stay gone — I just don't like throwing things away, especially if I have paid for them. I mix nothing with what I consider my top soaps. Why should I?

Our friend Witchase also says, "Anyone else think that MWF is okay? But definitely not worth 20 bucks?"

The question is fair, especially since it solicits an opinion. Mine is this: Mitchell's Wool Fat is not only okay, but also to me it is worth the money I pay for it.

Perhaps I will feel the same about Williams soap, but I will take it for what it is and not compare it to Mitchell's Wool Fat or any other soap I have.

Regards,

Obie

Well said Obie.......

+1 on that!

Thank you sir, that was all I was looking for....Opinions..

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

Williams was my first shaving soap. That was many years ago. From what I recall, I liked the fragrance as well as the lather, glide and cushion. Then I moved on to other soaps, and tucked Williams away in my memory, not because Williams was a bad soap; rather, because the world of shave soaps offered me fascinating discoveries.

Years later, after trying scores of soaps, some of which I liked and some not, I found Mitchell's Wool Fat. I love the soft and clean fragrance. The lather, glide and cushion are superb. I doubt my shave den will ever be without Mitchell's Wool Fat. Is my only puck of Williams of long ago, then, equal to my puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat of today?

Equal in what way?

I have not used Williams for years and, therefore, cannot say how I would like it today. Perhaps I would, or I would not. I am tempted to buy a puck, not to test it against Mitchell's Wool Fat, but to relive my early shaves. But even then I will not attempt to compare the two soaps, because I take things for what they are, and that includes each person's taste. Who am I to say my taste is better than anyone else's?

"To be Honest I found that William and MWF seemed to be about the same," says our good friend Wintchase. I find no argument in that, because it comes as an opinion. Another person might says he finds no comparisons between the two, that Mitchell's Wool Fat is far superior to Williams. Nor do I have an argument with that, since that statement, too, is expressed as an opinon.

I take all my shave soaps for what they are. For the most part, my soaps are of high quality: Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, L'Occitane, Provence Sante Verlaine, Truefitt & Hill, and so on. I have some that I think are of a lesser quality. I take them for what they are and try to spike them with a touch of glycrin and Arko shave cream. When they are gone, they will stay gone — I just don't like throwing things away, especially if I have paid for them. I mix nothing with what I consider my top soaps. Why should?

Our friend Witchase also says, "Anyone else think that MWF is okay? But definitely not worth 20 bucks?"

The question is fair, especially since it solicits an opinion. Mine is this: Mitchell's Wool Fat is not only okay, but also to me it is worth the money I pay for it.

Perhaps I will feel the same about Williams soap, but I will take it for what it is and not compare it to Mitchell's Wool Fat or any other soap I have.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Wintchase

Not so much gang...I plunked down 20 bones and gave it a shot..I hear all the hoopla about MWF and I jus tdon't get it? Anyone else think that MWF is okay? But definitely not worth 20 bucks?

It's a demanding soap to get really great lather from if your water is at all "hard", but once you do, it's _really_ great lather. Two tips:

Face lather. Leave your bowl for another shave on another day.
Use cool to cold water to lather with! MWF really likes cold water.

Yeah, I know, most folks love a hot shave but hey, it's summer here in the Northern Hemisphere. A cool water shave with some face-lathered Mitchell's on a hot summer day is a really nice shave.

I'm not so sure about the hard water thing.I'm just saying because Denver water is not per say soft water and I get fantastic lather from it.Again ,just my experience is all .

I have just a few thoughts here.

First to Obie: you know if you want to relive your early shaves what goes along with that, the razor burn and the cuts.

Second, producing lather is no different than using a straight. Many guys seem to have issues which are due to improper technique somewhere in the chain of skills you need.

Third, some guys enjoy using the most basic items and see no need to go further and whats more even if they use high end stuff they see no difference or feel it's not worth the money. It reminds me of my friend who drove around in a Yugo for years and always thought it was the only car he ever needed and was the best car in the world. I guess it's the ultimate YMMV thing.

I use MWF and I think it's a good soap. Yes, there are better but it's up there with best. I find it requires more water than most other soaps to produce a good lather and little more elbow grease.