Thread: Will something really bad happen to me if I don't like MWF?

With MWF I had a hard time building lather. I found that a short loft brush with backbone helped but most of all throwing a splash of water on top of the puck and walking away for five minutes while the brush soaks in the lather bowl. When I come back to it I dump the water out of the bowl and pour the splash off of the puck into the bowl and start loading the brush. Learning that method has helped me with lathering. I also like MWF as a base for a good cream. To me the MWF has no aroma since constant pipe smoking has dulled my sense of smell. A good scented cream mixes well with it IME and between those two things I've come to like the stuff.

Originally Posted by riooso

MWF makes my skin burn so I am just going to stick with Tabac, CF creams, Pens tallow English Fern, Proraso, Martin de Candre, and a few other soaps and creams...yea what a bummer!

Since the main ingredient that differentiates MWF from most soaps is lanolin, I wonder if you are allergic to lanolin?

Originally Posted by Moodster

I'm afraid, very afraid.
Will the soap gods come after me for the fact that I don't really like MWF?

Yes they will for speaking such heresy.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I found that throwing a splash of water on top of the puck and walking away for five minutes while the brush soaks in the lather bowl. When I come back to it I dump the water out of the bowl and pour the splash off of the puck into the bowl and start loading the brush.

+1. Absolutely, Jimmy!

I was always able to get a servicable lather from MWF, but some time ago while experimenting I ended up doing exactly what you described above. It has made the difference between a servicable soap and an exceptional soap, and my city doesn't have the softest water around either.

Soaps and creams are such personal preference, just go and search "Tabac" and you'll see how divided people are about that one!

If you tried it and dont like it, thats cool, just keep looking around and see what you do like. All part of the fun!

I'm still alive!

Guys thank you so much for the information and, of course, the laughs!

First I'd like to take back that I said that "I don't like it", it's not that, I think I just don't like it as much as other soaps I have. I just think back to when I was waiting for it to come in the mail and was thinking "man, my new favorite soap is on it's way!" Then, I was clearly dissappointed and felt something was wrong with me!

I've come to the conclusion that choosing your favorite soap is depends on, but not limited to, the following factors: lather/preparation, water, scent, and --probably most importantly-- the feeling of your skin while and after shaving. These are things you guys made me think about through your helpful posts.

That being said, I flipped and turned last night wondering what it is that causes me not to "love" MWF. I still don't know! (gosh, I'm so dramatic haha). Though in South Florida we classify as a hard water region, I'm able to get the lather I want. Though the scent is not "wow", I don't particularly dislike it. I also don't get rashes from it or anything. I just feel that the whole experience is not what I expected it to be.

BUT I thought one more (possible) factor!!!.... I thought of this today! I microwaved it, mushed it up, and fit it into my bowl when I first got it. I've read that many people have done this, but could that make enough of a difference? Though I doubt it, that's all I can think of. I've never done that to any other soap. What do you guys think?


PS: @Bharner, I'm gonna try again maybe a couple more times. Give me about a week, if my opinion stays consistent and you still want the soap, I'll message you for your info. Maybe that way you can tell me about your experience with my pre-melted soap hahaha!

Originally Posted by Moodster

I microwaved it,

Microwave MWF ? I don't think tallow soap should be microwaved?

I have been told by a few folks on here,that they run the puck of MWF through a cheese grater and then pack all the shavings back into the Mug,and they get much better results. I havent tried it yet,but iam sure someone will chime in. Oh yeah,dont use the grater for Romano cheese , the ol lady will not be happy.

newb...uh oh! Thanks for the advice, so that means you can microwave most soaps but not this? Aaaargh! Well, it seems to be working just fine, but then again, I can't compare it to the "raw" vesion lol. I'm actually willing to buy a new puck just to see if there is a major difference. I shaved with my MWF today and had quite a good shave, but again, did not go googoo over it. I know...

nessmuck, about the cheese grater. I wanted to do that, as a matter of fact that was suggested on the same thread I got the silly microwave idea, but unlike my usual self, I wanted to get it over with quickly. From now on, I'll use the cheese grater to get just enough soap into my bowl or mug and then that way I can rotate soaps more often without being so messy.

Live and learn...

I use MWF quite a bit, since I have only three soaps and two creams, and I get great lather out of it without doing anything special. Of course Finnish water helps. I guess what makes a difference is that it is an all-round soapy soap

As in: rich and creamy, and it smells very much like soap. Soap soap soap. One of the other soaps is De Vergulde Hand, which has exactly these same qualities, very thick, soapy structure and a very soapy soap soap smell. My dad always used that one, so I guess i have a case of soap nostalgia for soapy soaps.

I wrote 'soap' so many times I actually started wondering if I spelled it right