Gentlemen:
I plan to write a review of the delightful I Coloniali in the coming weeks, after I finish the one on La Toja.
I Coloniali is a hard soap. I have it in the pottery bowl. Yes, the fitting of the soap in the bowl is not glove-tight, but I don't find problem with that. On the way to the shower I heat the bowl in the sink and cover the soap with about a tablespoon of hot tap water. After the shower I empty the little water on the soap into my Schwarzweisskeramik scuttle, load the brush with I Coloniali and start making lather. I don't recall the soap wobbling in the bowl.
I Coloniali's lather texture is similar to that of Mitchell's Wool Fat. You have to load the brush long, at least 30 second, and play with the water ratio in your lather bowl. Do not expect big lather from I Coloniali. Do expect, however, quality moisture, glide and cushion. I get all three for a good shave. The fragrance is intoxicating, I might add.
No, I Coloniali is not up to the level of Martin de Candre or Provence Sante. At least I don't think so. Mitchell's Wool Fat and Tabac I rate slightly higher in overall shave quality, as well as some of the other English soaps. Still, I find I Coloniali delightful and worth the shave. I think I'll always keep it around. Without getting too precise, I would give I Coloniali an overall 8 on the scale — for now. That might change in either direction after I test it for a review.
Regards,
Obie