Ingredients -- Kent / Mitchell Wool Fat, Tabac Original Soap, Proraso Cream

I just got a shaving soap shipment yesterday.

I was surprised at the lack of "natural ingredients" in the Kent / MWF. If somebody could check the list against "non-Kent" MWF, I'd appreciate it. The catalog comment includes:

. . . A simple and natural product, Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap is still made to
. . . Mr. Mitchell's original formula, based on a recipe from the turn of the
. . . century and incorporating lanolin from the wool fat as the key ingredient.

There's not a whole lot of lanolin in there -- less that the citronella scent . . .

Here's the full set:

Kent SB2 Shaving Soap (sold as Kent / Mitchell Wool Fat)

Sodium Tallowate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Stearate, Aqua, Potassium Cocoate, Glycerin, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Lanolin, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Silicate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Magnesium Sulphate, Tetrasodium Etidronate.


Tabac Original Shaving Soap

Potassium Stearate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Tallowate, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Sodium Tallowate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Potassum Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellala, Linalool, Citronellol, Coumarin, Alpha-isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Isoeugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Eugenol


Proraso Shaving Cream -- Eucalyptus Oil and Menthol

Aqua, Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Eucalyptus globulus, Menthol, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Eugenol, Geraniol, Eucalyptol, Boric Acid, Camphor, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Metasilicate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Borate, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, BHT.

Too bad the Proraso as all those parabens in it

Not surprising, a lot of "natural" products aren't so natural lol

With the exception of the Prorasso, the ingrediants in the other two are technically natural, although with chemical names. Most are oils and fats derived from plants and animals. Others are natural derivatives to make everything mix together and to give it color, scent and a shelf life.

Like with anything else these days, if you want specific properties you're best to make it yourself or find someone who custom makes it. Any commercial product will be full of chemicals. it's probably a requirement for shelf life and keep it from going bad and as a stabilizer.

I suspect if you went back to the 1800s and used a typical shave soap you would be disappointed that it would be very thin and watery compared to modern "enhanced" soap products.

Some soaps are still pretty natural.

Cella: cocos nucifera, tallow, stearic acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, aqua, potassium carbonate, parfum.

Of course, I, like a lot of people, enjoy Poraso Green ( which is anythign but all natural), so it is more of an interesting fact, than an important trait to me.

What is it that your are looking for in "natural ingredients"? Most of the things listed *are* derived from plant or animal sources. As for the lanolin, a little goes a long way.

As a suggestion I could say to buy products that are tested for sensitive skin. Usually they have delicate compounds and a scent that is not aggressive. In this way I could say that I tested few nivea's sensitive skin products and they are good, even the aftershave balsam that I am still using. I love their soaps (and their philosophy, in general) and this is a good shave soap. I can't (for whatever reason) seem to get a decent shave with it with a straight, but for DEs, it's quite nice.

Regards,
Andrea