well i have been using van der hagen but ive also been using some glyserine soap with cinnimon oil i added to it. with the soap i made i dont get lather at all just suds. and with the van der hagen soap i get a lather but nothing great. is it me or is it the soap? and if the soap what are a couple you could suggest. i dont want to end up with a bow of unused soap i just wanna find one and use it up and try something new. just in case in might help my brush is a cheap boar brush. looking forward to what ya fellas come up with.