A bad puck of MWF? Maybe no lanolin in it?

[jeffus]

I've been using MWF exclusively for 10 years, and I think that I've finally run across a bad puck. Absolutely zero lubrication or moisture retention. And no smell of lanolin. I tried it 3 times just in case, but today was the last straw. I opened up my backup puck and immediately there was that lovely scent of lanolin. I won't get around to trying it for a couple days though, but today was the final straw with this puck and I just had to post to see if anyone else has had this experience.

Including a picture my wife took. I tried and tried to apply some lather and get it to stay, and then I rushed into the living room and had my wife take a picture. So this is freshly applied...

 

[VerbaVolant]

Counterfeit? Where did you buy it from?
Can you post pictures of the container and wrapper?

 

[jeffus]

I always buy from Amazon, and I don't keep the container, unfortunately.

PS. I always go straight to my order history and click Buy Again.

 

[rockviper]

That's interesting, but goes a long way in my book as to explaining why many of us have polar opposite experiences with it.

 

[VerbaVolant]

Could very well be the case. Who knows?

 

[VerbaVolant]

That being said, the "lather" is indeed terrible. I get better lather with any of my regular bath soaps I have.
Thanks for posting here, so at least we know to keep an eye on it.

 

[VerbaVolant]

Just curious @jeffus, did you contact MWF directly and share your experience? They would deserve to know about it. It would help them for sure.

 

[Gafer]

This is the second post I’ve seen about this lately. I cant find the last one but it was very similar to what you have reported. Perhaps MWF messed up a batch although im not sire the process for soap making it may be more of a production error than the actual leaving out of an ingredient such as heating too long or too high.

 

[Timeclo]

It turns out, I had the same experience as you and documented it quite heavily in another thread. Feel free to look if you're interested.

First shave with Mitchell’s Wool Fat

I used MWF for the first time this morning. While the lather was an epic fail, I was very surprised by the slickness and more importantly how my skin felt all day. I’ll. Give it a shot again tomorrow but load more soap in the brush and use less water. I used an oil preshave, which may have...

www.badgerandblade.com

BLUF, I had a MWF puck that lathered like yours, bubbly and airy. I got a sample MWF from my friend and it worked wonderfully into a thick and creamy lather. Conclusion was that puck was either damaged through heat or somehow, the ingredients got tampered with.

 

[Robert G]

I met MWF back when she was all the rage back in the days of Gordon and SMF. I liked the way she smelled and looked. Unfortunately It never worked out between us and we broke up (the puck cracked up) but I did get to keep, as part of the breakup settlement, the lovely ceramic pots which are now housing ABC hard soap and Boellis croaps. Memories....

 

[FL shaver]

That’s bizzare. That’s like Erasmic veggie stick lather. Something’s up with that puck.

 

[Al Bundy]

I have to say that looks like maybe there's been an issue in production also. I've had one or two issues with MWF while I was learning how to get the best from it but even my worst ever attempt was no where near as bad as that

 

[rockthrower]

I've been following this thread because I've used MWF for a long time and always had good results with it. But, last night I opened a new puck, put it in its ceramic bowl, wet it, and left it covered overnight. I shaved with it this morning and, I hate to say it, got the same result as jeffus. I face lathered using the dry method and my Omega 49. This normally gives me enough thick, slick lather for three passes, touch up, and a face wash. This morning it looked OK to start with, but quickly dissipated to what jeffus' photo showed, during the first pass. I had nothing left for the third pass and had to go back to the puck again, wth the same result. The slickness was there - I had enough residual slickness to do the touch up just re-wetting my face, but the lather was terrible.

In the past I've noticed that MWF doesn't hit its peak performance until its been used daily for a week or so. I'm going to keep lathering it up every morning for a while to see what it does (although I'll probably just hand lather and shave with something else until I start seeing some worthwhile lather). I hope this is a temporary thing, because I really love this soap.

I'm kind of doubting the bad batch theory. Jeffus bought his from Amazon on the west coast of the US; I bought mine from Italian Barber in Toronto. Unless Mitchells makes humungous batches, I doubt whether that could be the problem.

If it doesn't shape up in a week or so, I think an email to Mitchells is in order.

 

[BigJ]

Interesting thread!

You have nothing to lose by contacting MWF.

 

[jeffus]

If it doesn't shape up in a week or so, I think an email to Mitchells is in order.

This was my 3rd attempt, every time it was awful.

 

[TexOkie Shaver]

I emailed Mitchell’s from their website several weeks ago. Either they are closed for COVID, backed up answering emails or they don’t care. I’ve not heard a peep. Not even an acknowledgment of my message.

I think I’ll be switching over to Sterling soon.

 

[BudgetShaverGuy]

Based on @Timeclo recent issues to MWF and very similar to your own, it has to be either A counterfeit or quality issue. Very disappointing to say the least.

 

[TexOkie Shaver]

Based on @Timeclo recent issues to MWF and very similar to your own, it has to be either A counterfeit or quality issue. Very disappointing to say the least.

I don’t think it’s counterfeit. Mine came from West Coast Shaving and I think he got his from Amazon. Amazon night ship a counterfeit, but I can’t imagine WCS doing that.

 

[BudgetShaverGuy]

I don’t think it’s counterfeit. Mine came from West Coast Shaving and I think he got his from Amazon. Amazon night ship a counterfeit, but I can’t imagine WCS doing that.

If it was "shipped and sold from Amazon" it's less likely to be a fake since they probably buy direct in huge bulk, but who knows what you're getting from a 3rd party seller.

 

[BudgetShaverGuy]

I've been using MWF exclusively for 10 years, and I think that I've finally run across a bad puck. Absolutely zero lubrication or moisture retention. And no smell of lanolin. I tried it 3 times just in case, but today was the last straw. I opened up my backup puck and immediately there was that lovely scent of lanolin. I won't get around to trying it for a couple days though, but today was the final straw with this puck and I just had to post to see if anyone else has had this experience.

Including a picture my wife took. I tried and tried to apply some lather and get it to stay, and then I rushed into the living room and had my wife take a picture. So this is freshly applied...

View attachment 1106974

You mentioned a smell of lanolin being absent. I know what MWF smells like, but not lanolin on its own. Unless you're sure what lanolin smells like on its own, you make have a pure fake on your hands that was not perfumed close enough to MWF to even fool someone in that area. You don't need lanolin for a stable lather.