I will be using PdP no. 63, hard soap. The knot holds water pretty well too. It's perfect for a barber handle.Yeah, mine lathers like no one's business. I've been using it with Col. Conk's Bay Rum soap, nothing fancy. But it has made some brilliant, super-slick lather...to the point where I almost started questioning why I've spent money on some of this other stuff. Mine wasn't too funky, thank goodness. I have a TGN 22mm fan that wins that prize.