AoS Soap: Tallow vs Non-tallow (heresy!)

[plato]

Well gentlemen...
Something happened that I hope won't lead to my crucifixion. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few pucks of AoS tallow based lemon, lavender and sandalwood. I have enjoyed my shaves with these soaps as they provided a quite different experience in lathering and protective qualities as opposed to creams. I thought these were perfect and then I was suddenly gifted a new formulation of the lemon soap...

Then I tried it this new reformulation and discovered an astounding fact (in my experience): the non-tallow worked JUST AS WELL but without the clay scent that I had just gotten used to. What does this mean? Was tallow all hype? Did some secret B&B spy secretly switch out my non-tallow puck? How could this be? It lathered just as easy and protected just as well with the only discernible difference was the smell being better! I'm at a loss gentlemen...

Oh and YMMV.

 

[COShaveSurfer]

no crucifixion....I have been watching these threads for a while....you simply found a way to lather the new formula well. congrats and I agree that it does smell better.

 

[SilentTuba]

Took me a little while to figure out how to lather the new stuff, but once you get it right, I agree, it's just as good.

However, as my eyes have been opened to other quality soaps (AoS was my first), I won't be buying it again. It's good, but other soaps are as good or better, and cost less.

 

[petr]

Both soaps are very good. I agree, I enjoy the new formula lemon very much. But, don't get crazy brother Plato. I suspect it depends on your hardware. Load up a 50s ball tech with a feather blade and the difference reveals itself. Now my new As-d2 forgives the lack of creaminess of the new for formula. And I go on record of saying the new aos smokes most all current British soaps. It took me weeks to accept that but it's true to my skin type.

I do love the clarity of the new soap scents without the old clay thing.

 

[petr]

Good post!

 

[Clover]

AOS is one of my most favorite Sandalwood. I wish I had gotten it in tallow, but the new formulation works very well. I find it takes a little more water than the tallow formula.

 

[BeeSeeDub]

I picked up a puck of the non-tallow sandalwood yesterday and used it for the first time this morning. It produced a great lather, smelled wonderful, and was an ease to use.

 

[Phog Allen]

I have stayed away from most of this til it played out a bit. This last summer I was in Salt Lake and was able to handle the new soap as well as the lather since the store employee made up a test lather for me. Though I did not shave with it it had the feel of the other great Veg soaps like Provence Sante or Institute Karite. If not for having g a number of tallow cakes on hand I would have bought one. I too think the scents are sharper and improved while staying true to their AOS distinct style. I think we have to say it; AoS nailed it.

Cheers, Todd

 

[Dusty1]

Thats good to hear, I still have plenty on my tallow puck, but its good to know for when I run out. Enjoy your shave!

 

[mistercitizen]

I have not used the AoS product, neither tallow nor non-tallow, but I've been using the Valobra soap stick which is very similar in formulation and have found it to be a spectacular performer with a lack luster scent for me. I'm glad to hear the the new AoS formulation is performing well or better for you guys and also that the scents have been improved a bit. I see myself acquiring an AoS puck in the future based on the comments in this thread to see how it compares to the Valobra in terms of performance.

Ben

 

[takeshi]

Something happened that I hope won't lead to my crucifixion.

Oh and YMMV.

What works for you is what matters and won't lead to crucifixion. Every soap has its fans and detractors as no one soap works best for everyone -- hence the YMMV.

I don't see the relevance of "heresy" and "crucifixion" to soap as it's just soap, not religion. That said, there are those who are very devoted to their soaps so to each their own.

Was tallow all hype?

I find that hype and popularity really don't matter. It's whether or not a given soap suits me. That said, a popular soap may be worth trying just to see what the fuss is all about. If one isn't familiar with any of the options then popularity can be a good starting point but I don't see it as a deciding factor in and of itself.

For some, tallow seems to be a key ingredient but our preferences, beards, skin and technique are not all identical so there's some variation (i.e. YMMV) for those reasons. In some cases, some don't understand causality or are generalizing based on insufficient sampling and assume that tallow is a make-or-break ingredient. You have to determine where your preferences lie and select the products that suit you. In the end that means trying out the options versus solely relying on posts that you've read.

I mean, I don't find tallow or lack of it to matter as I've used excellent soaps that contain it and excellent soaps that do not. However, I can't tell anyone whether tallow matters or not to them.

 

[BabyFace34]

I love how these threads always pop up right after I purchase some too expensive NOS. I will pretend I didn't see it until I finish this puck.

 

[rand77]

AOS reformulation is pretty good. I can't compare it to the tallow version, but the reformulation serves its purpose just fine. The lather does dry out if enough water isn't added.

 

[dfoulk]

I have the tallow and love it. Once this is gone I may try the new one.

 

[TallyShave]

The vast majority of the "reviews" or comments on the reformulation were from people who never used the new soap. It was just another convenient excuse to bash AOS/P&G. People read all the negative comments and just ran with it as "the reformulation is no good". Just another example of things being repeated and becoming accepted fact with no basis in reality.

I tried the new soap and my conclusion was that is was definitely different and based on a persons preferences, they might like the new soap better or the old soap better. I find it a little slicker. If you value slickness over some other qualities, you might prefer the new version. I like the scents better in the old version.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Glad to hear the new stuff provides a decent lather! I thought they went the way of many English soaps...

 

[bassopotamus]

I have a puck of the tallow, that is hands down the best soap I have ever used, BUT it is so outrageously expensive that I don't think I would ever buy again, even if they offered it. There are a couple other soaps that get me 99% of the way there at half the price.