Color Variation of the Cella Kilo Bricks.

[CalmAsHinduCows]

So, I've decided to go ahead and pull the trigger and get myself a Kilo of my favorite soap. I've been doing some Google imaging on the bricks and I noticed a lot of differences in the colors of several pictures.

In some of Google images, I've seen brilliant, white bricks of Cella and then in others, bricks that were opaque or cream colored. Does this have to do with age? Does it affect the quality of shaves?

I understand there are no preservatives in it and discoloration may just naturally happen over time. But, I just didn't want to order a brick of Cella and have it seem like a roll of the dice to whether I'm getting a defective one or not.

Edit -Forgot the pics...

 

[Black Adder]

My latest, and first, kilo arrived just a couple of days ago. It was white. I've noticed this color difference, too, but it showed up between the kilo and the small red tub I once ordered. The tub was a cream color. It really had a lardy smell to it, and I never really liked it for that, even though it lathered like mad. I honestly don't know why there would be a variation in color. Anyone?

By the way, this kilo of Cella is off to a great start with me. Very mild, almost non-existent scent of marzipan, incapable of producing a substandard lather.

Don

 

[Starkicker]

I got a chunk off the kilo from a friend, it was cream coloured. The soap from the red tub was lighter in colour to my eyes.

 

[CalmAsHinduCows]

That was my main concern. The smell. I don't think the quality of the lather should be altered too much, but I just liked the light almond/cherry scent Cella has.

About a year ago, I had to chance to smell a red tub of Cella for the first time. It must have been sitting on that man's counter for ages because it was a very deep tan color and had a lard smell to it. Completely turned me off to it. A few weeks ago, I got to smell a fresh red tub that just came in and what an amazing difference in sight and smell. Gorgeous and white with a bright smell of cherries and almonds.

The red tub I have now is white and has an amazing scent.

I don't want a Kilo of awesomely latherable soap that smells of rendered pig fat...

 

[FL shaver]

About a year ago, I had to chance to smell a red tub of Cella for the first time. It must have been sitting on that man's counter for ages because it was a very deep tan color and had a lard smell to it. Completely turned me off to it. A few weeks ago, I got to smell a fresh red tub that just came in and what an amazing difference in sight and smell. Gorgeous and white with a bright smell of cherries and almonds.

I think you're dead on here. I ordered a red tub on sale online, and I imagine it was a sale of stock which was getting older. When it arrived the cream was almost white and smelled of almond/cherries only. I let it sit at room temp for a few months and found it turned yellowish and almost had a Play-doh scent to it. I started using it then. I got back down to a lighter color and fresher scent, but I don't know if it was quite as good as a fresh tub.

 

[NSmalls]

Gents Cella is a phenomenal soap. The tub tends to have a stronger fragrance than the brick. The tub is also slightly softer than the brick. I also found the brick to give a little bit thicker of a lather. Both are croaps but the tub tends to lean more towards cream and the brick tends to lean more towards soap. Fresh Cella should be whiter in color. It should be kept in an airtight container in a cool dark place. It is all natural with no preservatives. Since my house is not air conditioned I keep it in a Ziplock bag in the fridge. Check this thread for more details:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/177782-How-to-safely-store-P-160-and-Cella-kilo-bricks

 

[Black Adder]

Gents Cella is a phenomenal soap.

I agree with you, at least in regards to the kilo I just purchased. It's white, smells nice, and lathers like mad.

There does seem to be evidence of a color shift with this soap, as shown in the photos, and in my, and in the original poster's experience, is accompanied by an off-putting smell like the leavings from a frying pan. Is this a sign that the soap has gone rancid? I found that my "brown" Cella was usable, but not particularly pleasant, due to this smell.

Does brown equal bad for Cella? Would there be a recourse for the original poster if he dropped the money for a kilo of fine soap and got a chunk of stale lard?

Don

 

[CalmAsHinduCows]

I agree with you, at least in regards to the kilo I just purchased. It's white, smells nice, and lathers like mad.

There does seem to be evidence of a color shift with this soap, as shown in the photos, and in my, and in the original poster's experience, is accompanied by an off-putting smell like the leavings from a frying pan. Is this a sign that the soap has gone rancid? I found that my "brown" Cella was usable, but not particularly pleasant, due to this smell.

Does brown equal bad for Cella? Would there be a recourse for the original poster if he dropped the money for a kilo of fine soap and got a chunk of stale lard?

Don

Thank you, sir. My questions, exactly.

 

[CalmAsHinduCows]

Well, I called my shaving place in Mass. and they said they could get a few bricks of Cella if I needed. I asked about the color change and their response was it was probably due to age.

They said unless you call and can specifically ask for the white bricks, its a 50/50 shot of what you'll get. I guess I'll just try extra hard to make sure I get a fresh one.

 

[Pedro Navaja]

Just bought my first Cella this week and must agree with the accolades, smell and all.

 

[Mandina]

I have a Cella brick, sliced into several pieces, each of which is wrapped in waxed paper, placed in a ziplock freezer bag, and stored in a dark drawer in my air-conditioned office at work. The in-use portion stays in a sealable plastic container, and, as mentioned by many of you, does turn yellowish over time and begin to emit a playdough-like scent. The portion's performance, however, remains outstanding, and as soon as I begin to lather the soap its playdough scent gives way to the wonderful, expected Cella scent. Cella is not my only soap whose scent wakes up when lathered. (I just looked at my other Italian croaps and noticed that they all turn yellowish-brownish over time, but all of them remain excellent performers.)

 

[FL shaver]

The remainder of my tub reminds me a little of cream of wheat now!