I almost gave up getting a good lather with D.R. Harris Arlington soap with my semogue brush. I was using bowl lathering and could not get that thick, luxurious lather that many have talked about. I had recently gone to the "Art of Shaving" store in which it was demonstrated to me how to get lather from a soap puck with a silvertip badger by "palm lathering". I knew I had to try this at home with the D.R. Harris. Amazingly enough.. it worked well. Now I don't know what causes the difference between bowl and hand lathering with this, but .. who cares? I know how I am preparing this lather from now on.