After studying the ingredients lists of some of the favored brands of shaving cream reviewed here, I am confident that a shaving cream of a quality comparable to that offered by the three T's can be made for a fraction of the cost.
Most list water and stearic acid (and/or some other source of fatty acids such as coconut oil) as principal ingredients. Some contain additional oils in smaller amounts. Many of them contain both potassium hydroxide (the lye used for making liquid soap) and sodium hydroxide (the lye used for making hard soaps).
It turns out that by replacing a little NaOH for some of the KOH in a liquid soap recipe, you get what is called a "cream soap." Cream soaps are thick, semi-opaque mixtures that produce copious amounts of rich lather. If you include more fatty acid than can be saponified by the lye, you get a "superfatted soap," which has extra moisturizing properties. Starting to sound familiar?
Other likely ingredients are glycerin (emollient), castor oil (makes a creamier foam), cosmetic clay (extra body and "slip"), methylparaben/propylparaben (preservative).
The biggest -- and most expensive -- variable seems to be fragrance. Naturally-derived essential oils and synthetic aromatic compounds can be found to make just about any desired scent. Cost is the primary limiting factor. However, even using the most expensive fragrances, the total cost of the product would be far, far less than a tub of Taylor's.
I've read more than a few articles on soap-making and comparison shopped for ingredients... Now I think I am ready to embark upon a Grand Experiment. Has anyone else tried making their own shaving cream before? If so, does anyone have a recipe? (Don't give me what Google turns up; I've done that already.)
If I get something that works well enough, would anybody be interested in beta-testing the formula? What fragrance should I try for batch No. 1? Thoughts, ideas, etc., welcome.
Keith
Most list water and stearic acid (and/or some other source of fatty acids such as coconut oil) as principal ingredients. Some contain additional oils in smaller amounts. Many of them contain both potassium hydroxide (the lye used for making liquid soap) and sodium hydroxide (the lye used for making hard soaps).
It turns out that by replacing a little NaOH for some of the KOH in a liquid soap recipe, you get what is called a "cream soap." Cream soaps are thick, semi-opaque mixtures that produce copious amounts of rich lather. If you include more fatty acid than can be saponified by the lye, you get a "superfatted soap," which has extra moisturizing properties. Starting to sound familiar?
Other likely ingredients are glycerin (emollient), castor oil (makes a creamier foam), cosmetic clay (extra body and "slip"), methylparaben/propylparaben (preservative).
The biggest -- and most expensive -- variable seems to be fragrance. Naturally-derived essential oils and synthetic aromatic compounds can be found to make just about any desired scent. Cost is the primary limiting factor. However, even using the most expensive fragrances, the total cost of the product would be far, far less than a tub of Taylor's.
I've read more than a few articles on soap-making and comparison shopped for ingredients... Now I think I am ready to embark upon a Grand Experiment. Has anyone else tried making their own shaving cream before? If so, does anyone have a recipe? (Don't give me what Google turns up; I've done that already.)
If I get something that works well enough, would anybody be interested in beta-testing the formula? What fragrance should I try for batch No. 1? Thoughts, ideas, etc., welcome.
Keith