I have a problem

[Obsessed]

Ever since I stated using AOS soap, I haven't wanted to use anything else. I know I can try different scents, and maybe pick up a Valobra stick, but not being on the lookout for the next lathering product is quite disconcerting. Has this happened to you? How did you cope?

(Of course, there's always a chance P&G will screw up the AOS soap.)

 

[Iakona]

(Of course, there's always a chance P&G will screw up the AOS soap.)

LOL, you almost make it sound like they'd be doing you a favor

 

[The Last Chimney]

Is something wrong with my AOS Sandalwood puck? It smells like Dial and the lather dries faster than any other soap I've tried.

I feel like the only kid who can't see the sailboat in the 3D image.

 

[JaDo]

Does the unscented AOS soap have any scent, whatsoever? I'm thinking of getting some - I've only used their creams. I've heard great things about the soap performance, but thought their sandalwood and lavender cream were a little too scented for me.

 

[Obsessed]

Does the unscented AOS soap have any scent, whatsoever? I'm thinking of getting some - I've only used their creams. I've heard great things about the soap performance, but thought their sandalwood and lavender cream were a little too scented for me.

That's what I'm using now. I get no scent whatsoever from it.

 

[Augustiner]

Ever since I stated using AOS soap, I haven't wanted to use anything else. I know I can try different scents, and maybe pick up a Valobra stick, but not being on the lookout for the next lathering product is quite disconcerting. Has this happened to you? How did you cope?

(Of course, there's always a chance P&G will screw up the AOS soap.)

Ha, yes the same thing happened to me. In fact, I now think Valobra makes the best performing shaving soaps period. I believe Valobra stick and AOS pucks are the same formula.

Don't fight it, just accept it. The soap really is that good. I'm stocked a few deep just in case P&G screws it up. However, I don't really see that happening since they don't manufacture the soap, Valobra does.

 

[Augustiner]

Is something wrong with my AOS Sandalwood puck? It smells like Dial and the lather dries faster than any other soap I've tried.

I feel like the only kid who can't see the sailboat in the 3D image.

No, nothing is wrong with the soap. Use more water. I go at mine with a soaking wet brush and swirl the brush on the soap surface until the top of my apothecary mug is filled with lather. I haven't timed it, but this takes probably 30 seconds or so. If your mug isn't filling full of lather like this then your brush isn't wet enough and you need to add more water.

Next I get some of that lather on the brush and continue to build the lather on my face for another minute, dipping the tips of the brush in water a few times to make a nice thick, moist and gooey lather. You shouldn't quit adding water until the lather gets to this consistency.

The remaining lather in the mug is used for the next couple passes. I pick it up from the mug with my brush and add water to the lather on my face as needed just like the first pass.

If you lather this soap right, the shave is amazing and very consistent. In fact, the best I've had. 2 ingredients to good soap lathering are time and water. Really take the time to build AOS lather with plenty of water and you will be well rewarded.

 

[Obsessed]

Ha, yes the same thing happened to me. In fact, I now think Valobra makes the best performing shaving soaps period. I believe Valobra stick and AOS pucks are the same formula.

Don't fight it, just accept it. The soap really is that good. I'm stocked a few deep just in case P&G screws it up. However, I don't really see that happening since they don't manufacture the soap, Valobra does.

There may still be an outlet for our SSAD - I was recently informed that Czech & Speake soaps are made by Valobra!

 

[The Last Chimney]

No, nothing is wrong with the soap. Use more water. I go at mine with a soaking wet brush and swirl the brush on the soap surface until the top of my apothecary mug is filled with lather. I haven't timed it, but this takes probably 30 seconds or so. If your mug isn't filling full of lather like this then your brush isn't wet enough and you need to add more water.

Next I get some of that lather on the brush and continue to build the lather on my face for another minute, dipping the tips of the brush in water a few times to make a nice thick, moist and gooey lather. You shouldn't quit adding water until the lather gets to this consistency.

The remaining lather in the mug is used for the next couple passes. I pick it up from the mug with my brush and add water to the lather on my face as needed just like the first pass.

If you lather this soap right, the shave is amazing and very consistent. In fact, the best I've had. 2 ingredients to good soap lathering are time and water. Really take the time to build AOS lather with plenty of water and you will be well rewarded.

Hm. I never spent that much time on it since the lather sprang up so quickly. I'll try that.

 

[sanuginz]

AOS soaps are imo the best performing of any.

 

[Sullybob]

There may still be an outlet for our SSAD - I was recently informed that Czech & Speake soaps are made by Valobra!

I so didn't need to read that.

 

[Optometrist]

Ever since I stated using AOS soap, I haven't wanted to use anything else. I know I can try different scents, and maybe pick up a Valobra stick, but not being on the lookout for the next lathering product is quite disconcerting. Has this happened to you? How did you cope?

(Of course, there's always a chance P&G will screw up the AOS soap.)

Sorry, but I must be in a minority when I say I don't see what all the fuss is about with AOS soaps. Terribly overpriced for what they are in my opinion. To answer your question though, the answer is NO. Just buy and enjoy!!!

David

 

[causalfault]

No, nothing is wrong with the soap. Use more water. I go at mine with a soaking wet brush and swirl the brush on the soap surface until the top of my apothecary mug is filled with lather. I haven't timed it, but this takes probably 30 seconds or so. If your mug isn't filling full of lather like this then your brush isn't wet enough and you need to add more water.

Next I get some of that lather on the brush and continue to build the lather on my face for another minute, dipping the tips of the brush in water a few times to make a nice thick, moist and gooey lather. You shouldn't quit adding water until the lather gets to this consistency.

The remaining lather in the mug is used for the next couple passes. I pick it up from the mug with my brush and add water to the lather on my face as needed just like the first pass.

If you lather this soap right, the shave is amazing and very consistent. In fact, the best I've had. 2 ingredients to good soap lathering are time and water. Really take the time to build AOS lather with plenty of water and you will be well rewarded.

So then, you build your lather directly on top of the puck? Don't you find that this wastes soap? Of course, then you have justification to go out and buy more...

I'm in love with AoS Sandalwood soap, by the way. Such a great scent. I haven't tried any of their other fragrances, but I'm definitely interested.

 

[BlackBard]

Ever since I stated using AOS soap, I haven't wanted to use anything else. I know I can try different scents, and maybe pick up a Valobra stick, but not being on the lookout for the next lathering product is quite disconcerting. Has this happened to you? How did you cope?

(Of course, there's always a chance P&G will screw up the AOS soap.)

I fully understand the dilemma, because I think AOS is the best soap. That said, it has not stopped me from trying and liking others. GFT Rose, Provence Sante Green Tea, Edwin Jagger Aloe come to mind. Have also tied some others that I don't think measured up, but were still worthy performers. TOBS Lavender is OK, but I would not buy it again. I'll go for AOS Lavender, again, next time around.

 

[Obsessed]

I so didn't need to read that.

Only too glad to help. So what's it gonna be, 88 or O&C?

 

[Sullybob]

Only too glad to help. So what's it gonna be, 88 or O&C?

Probably the 88. I actually have the sample pack coming (hopefully in the mail already) from them soon.

 

[Augustiner]

There may still be an outlet for our SSAD - I was recently informed that Czech & Speake soaps are made by Valobra!

Oh no! You shouldn't have said that.

Oh well, I think I sense another purchase on the horizon.

 

[Augustiner]

So then, you build your lather directly on top of the puck? Don't you find that this wastes soap? Of course, then you have justification to go out and buy more...

I'm in love with AoS Sandalwood soap, by the way. Such a great scent. I haven't tried any of their other fragrances, but I'm definitely interested.

Well, no not really. I am face lathering. The step you are talking about is just peeling, that stuff is not shaving lather. This is what The Last Chimney is using to shave with and that is why he is seeing poor results.

See this is the mentality I was trying to get some shavers to think past. I think this has set in due to people switching to soaps after being accustomed to lathering creams. I have noticed a lot of people claim they are having trouble lathering soaps or, as in this case, are disappointed with the lather they receive from soaps. This is simply because they do not know how to correctly lather a true shaving soap.

cream lathering ≠ soap lathering

Soaps are not creams and they won't create lather as quickly or as efficiently as creams do. Since creams are in a soft state they are instantly ready to be mixed with water and air to create a suitable lather for shaving. Soaps are solid and material must be peeled off the puck first before any suitable lather can be created. Thus, there is an extra step in soap lathering as compared to cream lathering. This process therefore takes longer and requires more water to build a good lather for shaving.

Soap lathering can be broken down into 2 steps:
1) Peeling soap material off for lathering
2) Lathering the soap material from step 1

*Water will be added at both steps

This seems pretty obvious, but it is surprising how often you see people misunderstand this and stop short of producing a rich and creamy soap lather that is truly luxurious to shave with.

The initial lather you see coming off of the puck is not the lather you will be shaving with. This is just air mixing with some of the initial soap material that has been peeled off the surface of the puck by the wet brush. This is more correctly termed something like "pre-lather." This initial 20-30 seconds of whisking on the puck with the brush is not really building lather, but is actually that extra step required for lathering a soap that involves peeling off soap material for lathering. This soap "pre-lather" is analogous to shaving cream and this is the material you want to build your lather with. Only now are ready to lather your soap.

Scoop some of this initial lather onto your well loaded brush and proceed to work it well into your beard. Believe it or not, even though you have already added water and this lather seems wet, it still requires more water to get the soap to that rich and creamy state that we want to shave with. Therefore, at this point you dip your brush tips periodically into warm water while you continue to build the creamy lather on your face. After a minute or so of this you should have a nice thick, gooey and creamy lather to shave with.

Watch this video below. It is not me, but this guy understands how to lather a true shaving soap and shows exactly what I have just talked about. The only difference is that he performs both lathering steps in a mug, while I complete the second step on my face. Notice the initial lather that he calls "crap." This is the pre-lather that you want to use to lather up into a rich and creamy lather. Also notice how thick, rich and creamy the lather is at the end. This is the lather you want to shave with, not the pre-lather. The Last Chimney above, who doesn't get his AoS soap, is trying to shave with the pre-lather and it is dry, thin and giving poor results. I was trying to get him to put in more time, work and water to get his lather to the rich, creamy full lather that I get and have wonderful shaves with.

* In this post I have been referring to a "true" shaving soap. I am not trying to start controversy, and this is hotly debated on the boards, but what I tend to mean by this (though not exclusively) is tallow based soaps. Most tallow soaps lather according to the 2 step process talked about above. I can not say for sure whether the process holds true for other less rich soaps. This is why many shavers have come to regard tallow soaps, including AoS, as top of the lather pyramid because nothing can produce as creamy or rich a lather as these soaps. However, you only achieve this type of lather after performing both steps. If you take enough time and water and get, for example, AoS soap lather to the state at the end of the video, the shave is really incredible.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsj58fqVjY[/YOUTUBE]

 

[kingfisher]

Only too glad to help. So what's it gonna be, 88 or O&C?

O&C, for sure.


But DANG! this soap is expensive. Makes the AOS soaps look reasonably priced.