I have stopped whining now....

[vocalistbob]

I started a thread about a week ago about how I thought soaps are frustrating to use, how they don't perform as well as the best creams and what a waste of time it is to try to load up a brush with lather from a soap.

Well, I figured out what I was doing wrong - I was starting with too much excess water in my brush. Since then, I have whipped up some terrific lathers with D R Harris Arlington soap, Mystic Water Lavender and new Proraso (not quite a cream, not quite a soap) - in just a bit more time than it takes to load up with a cream. I am not convinced they outperform the best cream (Castle Forbes), but I have ordered Cella and Tabac based on the recommendations of the people here on B&B. I am anxious to see how well they perform.

 

[Oblique Human]

What scent Castle Forbes have you tried? I own the sandalwood and all I can smell is, I guess, piney saw-wood. Performance hasn't been as good as TOBS.

 

[OldGreyGuy]

I started a thread about a week ago about how I thought soaps are frustrating to use, how they don't perform as well as the best creams and what a waste of time it is to try to load up a brush with lather from a soap.

Well, I figured out what I was doing wrong - I was starting with too much excess water in my brush. Since then, I have whipped up some terrific lathers with D R Harris Arlington soap, Mystic Water Lavender and new Proraso (not quite a cream, not quite a soap) - in just a bit more time than it takes to load up with a cream. I am not convinced they outperform the best cream (Castle Forbes), but I have ordered Cella and Tabac based on the recommendations of the people here on B&B. I am anxious to see how well they perform.

Cella

Tabac

Now if you have ordered the red tub of Cella then many people here report that the tub is too small and so move some or all of the soap into a slightly larger container, it is soft so a dessert spoon will work fine. I use a Pyrex 1 cup bowl, but any small bowl, glass or plastic, about 3 inches or larger across will probably be good. I also prefer a boar brush with the Italian soft soaps but that is my preference, YMMV.

Tabac for me works best with a medium sized badger brush with shortish loft somewhere between 45 and 52mm, just something about the way the bristles work the soap gives me a better result than bigger brushes.

Enjoy and let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[vocalistbob]

I have Castle Forbes Lime and Lavender. The scent on both is faint, but I love that cream!

OGG - I have a Rooney Heritage 2 2-band that should work well.

 

[shave~extacy]

CF lavander IMO is the best perfoming cream I have tryed.

 

[cxg231]

Well, I figured out what I was doing wrong - I was starting with too much excess water in my brush.

I had the same revelation a month or two into my wet shaving adventure. Starting with a dryer brush works great for me with hard soaps. Glad you "found your way" and what works for you!