Lets Talk About Mysore Sandal Soap

[Phog Allen]

Good afternoon gentlemen. October is approaching and it has become a bit of a tradition for me to stock up on toiletries. Particularly the scents we associate with fall. Sandalwoods, vetyver, leathers, you get the drift.

Today I am interested in the Mysore Sandal soaps. This is really not an issue of should I, but which one? I thought there was essentially the one in the old school green, white, and red box. However, when you go to Mysore website you will find a number of sandal products. I have looked them over and at least two of them are of no real interest to me. They contain a mixture of glycerin base and soap base and are more like Pears soaps. I am interested in products TS-01 and TS-05.

I am unsure if there is any real difference in them. I have only seen the TS-01 product referenced here. BTW, the TS numbers are simply what is listed on the site by each product. I have no idea if it is actually product numbers. Would someone who uses these products care to compare the two? One is listed as "Mysore Sandal Soap" and the other "Mysore Sandal Bath Tablet".

The soaps seem to enjoy a good reputation and are supposed to be heavily scented which is fine by me if it is sandalwood! I just want to make sure I wind up with a traditional product.

Regards Todd

TS-01

Ts-05

 

[mr_economy]

Todd,

My girlfriend brought back a cake of the TS-05 from India for me last summer, and I loved it. It's a fairly large size and very heavily (and wonderfully) scented. I did have to put it away for winter though, as I had some issues with dry skin. Well worth a purchase.

 

[Phog Allen]

Hey Kyle. Thank you for the information. Sounds like either version would be okay for me. BTW, did you see the KU 'game' Friday night? I am missing Mangino big time. This is just plain ugly. Last week's upset of Georgia Tech notwithstanding, they had better get it together fast or this season is over.

Regards, Todd

 

[p.m.a.]

I saw the bath tablets at a local shop last week. Seems to be the same soap, just in a different shape.

If anyone has dry skin issues with the regular Mysore soap, please do consider Mysore Sandal Gold Soap (Product Code TS-02) - contains additional moisturizers of almond oil and lanolin. It smells pretty much the same as the regular Mysore (perhaps just a tad milder) once it is lathered. The Gold is a little bit more expensive.

 

[Kevan]

The two you've pictured are the same soap. One is bigger than the other.

Two I've tried that you could consider are Mysore Sandal Gold (with almond oil). It smells a little different than the regular bar but the scent id the same after you bathe with it. The other is "Mysore Sandal Classic" which is glycerin-based (but is not translucent, contrary to the website picture, and it doesn't melt as fast as Pears). It's my understanding that despite its name, the "Classic" variety was developed specifically for Indians living abroad in colder climates. It smells the same as the regular bar.

 

[Phog Allen]

Ah, thank you gentlemen. This clears a things up.

Regards, Todd

 

[Frosty]

I love the stuff. There's an Indian grocer who sells these for about £1. I go once a month or so and grab a few of them. The fragrance is strong - some would say harsh but if you like sandalwood, this is a must. Lathers really well and makes me feel clean and fresh the whole day. As it's a soap it is quite drying in the skin so recommend moisturise after

 

[T.Ryan]

Both of the soaps pictured, I believe, are the same. That info comes, from the Indian lady who operates an Indian grocery in Champaign, Illinois. I use the Mysore. Sandalwood is a refreshing scent for both shower soap and shaving soap. India is a large if not the largest source of sandalwood trees on the planet.

 

[David in Boston]

From reading these posts it looks like Sandal Soap is a warm weather type.

I'll hold off using mine till Spring.

Got dry skin problems in the Fall and Winter.

 

[Topgumby]

Never had a problem with it drying my skin, but I don't tend to dry skin in the first place.

I love the scent. Is there a cologne that replicates it?

 

[Jim]

I have used this soap for a few years now, recently a fine fellow sent me some from a local source in India, it was several powers of magnitude stronger in scent then the many bars before.
I do not know if they have an export product that is tamer or what but it would seem so to me.

 

[luvmysuper]

Never had a problem with it drying my skin, but I don't tend to dry skin in the first place.

I love the scent. Is there a cologne that replicates it?

+1
Not drying to me, but I'm not the "sensitive" skin type.
Great scent, makes the whole bathroom smell great.

The smell is NOT like any sandalwood shaving soap I have smelled, so though I would also like to find a Cologne or AS with that smell, I fear that the recomendations will be more like the shaving soap I have smelled and not like the bath soap I have.

 

[Jim]

DR Harris Sandalwood aftershave is a strong woody scent- lasts all day to boot.
Diptyque Tam dao is another sandalwood that is strongly woody but a bit less dry.

 

[luvmysuper]

DR Harris Sandalwood aftershave is a strong woody scent- lasts all day to boot.
Diptyque Tam dao is another sandalwood that is strongly woody but a bit less dry.

I will be checking that out, Thanks!

 

[Shave A Buck]

Yes they do market an "Export Quality" package to the USA and in two sizes. A good soap in my opinion that has never given me any problems over the years.

 

[Phog Allen]

Whoa. I think this is my first post to made a made a sticky. I am in great company now. Up there with Guenron!

On a more topic oriented note, I can say without hesitation this is a good soap. It is quite dry to my nose with a very old school, wood/soap aroma that fills the bathroom when you lather it. I have experienced no drying issues and I tend toward it during the fall and winter when the air dries out. For the princely sum of a $2 or so it is more than worth trying.

Regards, Todd

 

[kingfisher]

Never had a problem with it drying my skin, but I don't tend to dry skin in the first place.

I love the scent. Is there a cologne that replicates it?

I think the Saint Charles Shave sandalwood cologne smells almost exactly the same as the Mysore Sandalwood soap. Sue made it from oils she extracted herself from actual mysore sandalwood, so I guess that isn't surprising.

I don't know if SCS still has it in stock, but I'm sure that'd be your best approximation as far as colognes go.

I have a sample size container of it. My wife doesn't like it. So, in the event that there isn't any more available, let me know and maybe we could figure out a way to get the cologne from my house to yours (although I really like it).

 

[direwolf1980]

I was fortunate to stumble on Mysore while traveling in India. I bought a stack of soap while there, then found a great Indian grocer who stocks it. It and Yardley's keeps me going in inexpensive bath soaps!

 

[shavemeup]

I have used this soap for a few years now, recently a fine fellow sent me some from a local source in India, it was several powers of magnitude stronger in scent then the many bars before.
I do not know if they have an export product that is tamer or what but it would seem so to me.

I have been to India several times and always bring a load of sandalwood soap back. The quality seems to be the same between the ones I buy there and the ones I get here in the USA. It could be that the bars you got over here have sat around for some time before you bought them. I just bought 10 bars from amazon and they were just fine. The Indian rose soap is great also.
I love the smell of elephants in the morning........

 

[luvmysuper]

I have been to India several times and always bring a load of sandalwood soap back. The quality seems to be the same between the ones I buy there and the ones I get here in the USA. It could be that the bars you got over here have sat around for some time before you bought them. I just bought 10 bars from amazon and they were just fine. The Indian rose soap is great also.
I love the smell of elephants in the morning........

The Jasmine soap by the same manufacturer is no slouch either.