Local soap disappointment

[cybrok]

I want to buy locally, I want to help local artisans who decided to make handmade soaps their buisness... as long as the quality is there.

There was my quest: Find a local Colleen or Sue.

First attempt: La Savonnerie du Village.

I actually got this one as a stocking stuffer. A goat milk soap, oddly shaped (thinner and taller than usual soaps). I never was able to lather this one decently (I think it's because they don't use castor oil). Bubbles as big as 1/4 of an inch. I tried different brushes and techniques, nothing worked.

Then on the Antique Store Street, I found another soapmaker: Candeur.

I get in, have a quick look, then find 3-4 scents of shaving soap, one of them being Sandalwood. "Sweet, I need (read want) one of these in my den". I sniff it, not impressive, but maybe it has been there a while and the scent is not as strong, but will get back when I lather.

The lather was better, but not good enough to shave. As for the scent... well it smells more like fish than sandalwood.

I'm really disappointed by those soaps, I won't pay for local products if I can get a better shave with a puck of Williams.



I would still like to mention that my quest is followed by Scott from Rasage Poulin, who seems to have a similar quest, but not only for personal use. Two thumbs up. We'll find some good local products Scott... eventually.

 

[Poulin]

 

[Lavaine]

Can I assume by this that you have yet to find any Alberta made soaps worth stocking then Scott?

Chris

 

[arghblech]

My advice to you would be:

Talk to local soapmaker's and tell them what you are looking for. I'm talking to a local artisanal soapmaker about tallow shaving soaps. She used to make tallow soaps for bathing but has no clue how men and women have different demands on soap labeled for shaving.

It's likely that nothing will come of this other than a few painful shaves for me but the thought of having her whip up a batch for me and a few pals is pretty exciting.

 

[Mr. Igg]

Sadly, my experience so far leads me to think your thread title, "Local soap disappointment" is largely a statement of broad truth.

I have yet to run across a local shaving soap that worked as a shaving soap should. I have found a few that serve the soap's role in superlathering just fine, but most soaps will check that block.

<sigh>

I'm truly thankful for the resources (read: awesome vendors) the internet has provided all of us.

 

[Poulin]

Can I assume by this that you have yet to find any Alberta made soaps worth stocking then Scott?

Chris

Funny thing about that is I wrote some emails to some local soap makers and they never bothered to write back. There was some other locally made stuff I did order in, but after trying to use it for a shave I put it back in the box and have yet to get around to getting rid of it. It wouldn't lather for me at all.... and it has big chunks of hard stuff in it like you would see in a product made as a facial scrub. Definitely not something that I would have wanted to take a $200 or $300 blade edge near.

I'd love to have more good local products! Really! I would! It would be wonderful!

 

[MoreSaltThanPepper]

It wouldn't lather for me at all.... and it has big chunks of hard stuff in it like you would see in a product made as a facial scrub. Definitely not something that I would have wanted to take a $200 or $300 blade edge near.

Or even a $0.10 edge. The last stuff I tried from the big "Farmers" market here reminded me of the James Herriot story, where the soap the farmer gave him would not make any lather at all. Smelled ok but more like a candle than a soap.

I'd love to have more good local products! Really! I would! It would be wonderful!

Me too but we will just have to struggle through as best we can with PdP . . .

At least, on this side of the border, we don't have to call it "Freedom" soap

- John

 

[gone down south]

I went to a beer tasting at a local soap-maker's store a while ago (it was cool, they custom made soaps to match the beers we were sampling!), and wrote them later asking if they had any interest in making a shave soap.

The reply was not very encouraging ;

thanks for the suggestion, though you should know that any one of our soaps are great for shaving. "shaving soap" is simply a marketing tool.
every once in a while we make bay rum soap that is reminiscent of old world shaving soaps but we recommend our shaving cream because you get better results.
the technology is more efficient and better for your skin.

Oh well, I tried!

 

[Hemlock]

I wish I had a local soap maker. My mom made soap a few times years ago, maybe I'll have to ask her about it.

 

[Luc]

If you are going down to Sherbrooke, there's http://www.vertmousse.com/. I have no idea if their soap is good or not. I could always send my dad there, if he would have an interest in it, it would help. I think someone at the shaving den tried it and said it was ok but no more.

I haven't tried it myself so cannot comment on it. I will when I go up to visit next time...