Mitchell’s Wool Fat with added menthol?

[IBieberhoff]

I am interested in what some Mitchell’s Wool Fat would feel like with a menthol component. I know that Stirling sells their “Frost Drops” and was thinking this could be an easy way to experiment.

I didn’t see any threads discussing this - has anyone tried this? What were the results?

 

[NorthernSoul]

Stirling Frost Drops will give you the effect you're looking for. It works better when bowl lathering; just add a few drops after your lather has been made. If you like mentholated soaps, you should like this. Don't add too much at first, the Frost Drops kind of creeps up on you. So, just experiment a bit.

 

[IBieberhoff]

Stirling Frost Drops will give you the effect you're looking for. It works better when bowl lathering; just add a few drops after your lather has been made. If you like mentholated soaps, you should like this. Don't add too much at first, the Frost Drops kind of creeps up on you. So, just experiment a bit.

Thanks for the reply! I’ll have to add some Frost Drops to my next order. How strong is the menthol smell from the drops?

 

[NorthernSoul]

Thanks for the reply! I’ll have to add some Frost Drops to my next order. How strong is the menthol smell from the drops?

There's not really much smell, maybe something like peppermint, but you can feel a little cooling sensation if you sniff the open bottle.

 

[BobYourUncle]

I’ve used MWF for decades. During the summer a little menthol is nice so I would massage Proraso Green pre-shave on my face before lathering up. Works well for face lathering.

 

[IBieberhoff]

There's not really much smell, maybe something like peppermint, but you can feel a little cooling sensation if you sniff the open bottle.

Awesome. This is just what I was hoping to hear.

 

[IBieberhoff]

I’ve used MWF for decades. During the summer a little menthol is nice so I would massage Proraso Green pre-shave on my face before lathering up. Works well for face lathering.

Great idea here, too. I do love MWF so it’s great to have a couple of options!

 

[EdHeart]

PAA sells a grinder and refill kit with menthol crystals. I have it. A little goes a very long way. I noticed the following when I used it with an unscented soap (could have been PAA CK6 or Stirling): I build my lather in a bowl. I got a nice creamy, shiny lather and ground some menthol over the top and the lather completely disappeared, evaporated, collapsed.

I'm not sure of the chemical reason for this. It took a considerable amount of effort and quite a bit more soap to get the lather back. I haven't experimented since, but when I do I'll share the results. My thought is to add a very small amount of menthol to unlathered soap and build the two together. I imagine this will result in a better end product.

No so side a side note: I thought MWF no longer uses wool fat? I've been really curious about scoring some. So are they using wool fat or has the formulation changed?

 

[NorthernSoul]

No so side a side note: I thought MWF no longer uses wool fat? I've been really curious about scoring some. So are they using wool fat or has the formulation changed?

MWF still has wool fat (it's in the name, after all!) aka lanolin. The newer version is a veggie based soap which has not got any tallow in it, though.

 

[EdHeart]

MWF still has wool fat (it's in the name, after all!) aka lanolin. The newer version is a veggie based soap which has not got any tallow in it, though.

Thanks for clarifying. Can you rec an online retailer in the US who has it?

 

[NorthernSoul]

Thanks for clarifying. Can you rec an online retailer in the US who has it?

I ordered it from Connaught in the UK. They had a really good price at the time, with the ceramic dish. Their shipping used to be more reasonable if you ordered a certain minimum amount, so I stocked up on Cella Bio, tallow Tabac, etc. I miss the old days...

For USA vendors, I have been really happy with Pasteur's Pharmacy in NYC. Check for their sales, they will have 15% coupon codes on holidays, etc.

 

[IBieberhoff]

Thanks for clarifying. Can you rec an online retailer in the US who has it?

For the new formulation (no tallow), I most recently found a cheap deal on Amazon with fast shipping so just went with that. It looks like Men’s Room, Razor Emporium, Pasteur’s and some other sites all have the refill pucks for around $15.

I’m guessing if you are looking for the tallow version you would probably have a little more trouble finding through an online seller.

 

[NorthernSoul]

For the new formulation (no tallow), I most recently found a cheap deal on Amazon with fast shipping so just went with that. It looks like Men’s Room, Razor Emporium, Pasteur’s and some other sites all have the refill pucks for around $15.

I’m guessing if you are looking for the tallow version you would probably have a little more trouble finding through an online seller.

The UK price for a refill MWF puck used to be around $8. Interesting things can happen to the prices when thing get sold by USA stores.

 

[EdHeart]

I ordered it from Connaught in the UK. They had a really good price at the time, with the ceramic dish. Their shipping used to be more reasonable if you ordered a certain minimum amount, so I stocked up on Cella Bio, tallow Tabac, etc. I miss the old days...

For USA vendors, I have been really happy with Pasteur's Pharmacy in NYC. Check for their sales, they will have 15% coupon codes on holidays, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Pure504]

PAA sells a grinder and refill kit with menthol crystals. I have it. A little goes a very long way. I noticed the following when I used it with an unscented soap (could have been PAA CK6 or Stirling): I build my lather in a bowl. I got a nice creamy, shiny lather and ground some menthol over the top and the lather completely disappeared, evaporated, collapsed.

I'm not sure of the chemical reason for this. It took a considerable amount of effort and quite a bit more soap to get the lather back. I haven't experimented since, but when I do I'll share the results. My thought is to add a very small amount of menthol to unlathered soap and build the two together. I imagine this will result in a better end product.

No so side a side note: I thought MWF no longer uses wool fat? I've been really curious about scoring some. So are they using wool fat or has the formulation changed?

Regarding what you described with the lather "evaporating"... I too have recently experienced this using the menthol grinder. Does anyone know what this is all about? I had a huge scuttle full of creamy lather, I twisted a few grinds of menthol into it, and all the lather just disappeared.

 

[shavetrooper]

Regarding what you described with the lather "evaporating"... I too have recently experienced this using the menthol grinder. Does anyone know what this is all about? I had a huge scuttle full of creamy lather, I twisted a few grinds of menthol into it, and all the lather just disappeared.

I just got the grinder, but I've never used it after I have whipped up a lather. I do a couple of grinds in my bowl with my little scoop of soap. Then I make my lather. I've never had a problem and it produces a full bowl of nice, creamy lather.

 

[Fordfather]

PAA sells a grinder and refill kit with menthol crystals. I have it. A little goes a very long way. I noticed the following when I used it with an unscented soap (could have been PAA CK6 or Stirling): I build my lather in a bowl. I got a nice creamy, shiny lather and ground some menthol over the top and the lather completely disappeared, evaporated, collapsed.

I'm not sure of the chemical reason for this. It took a considerable amount of effort and quite a bit more soap to get the lather back. I haven't experimented since, but when I do I'll share the results. My thought is to add a very small amount of menthol to unlathered soap and build the two together. I imagine this will result in a better end product.

No so side a side note: I thought MWF no longer uses wool fat? I've been really curious about scoring some. So are they using wool fat or has the formulation changed?

Regarding what you described with the lather "evaporating"... I too have recently experienced this using the menthol grinder. Does anyone know what this is all about? I had a huge scuttle full of creamy lather, I twisted a few grinds of menthol into it, and all the lather just disappeared.

I would venture to guess that the menthol crystals broke the surface tension of the lather bubbles.

Next time, grind the crystals onto the puck, before your whip up the lather.

 

[EdHeart]

I would venture to guess that the menthol crystals broke the surface tension of the lather bubbles.

Next time, grind the crystals onto the puck, before your whip up the lather.

This makes sense to me. Thanks for the input. It is my plan to build the two together next time.

 

[pjgh]

Use a mentholated pre-shave cream ... and the lather of whatever soap you choose will be unaffected by any unnecessary additions.

 

[Big Jim]

You might enjoy this.

https://www.classicshaving.com/collections/shave-soaps-and-creams-styptic/products/classic-shaving-wool-fat-shaving-soap-3-menthol