Thanks to this forum I have recently discovered Musgo Real. I have used it several times, and can honestly say it is one of the very best for me. If not THE best. And I have indeed tried many creams over the years. And when you consider the price, well that makes it even sweeter. I greatly prefer it to Proraso. Anyway, here is my question. I know Musgo has been around for many decades, but is it an authentic old brand that has endured continuously like Proraso and others? Or is it the brainchild of a company like Lafco to resurrect an old brand? And is today's Musgo the same as it was in the past? I love this cream so much I just have to know more about it.
Musgo Real Question
- Thread starter CoolBurn
- Start date
As far as I know, Musgo Real is made by Claus Porto and it has been around for a very long time. I don't know if there have been formula changes in the products or not though.
Musgo Real has underwent a few reforumulations in 2002. According to the shaving fans from NassRasur.com (see here---you mus tbe able to read German, though) the producer was not able to increase its standard of quality under the then current production process. So along with the alteration of the production process, they altered the formulation too. The lanolin was taken out; the colour was changed; and boric acid was introduced. They did not expect many problems as a sister product had been altered in a similar fashion some time before, and this was met with general approval. However, after many complaints the company quickly realised that the 'new' formulation was not what made Musgo so attractive to its users, so they altered the product again, this time trying to mimick the pre-2002 product as well as they could given the new production process. This formulation is what is still in use today.
There might have been other alterations, but to find out which ones you'd have to write to the manufacturer.
How to spot 'em (there are packaging differences too): pre-2002 contains triethanolamine; late-2002 contains boric acid; post-2002 contains potassium silicate.
There might have been other alterations, but to find out which ones you'd have to write to the manufacturer.
How to spot 'em (there are packaging differences too): pre-2002 contains triethanolamine; late-2002 contains boric acid; post-2002 contains potassium silicate.
I hate it when formulas get tinkered with. Most of these tried-and-true brands have their following, so altering a formula is dangerous.
Current ingredients are:
Aqua, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Palmitate, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Parfum, Potassium Silicate, Coconut Oil, Lanolin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel Extract), Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba oil), Alcohol, Menthol, CI 77007, CI 19140
At least the lanolin is still there...
Aqua, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Palmitate, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Parfum, Potassium Silicate, Coconut Oil, Lanolin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel Extract), Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba oil), Alcohol, Menthol, CI 77007, CI 19140
At least the lanolin is still there...
Indubitably. But according to the manufacturer, it had to be altered because their production process couldn't cope with increasing quality standards. And that too is in the interest of the consumer. It reminds me of the situation when the production of a certain make of beer is moved to another location. This always influences the taste of the product, and it can take several months to iron out all the differences.
I love the scent of the Musgo Real shave cream. Does the Aqua de Colonia #1 or any of the other Musgo Real colognes match or compliment the scent of the shave cream?
The aftershave probably complements it the best, imo, although nothing Musgo puts out actually matches the scent of the cream, oddly enough, and that includes the aftershave, which smells roughly the same as the soap on a rope. Ironically, if you're looking for something that matches the shaving cream, check out Heno de Pravia. The scent of the bath soap is pretty darn close to that of Musgo shaving cream. Heno de Pravia also comes in a cologne, which I've not smelled, but which I think matches the soap. Neither are very expensive.
Regarding the OP, I never got a chance to try the original formula, but I've tried the boric acid formula and the newer lanolin formula. What is currently available is much better, imo. The boric acid formula seemed like a Proraso copycat, with a sharp, medicinal smell - nothing like what we currently know as Musgo.
Interesting information on the reformulation. Was the reformulation done for purposes of meeting the European trade rules, or just an attempt to make production more efficient?
I just purchased my first tube and I will give it a go probably tomorrow. I really like the aftershave and will probably get some next week. The scent is light and clean.
For those keeping score in Houston, I got this at Kuhle Lindscombe. They now carry Musgo Real, Acqua di Parma, Anthony for Men, Art of Shaving, Molton Brown, Jack Black, and several others I am forgetting.
I just purchased my first tube and I will give it a go probably tomorrow. I really like the aftershave and will probably get some next week. The scent is light and clean.
For those keeping score in Houston, I got this at Kuhle Lindscombe. They now carry Musgo Real, Acqua di Parma, Anthony for Men, Art of Shaving, Molton Brown, Jack Black, and several others I am forgetting.
I have used many creams in the last four or five month, but Musgo Real was the only one I had a skin reaction to. Maybe it was one of the ingredients I was reacting to, other creams have not given me any problems - so far.
Is it possible you have a lanolin sensitivity? Musgo contains lanolin, which puts it out of court for a number of people who can't tolerate that ingredient. Do any of the other creams you've used contain lanolin?
I will say, even though I don't have issues with lanolin, I found Musgo was a little irritating on subsequent passes - nothing too bad, and not necessarily enough to make me not use it, since I like its other virtues, but it was there nonetheless. I suspect it's a scenting issue with me, since I've had the same issue with other strongly scented creams.
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I guess I've been fortunate in that I've never had any product cause irritation *knock wood*.
Funny you should say that. Prior to using Musgo, I was a bowl latherer, as I figured that was the best way to lather. My results were mixed but acceptable, so I labored along with the technique. When I got Musgo, I couldn't lather it in a bowl worth a damn, and for some reason I got the idea to lather it directly on my face. Bam! That did the trick. Then I decided to try it with my other creams - same thing. My results with creams went from mixed to perfectly consistent (provided the cream is good to begin with), and I haven't looked back. So, I guess that's my longwinded way of asking, how did you lather the Musgo?
As for the scent, that's subjective of course. But the boric acid and lanolin versions smell very different from each other. Any chance you got the boric acid version? Most people, myself included, think the lanolin version smells great. YMMV, though, obviously.
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I bowl lathered, the same as I do with Proraso cream, which works excellent.
I shaved again today with Musgo, and it was another very poor shave. I ran out of lather, after 2 passes WTG. This was working with a half dollar sized amount. The first pass was acceptable, the second pass was awful, and I ran out of lather!!! I then finished with Col Conk shave soap, which produced a thicker lather after 3 quick passes over the soap, and a better feeling shave on my final two passes, ATG and XTG. BTW, I then rinsed tons of Conk lather down the drain...
I'm extraordinarily disappointed with this one. I'll be sticking with Proraso for creams and Conk and TOBS for soaps I believe.
Mama Bear soap is another that I felt was highly overrated, used it once and it seemed to have no smell, and produced a very wimpy lather. Will try Mama Bear a couple more times though just to make sure.
I shaved again today with Musgo, and it was another very poor shave. I ran out of lather, after 2 passes WTG. This was working with a half dollar sized amount. The first pass was acceptable, the second pass was awful, and I ran out of lather!!! I then finished with Col Conk shave soap, which produced a thicker lather after 3 quick passes over the soap, and a better feeling shave on my final two passes, ATG and XTG. BTW, I then rinsed tons of Conk lather down the drain...
I'm extraordinarily disappointed with this one. I'll be sticking with Proraso for creams and Conk and TOBS for soaps I believe.
Mama Bear soap is another that I felt was highly overrated, used it once and it seemed to have no smell, and produced a very wimpy lather. Will try Mama Bear a couple more times though just to make sure.
That might be that I am allergic to Lanolin, although I cannot recall ever had a reaction to any cream (like Nivea, I think also contains Lanolin). Also, I am not sure if any of the other shaving creams I use and have used contain any Lanolin. I have used all Castle Forbes (which I all like), all of TOBS, a lot of the Trumper's creams and nearly all of T+H and several others, like LaToja, Arko, Bigelows, Tabac, Bronnley, SCS and did not have a reaction nor did I see Lanolin listed in the creams that have the contents printed on the container. I will surely keep an eye on this ingredient in the future.
Perhaps you need more water? If you put a 1/2 dollar sized amount in the bowl you will need to add more water proportionally. With Musgo I like to add a little more water even when it looks like it's good to go. If you don't add enough water, you will produce less lather, it will be thicker, and it won't have enough slip. Try doing one pass on the sideburn area to see how slick your lather is. If it doesn't feel right add a little more water to the bowl. YMMV though.
Whether you bowl or face lather should not matter with most good creams and musgo is no different in my experience. Check the ol' cream to water ratio first.
A half-dollar sized spot of cream should not ever produce thin, wimpy lather. Ratio's got to be off. Maybe it's a bad batch of cream. More likely technique, though, especially if Mama Bear is giving trouble. It lathers up easily.
A big +1. I love Musgo Real cream. As for the scent, it reminds me of something I always smelled in grandma and grandpa's bathroom. I love it, for nostalgia if for no other reason.
