Really stinky vintage soap

[Brownbear]

I got a vintage travel set mostly for the 3 soap stick tubes in it, but didn't pay attention to the listing. All three tubes had an unused vintage soap stick wrapped in decomposing foil. One is in a nice tube marked Rexall.

Problem is, they smell horribly rancid. I mean nasty, don't want to put this on your face first thing in the morning rancid. Want to throw them away rancid.

Is this just par for the course for old soap? Could it be they were tallow based and the tallow has gone off? Is there anything I can do to deodorize them or should I just throw them away?

You vintage soap gurus must have encountered this, any cures?

 

[beginish]

Sometimes the old soaps can have an "off" smell to them, but it is often confined to the outer layer where some oxidation can happen due to improper storage. There is no tallow left in there to turn, as the chemical treatment of the tallow and other ingredients turned it into the soap. Why not just give it a good wash in running water to see if that gets rid of that funk.

I defer to much more experienced vintage soap users like bythebook and evbo for their suggestions.

 

[Telecaster52]

could be LV scented

 

[bythbook]

hmmm... try washing them (or try sending them to me)....

I've run into one soap that is intentionally smelly (no, not the legendary - likely mythical - LV soap, no) - but one produced & distributed by Rawleigh Home Products - it is intentionally and allegedly "medicinal."

It's possible that Rexall soaps are likewise medicinal....

The "offest" soap (other than Rawleigh - really, I do not accept the existance of LV!) I've smelled is some vintage RH Macy's I have - I think it was stored in the most hideous conditions (likely very very hot) - it smells like butter. But not rancid butter. And the wooden bowl started to mold, I think.... (Gives a nice shave, though.)

Even the oldest shave sticks I have - those with the wrappers grafted into the soap - don't smell sh*tty bad.

I second beginish's suggestion - try to wash the gunk off & see if that helps.

 

[rosborne]

I've had a couple vintage soap lose their original scent and smell more like plain lye soap but never anything like what you described. I would try to remove some of the outer soap either by water or knife and see if that doens't do the trick.

 

[media]

I would use a vegetable/carrot peeler to take off the outer layer of the soap and see if that improves the scent. Otherwise, it might just be a loss. Which isnt that big of a deal, considering you got some nice shave stick tubes.

 

[Evbo]

I agree w/Jon's (bythbook) recommendations above. I would also add that in addition to scraping and/or washing the soap, I'd recommend leaving it in direct sunlight for a few hours. That will help to kill any nasty mold/fungus/other bacteria, or at least anything left over on the surface of the soap.

I had a very old soap that smelled kind of foul. I scraped off the top layer, gave it a thorough rinse & left it in direct sunshine for a few hours. Made a big difference.

Good luck!

 

[Munxcub]

I have an old soap that also smells like butter. Not unpleasant or strong, gives a decent shave. Still not through the outermost layer into the soft chewy underbelly tho, if that makes a difference. I'm hoping once I am a nice scent will emerge.

 

[bythbook]

I agree w/Jon's (bythbook) recommendations above. I would also add that in addition to scraping and/or washing the soap, I'd recommend leaving it in direct sunlight for a few hours. That will help to kill any nasty mold/fungus/other bacteria, or at least anything left over on the surface of the soap.

I had a very old soap that smelled kind of foul. I scraped off the top layer, gave it a thorough rinse & left it in direct sunshine for a few hours. Made a big difference.

Good luck!

ooooh! SUNSHINE! Good idea, that, Evbo. Mold is a possibility, especially if the stick was ridden hard & put away wet.

(Here's the manifestation of my sickness: I'm aching to get 'hold of a Rexall shave stick now!)

 

[Evbo]

ooooh! SUNSHINE! Good idea, that, Evbo. Mold is a possibility, especially if the stick was ridden hard & put away wet.

(Here's the manifestation of my sickness: I'm aching to get 'hold of a Rexall shave stick now!)

Ah well -- wish I could take credit for it but the sunlight suggestion was originally given to me by Jim. Credit where credit is due.

Re your craving for a Rexall stick, well ... there are trained professionals you can talk to about that sort of thing.

I should know.

 

[bythbook]

Ah well -- wish I could take credit for it but the sunlight suggestion was originally given to me by Jim. Credit where credit is due.

Re your craving for a Rexall stick, well ... there are trained professionals you can talk to about that sort of thing.

I should know.

...you got one of those sticks, didn't you?

 

[Evbo]

...you got one of those sticks, didn't you?

Nope. The last stick I bought was a vintage Williams. It's still unopened & pristine in its original tin. But Rexall, hmmmm...

 

[bythbook]

Nope. The last stick I bought was a vintage Williams. It's still unopened & pristine in its original tin. But Rexall, hmmmm...

one of the rosy Wms in red plastic?

I still want Rexall Rexall Rexall

 

[Brownbear]

Thanks for all the replies, I peeled the Rexall with a vegetable peeler and washed it thoroughly. Still smells quite a bit so tomorrow I'll try the sun. Normally that wouldn't be an option here but a high pressure has settled in unseasonably and we are due for sun through the weekend. So I'll stick it out on the front porch in the morning and hope a raven doesn't eat it, they being carrion feeders when they get a chance

My son says the soaps smell like old people, which I think is uncharitable toward old people. One, I am an old people and two if someone smelled like these they'd have to be dead, not old. But you get the idea.

Bythebook, PM me your address and I'll pop one of the sticks in the mail. I have too many soaps and creams anyway and I'd be interested to get your opinion on the odor. Butter would be a major step up. The sticks are quite dried out and a little cracked, but still seem to lather. The foil was crumbled and sticking to them and had to be washed off.

 

[Evbo]

My son says the soaps smell like old people, which I think is uncharitable toward old people.

Everybody's a comedian. But I have to admit, that made me laugh.

Good luck -- hope the sunlight treatment works. It's possible, though, that your soap is beyond the pale. In that case, perhaps the services of a priest will be required.

Keep us posted!

 

[gaseousclay]

I would say if the soap smells that bad just throw it away. I personally couldn't apply something to my face that's been collecting funk for the last 40-50 years. *barf*

 

[Stubblefield]

could be LV scented

Or Tabac.

 

[Munxcub]

I have some old unopened blades that I think are Rexall.