Santa Maria Novella and Castle Forbes, how do you lather it?

[shavingcyclist]

Do you lather straight from the container or remove a bit from it and use a bowl?

Both these creams are somewhat firm enough to use as a croap yet soft enough to use in a bowl.

I've tried both methods but I think the bowl is the way to go. Less water in the cream, less chance to contaminate it.

 

[AdiW]

My rule is if i can scoop a dolop with my finger, i'll use a bowl. It's more like a habit than fear of contamination.

 

[evnpar]

I pick up soap on my brush straight from the container with both of these, then face lather.

 

[sarimento1]

both of these classic creams tend to harden over time.
lather however you will, performance and scent should be great!

 

[macintoshBR]

SMN: load the brush directly from the container, like a normal soap or croap
Castle Forbes: same, but loading time is reduced

 

[tfinch]

I just load CF straight onto the brush as if using soap. Haven't had the chance to try SMN. CF seemed too firm to be convenient to dig the right amount out of the container.

 

[HiPowerRon]

I just used Castle Forbe Lime today for the first time. The cream was hard enough that I loaded my brush like I would with a croap. I found it doesn't take much CF cream to produce tons of yogurty lather

 

[Bhugo]

I pick up soap on my brush straight from the container with both of these, then face lather.

Same

 

[musicman1951]

I put a dab in the scuttle (bowl). CF requires such a small amount of product and I find it easier to hit the right amount by scooping a little out with a small knife.

 

[shavefan]

I pick up soap on my brush straight from the container with both of these, then face lather.

Same

Me too. Both are great creams!

 

[FL shaver]

I’ve loaded Castle Forbes Lime and Lavender directly from the tub.

 

[Batmanacci]

Absolutely right from the container and enjoy.. it's amoung the best out there!

 

[macintoshBR]

I pick up soap on my brush straight from the container with both of these, then face lather.

+1

Both are great. Castle Forbes feels so smooooooth on the skin

 

[xiletero]

Clean brush to container, not dripping, load w the tub facing down, then face lather.
I do NOT stick my fingers into the soap... if needed have a clean spoon for that.
I don't stick the used brush again into the container....if I happen to run out of lather (head+face shave), I'll use a cream to save the shave (on rare occasion )

 

[Matt O]

I scoop both from the container, and smear it on the bottom of my lather bowl. I take my brush that soaked in a tea cup of distilled water during my shower, squeeze out the water, and then I proceed to lather in the bowl swirling the brush in circles, getting the lather off of the sides, and pumping and swirling the brush. I continue this, add 1ml of distilled water with my syringe, swirl, add 1ml of distilled water, swirl, repeat until I have the perfect lather for my tastes.

I actually used SMN last night, and used this exact method. It was FANTASTIC! TOP TIER Cream all the way!

Vr

Matt

 

[Matt O]

Here are a few pics of today’s lather using the method above, and Castle Forbes Lime. The first bowl picture was generated using the brush after all the distilled water was squeezed out...it wAs just damp. Each picture in the succession after was taken after adding 1 ml of distilled water, and swirled. The last was the end result...total of 5 ml of distilled water used.

Vr

Matt

 

[allyourbasearebelongtous]

with the exception of MDC, i only bowel lather, out of fear of contamination. specially when i don't use the soap daily.

 

[Steve56]

Bowel lathering will contaminate your shave every time!

 

[johnnylighton]

Here are a few pics of today’s lather using the method above, and Castle Forbes Lime. The first bowl picture was generated using the brush after all the distilled water was squeezed out...it wAs just damp. Each picture in the succession after was taken after adding 1 ml of distilled water, and swirled. The last was the end result...total of 5 ml of distilled water used.

Matt, I used your technique last night with Castle Forbes lime and it worked great! How much CF do you put in the bowl? Also, how would you compare SMN and CF as far as slickness and cushion? Thanks!

 

[Matt O]

Matt, I used your technique last night with Castle Forbes lime and it worked great! How much CF do you put in the bowl? Also, how would you compare SMN and CF as far as slickness and cushion? Thanks!

Hello! I am glad that it worked well for you! I scrape out some with the back side of a small spoon. It is usually about this much, and it covers about a silver dollar size area in the bottom of my lather bowl. I do this with all my soaps and creams that I can scoop. Here is an older pic...

I think that Castle Forbes and Santa Maria Novella are both great/top tier products. I seem to be able to get a better lather with SMN, and I think that the performance of SMN is better than that of CF.

Here is what I was able to make today with about that amount of Santa Maria Novella...same lathering technique.

Vr

Matt