Tabac & Palmolive: Stick refill only?

[Topgumby]

Gents,

My brother returned from Germany bearing gifts. He stopped by an Ihr Platz on his way home, and went in search of shaving items on my request list.

They were out of Tabac, except for the shaving stick refill. He bought it, and of course I had to shave with it tonight. Great stuff, and the scent is like a drug, I love it.

The format is a little unweildy, however. It's just a soap cylinder on the plastic base, and I can see it getting ratty in a hurry. I've not used any shave sticks before, and I assume there is a holder, like a lipstick on steriods, that this is supposed to fit into. Any reason it shouldn't hit the microwave to be melted down in a cup?

I also recieved a couple of Palmolive shave sticks, and they are also only cylinders of soap on a base, covered with foil. Is there a holder that they go in to, or are they used as is?

 

[FLTiger]

I wouldn't nuke em.

You can mill them into bowls and treat them like pucks, if you prefer.

 

[Jcof3474]

I milled my Palmolive into a bowl and it is just pure awsomeness!

No Nuke for the Tallow.

J.

 

[Topgumby]

Thanks, I've only dealt with glycerin based soaps before, so I thought I'd ask.

The Tabac gave a great shave face lathering, and that scent! Maybe it's the ex-smoker in me, but I swear if I knew I wouldn't make me sick, I'd bite a hunk off that stick!

 

[Chimensch]

There's no holder. That's how them come, with the plastic base. I use a small grater to mold the sticks into a bowl.

 

[mdunn]

will it, dont microwave.

There is a holder for tabac, though im not sure you can buy it without a stick already inside it (maybe a WTB in the bst?). Though im pretty sure palmolive doesnt have a holder, its just wrapped in foil and on a base.

 

[Colphax]

A good rule of thumb for melting soaps is if its translucent, it's glycerin based and you can easily melt it however you choose. If the soap is opaque or hard, mill (grate) it.

You can melt tallow or triple milled soaps, but there's a lot more effort involved to prevent the soap from scorching. Most guys pick the easier route and mill it, then compact the shreds into the container. End result is the same.

EDIT: Some sticks come with a holder, like La Toja, but many just come with a wrapped stick stuck onto a plastic base. Sticks like that are not "refills", its just no frills packaging.

 

[talibeard]

As far as I know the Palmolive is only available as a refill, but Tabac can be bought in the container as well as just a refill. The Tabac containers are not sold separately.

 

[Suzuki]

As far as I know the Palmolive is only available as a refill, but Tabac can be bought in the container as well as just a refill. The Tabac containers are not sold separately.

Correct - the Tabac comes with the same sort of holder as the Moos.

While the Tabac holders are hard to find, you might ask if someone has an empty Moos container, as they're the same size (same MFG as Tabac). I know some folks have milled their Moos into bowls, so there might be an empty one hanging around.

And, to reiterate, you cannot nuke any soaps other than the glycerine based ones (clear or translucent depending on what's in them). You can melt hard soaps, if you grate them and melt them gently over a double boiller/bain marie. You may have to add a touch of water to the mix. But there is always the risk of ruining the soap - which is why milling/grating is the preferred way of dealing with these types of soap.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I'd just post something on the B/S/T and somebody will hook you up. I had a Tabac refill and received an empty Irisch Moos container after I posted. I peeled off the label, put on my own and popped in the refill. It fits perfectly.

 

[Topgumby]

Thanks, great idea.

The Palmolive sticks are small enough I thing I can deal with them, but that Tabac stick refill is a big old hunk of soap. I have a feeling it will get pretty beat up moving from drawer/cabinet to counter top (my wife has this insane notion that the bathroom should look orderly). I may just mill it to a bowl or cup as the idea of using a cheese grater on soap is strange enough to hold some appeal for me.

 

[Tone deaf]

Palmolive is a great soap, grate one and keep the other as a stick...glad you got a chance to try this European stalwart.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

The Speick stick is packaged (not packaged) similarly. I use a tall pill cannister (not with the child proof top) from the local pharmacy (they will generally give you one for free), drilled a few holes into the lid. Done. Good for travelling too.

 

[beaverboy]

The best thing I found to do with the Palmolive (Menen) shave stick is to put in the little plastic holder-ring thinggy that Spiek sticks come with. It fits in perfectly and you dont have to put your wet hands all over the stick.

 

[ClubmanRob]

The last couple of Palmolive sticks I purchased have the little plastic ring on the bottom.

 

[beaverboy]

The last couple of Palmolive sticks I purchased have the little plastic ring on the bottom.

Were they in a box or wrapped in foil backed paper? I can only get them in paper here and there's no room for them to put the ring.

 

[talibeard]

The last couple of Palmolive sticks I purchased have the little plastic ring on the bottom.

That is how they come overhere too. Just like the Speick stick.

 

[ClubmanRob]

They were foil wrapped and in a carton.