I have been using DE Razors since July 2021, and have experimented with numerous razors and soaps. My well water is about as hard as water could be and still be a liquid. I have used, and continue to use MWF, Tabac, Stirling, Mike's, TOB soap and cream, DR Harris, Maison Lambert, Speck, La Toja, Sir Hare, Prorasso, Haslinger's Sheep. After a few months of various techniques to load the brush (Badger, Boar, and Synthetic) I began using the scoop technique, and have had a virtual 100% success rate with lathering each soap. I scoop a small amount of product into a warmed shaving bowl, spread it out with my fingers, and sprinkle a bit of water on it. Then, after a shower, I lather it up. The only downside is that I quite often end up with a massive amount of lather, which is wasteful, and sometimes some unused product in the grooves of the bowl. I don's consider this a real problem because I have enough soap to last a decade. I am curious as to other people's experiences with this method.