Hey Folks,
I like to support local businesses and craftsmen/women when I can so after seeing that many local soap works produce shave soaps, which they claim rave reviews of, I've decided to sample a few of them and write reviews. Over the coming months I hope to try most of the locally available soaps, as well as some other Canadian artisan soaps I can get my hands on.
First up to bat is Free Spirit Farm's Shaving Soap (http://ift.tt/1gV4wu8).
Test Conditions: 2 days beard growth, 40's Style Superspeed + Wilkinson Sword (2nd shave). Vulfix Pure Badger brush [can't remember model number after all these years]. Shower followed by hot towel as prep.
Presentation and Format: 4oz/114g bar, almost cube shaped, off yellow and quintessentially soap coloured. This bar could easily be used as a shave stick, but apparently it is intended to be a mug soap. Very homemade looking label (who cares though), and apparently biodegradable plastic wrap. If I were to continue using this soap I would either use it as a shave stick, or grate it into a bowl, I did not find the current shape conducive to brush loading. Price was a typical of local soaps $5 a bar.
Ingredients (from packaging): Olive Oil, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Lye, Castor Oil, Cocoa Butter, Cedrus Deodora (cedarwood) oil, Peppermint oil, French Green Clay, Rhassoul Clay.
Aroma: Pre-lather it smells strongly of fresh cut cedar bows, which I loved and was the primary reason I purchased this soap, very strong but not overpowering. Once lathered the peppermint takes over, again strong but not overpowering; however, I found it far less pleasant than the initial cedar smell, much more medicinal, almost chemical and somewhat off putting. That said the smell wasn't so bad as to prevent me from using it, other may enjoy it more than I did.
Latherability: Despite awkward format, it loaded my brush surprisingly easily. I bowl lathered, it took a bit more work than usual to get it to start lathering, but took off without too much trouble. Lather was somewhat on the light and airy side, though felt adequately slick on my fingers.
The Shave: There is no other way to put this...this was the single worst shave I've ever had. The razor did not travel comfortably over my skin, the lather provided little to no lubrication for the blade, and dried out quickly. By the time I was half way though my WTG pass on my neck I had to abort due to a distinct burning sensation on the skin I had just shaved. I immediately jumped back in the shower to rinse off again.
Aftermath: My neck burned for the remainder of the day, and apparently the half of my neck I managed to shave was distinctly purple for several hours afterwards. The skin on my face fared better, though is quite dry now. 1 day later I can hardly tell the difference (stubble wise) between the now 3-day growth parts of my face and the 1-day growth parts of my face.
Verdict: Would not recommend. I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to one of the ingredients as the portion of my neck that I lathered but did not shave seems fine. I suspect the cedar/peppermint oil simply aggravated irritation from the lack of lubrication.
I will gladly PIF this bar to any masochist who wants to try it :lol: (on condition they provide a subsequent review as well).
Next up will be Osha Mae Castor Oil Shave Soap (http://ift.tt/1ghNDE0), date TBD once my neck heals.
I like to support local businesses and craftsmen/women when I can so after seeing that many local soap works produce shave soaps, which they claim rave reviews of, I've decided to sample a few of them and write reviews. Over the coming months I hope to try most of the locally available soaps, as well as some other Canadian artisan soaps I can get my hands on.
First up to bat is Free Spirit Farm's Shaving Soap (http://ift.tt/1gV4wu8).
Test Conditions: 2 days beard growth, 40's Style Superspeed + Wilkinson Sword (2nd shave). Vulfix Pure Badger brush [can't remember model number after all these years]. Shower followed by hot towel as prep.
Presentation and Format: 4oz/114g bar, almost cube shaped, off yellow and quintessentially soap coloured. This bar could easily be used as a shave stick, but apparently it is intended to be a mug soap. Very homemade looking label (who cares though), and apparently biodegradable plastic wrap. If I were to continue using this soap I would either use it as a shave stick, or grate it into a bowl, I did not find the current shape conducive to brush loading. Price was a typical of local soaps $5 a bar.
Ingredients (from packaging): Olive Oil, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Lye, Castor Oil, Cocoa Butter, Cedrus Deodora (cedarwood) oil, Peppermint oil, French Green Clay, Rhassoul Clay.
Aroma: Pre-lather it smells strongly of fresh cut cedar bows, which I loved and was the primary reason I purchased this soap, very strong but not overpowering. Once lathered the peppermint takes over, again strong but not overpowering; however, I found it far less pleasant than the initial cedar smell, much more medicinal, almost chemical and somewhat off putting. That said the smell wasn't so bad as to prevent me from using it, other may enjoy it more than I did.
Latherability: Despite awkward format, it loaded my brush surprisingly easily. I bowl lathered, it took a bit more work than usual to get it to start lathering, but took off without too much trouble. Lather was somewhat on the light and airy side, though felt adequately slick on my fingers.
The Shave: There is no other way to put this...this was the single worst shave I've ever had. The razor did not travel comfortably over my skin, the lather provided little to no lubrication for the blade, and dried out quickly. By the time I was half way though my WTG pass on my neck I had to abort due to a distinct burning sensation on the skin I had just shaved. I immediately jumped back in the shower to rinse off again.
Aftermath: My neck burned for the remainder of the day, and apparently the half of my neck I managed to shave was distinctly purple for several hours afterwards. The skin on my face fared better, though is quite dry now. 1 day later I can hardly tell the difference (stubble wise) between the now 3-day growth parts of my face and the 1-day growth parts of my face.
Verdict: Would not recommend. I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to one of the ingredients as the portion of my neck that I lathered but did not shave seems fine. I suspect the cedar/peppermint oil simply aggravated irritation from the lack of lubrication.
I will gladly PIF this bar to any masochist who wants to try it :lol: (on condition they provide a subsequent review as well).
Next up will be Osha Mae Castor Oil Shave Soap (http://ift.tt/1ghNDE0), date TBD once my neck heals.
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