Review Redgum Soaps

I have to butt in here and comment on the wonderful reviews from @gthomas04 @khun_diddy and most particularly @alfredus for going above an beyond with the reviews - all clearly intended to be helpful and constructive.

Big kudos too to @roger for being so willing to take the feedback on board in a positive manner.

Seriously folks - we are spoilt with the quality of vendors we have on here.
 
Today I tried the Redgum aftershave - very nice. The scent is out of this world - it could become my favourite!!! The post shave feel is also very good - I personally think pure OO is better, but for those who don't like pure olive oil, this aftershave has a very low viscosity and can be used as is without diluting it down with water and it definitely does not gives you that "oily" feel.
 
alfredus said:
Today I tried the Redgum aftershave - very nice. The scent is out of this world - it could become my favourite!!! The post shave feel is also very good - I personally think pure OO is better, but for those who don't like pure olive oil, this aftershave has a very low viscosity and can be used as is without diluting it down with water and it definitely does not gives you that "oily" feel.
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RE: your take on the scent - I have to say I'm a lil surprised as IIRC isn't it just Lemon Myrtle EO - no additional scent materials except for whatever the rest of the balm might smell like e.g OO, Macadamia Oil.

Lemon Myrtle is a pleasant EO - and there's loads of different grades of it and I'm sure @roger isn't using an entry level cheapie but still that a single unblended EO resonated with you that strongly is surprising given the plethora of quite significantly more complicated (not always a good thing) shaving products I know you've used. Anyway its a pleasant surprise none the less. :)
 
My favorite scent combo is usually Lavender together with some citrus (preferably Bergamot) - and this AS somehow reminds me of this in a focused way - I don't understand it, but it simply does. And I absolutely agree that complicated is not always good (more to the contrary actually)
 
Yep the after shave is scented with just lemon scented myrtle, it is one of those fragrances that that is just beautiful by itself, adding anything else seems to subtract from it.

And it is just a macadamia oil base. We use macadamia for several reasons, apart from it's skin properties it has a very long shelf life.

Cold pressed oils like almond or apricot kernel are also great on the skin but unless you add preservative you run the risk of it going rancid.
 
I did some research on lemon myrtle EO. It's highly monotonic, being >90% citral. I guess citral itself smells 'complex'.
 
I was another one who received a generous package from @roger . My experiences with the shaving soap pretty much reflect on the same feedback provided by @alfredus and co. The presentation and scent are first rate but let down by the quick dissipation of the lather.

When holidaying in WA earlier in the year I picked up a similar soap from a maker, called Corrynes. Same soap hardness, based on coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil and scented with Lemon Grass and Cedarwood EO. Smells wonderful. Even French Clay. Label makes mention of rich lather. To my complete disappointment the lather broke down seconds after applying it to my face. Such a pity because the ingredients list reads like the who's who of Mother Earth and it smells like the Garden of Eden.

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Occams appears to be the only maker who comes close to producing an all-natural shaving soap but there are a few scientific words in their ingredients list that make me go "hmmmm". This leads me to believe that some bubbling aids are needed to satisfy the likes of us who feel that a rich land stable lather is a necessary part of shaving.

What I did like about Red Gum soaps was the aftershave and Just Soap. The soap may become a stable for pre-shaving prepping. The aftershave took a few minutes to fully absorb and it left my skin feeling good throughout the day. Not sure if I would use this in the hot summer months - it might feel a little greasy when the humidity kicks in but we shall see. I'm very keen to try the Men's Soap as a shampoo bar once I get a hair cut.

Throughout the day wafts of Lemon Myrtle came past my nostrils and had me hoping that @roger would work on version 2 of the shave soap because I really dig that scent. Thank you for your generous package and entrusting us with trialling your products.

I was listening to latest Con K and Douglas S podcast this morning and they touched on the subject of "all natural". It certainly got me thinking.
 
@Lifes a Peach , alas it doesn't greatly surprise me that your WA purchase soap ended up a fizzler. You'll tend to find that the vast majority of artisan soap makers start out and specialise in bath soaps. Nearly all of them try their hand at a shaving soap BUT nearly all of them aren't much chop as what makes a good bath soap is miles away from what makes a good shaving soap - so I'm guessing they keep them as a small part of their overall products but never improve the product, as it takes a lot of testing and refining.

If you look at the top shelf artisan shaving soap makers there's only a couple of them who also make bath soaps - they're such specialised beasts that the majority tend to heavily specialise in one domain or the other.

RE: Occams - I think you'll find both those 2 items you're referring to(Phenoxyethanol &Caprylyl glycol) are preservatives - which is very common for that type of product. So in fairness to them, it's just a very good product no 'bubbling aids'. :)

All natural? Certainly one of the best marketing terms ever....as plutonium, feces, arsenic and a whole Funnelweb could be put in the product and still have that label on it. :cautious:
 
Tried today the aftershave balm - it has the same great scent!!! I think it is mostly shea butter, it definitely feels and behaves like it. Great post shave feel, as you would expect.
 
roger said:
actually it is mostly Macadamia oil, still trying to get the mix right for the correct hardness. I find it good on the cold frosty mornings, just seems to give a little more protection.
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Now that's a bit surprise for me!
 
Lots of talk of @roger 's shaving soaps - jeez guys broaden a bot hey! - but little on the body soaps. I have to say that this Man Soap is some of the best castille I've ever experienced. Great lather and I am surprised on the hardness noting the inherent issues with olive oil's curing. ...and the scent is superb. Two thumbs up on this product mate.
 
roger said:
actually it is mostly Macadamia oil, still trying to get the mix right for the correct hardness. I find it good on the cold frosty mornings, just seems to give a little more protection.
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oops I am wrong again, I misheard she who knits, it is about 80% shea butter the rest is macadamia oil.

I am looking for just the right amount of waxiness/softness mix, I think this one is about rght.
 
roger said:
oops I am wrong again, I misheard she who knits, it is about 80% shea butter the rest is macadamia oil.

I am looking for just the right amount of waxiness/softness mix, I think this one is about rght.
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Aaah, thanks for that! I was comparing my pure shea butter to your balm and was about to buy a bottle of Mac Oil to do some testing :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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