Bladerunner7
Member
Thanks Mate.
WEEKLY SHAVING SOAP REVIEW
- Thread starter Bladerunner7
- Start date
Bladerunner7
Member
Cheers Gary. It's a superb Product.
ejgowing
Member
@Bladerunner7 liking the sound of these MSC soaps. I’m going to give one of the Yaqi soaps & splashes. Thanks for the heads up!
Bladerunner7
Member
The Yaqi Velvet Rose AS is one of my favs but the GREEN is an amazing one too, the folks always ask me what I'm wearing when I use it. It is an exact dupe of Lacoste Green.
ejgowing
Member
I didn’t even see the green!
Bladerunner7
Member
ejgowing
Member
Just key in this in the Search and you will see both the Soap and the Splash pop up-
YAQI The Green Atisan
Don't question the spelling
the incorrect spelling makes it much easier to find!
Bladerunner7
Member
IL FENOMENO DELL'ARTE - "EAU DE COLOGNE"
First Look - On opening the package that contained my tub of Il Fenomeno Dell’Arte – Eau De Cologne I was taken aback by the cover that greeted me, It was picture of a lady dressed in an old school gown surrounded by an Orange Orchard, reminded me of my Aunt’s Compact powder blush from childhood. I remember the container well as it had a lady with a fruit basket on it, probably a limited edition. Reminiscing aside, this cover seemed a bit feminine but elegant and intriguing at the same time. Definitely not my favorite but it’s a picture that seems pleasant every time I glance at it.
Side note – The Russian brand Fenomeno may be alien to some but in in its home country, Eastern Europe and even in the United States they carry a huge reputation of churning out quality Shaving Soaps.
First Whiff – The fragrance is supposed to be a recreation of the one created by the Dominican monks in Spain who fused various oils of orange, lemon, bergamot, neroli, petitgrain, lavender, rosemary leaves, lemon balm and iris rhizome (violet root), a recipe picked up by Italian Johann Farina, who founded the Cologne manufactory in 1709 and named this fragrance ‘Cologne Water’. That’s a huge slice of history, now let’s get back to the real deal, Fenomeno describe the soap’s fragrance profile as an opening of bitter orange and lemon zest notes, a heart of bright, juicy citrus and a bed of Bergamot, Neroli, lavender and Rosemary. What I get is a mix of light orange and bergamot, it is an odd fragrance to my nose nothing like the 4711 Original EDC that I am so used to. It has a herbaceous scent to it that surrounds the citrus top notes, it isn’t unpleasant in any way neither is it one that I would classify as a strong or unique fragrance. The scent is definitely not this soap’s strength.
First Lather – This is a triple - milled shaving soap and if you shake the container you can actually hear it tapping against the sides. I scooped a little less than a teaspoon into my Oaken lab ceramic bowl and bloomed it in warm water for 15 minutes. I was sure that this soap was going to be an effort to lather but a few swirls with my wet AP Shave Co G5 C knot an I had a rich pasty lather, two cycles of 30 seconds with the brush and a little water was good enough to produce a creamy luxurious lather. I was impressed, maybe this soap had something to offer after all.
First Performance – Never judge a book by its cover or a shaving soap by its appearance, the performance is where Il Fenomeno Dell’Arte EDC hits its stride. I had an amazing first pass with my 2013 Muhle R41, the glide and the cushion blew me away. I proceeded with the second pass and then it hit me, I was using a brand new Feather blade and while the razor was high efficiency and fairly aggressive, the soap tamed it from a beast to a gentleman, it was an outstanding shave with no post shave balm or splash required, just an alum rub to close things up and a splash of cold water. How did this soap perform almost better than my favorites? The secret is in the recipe which includes organic ingredients sourced according to season and carefully blended. I had to list them here cause this mix left me fascinated. Sodium Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Tallowate, Aqua, Potassium Palmitate, SODIUM Palmitate, Sodium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoate, Glycerin, Aloe Vera Gel, Yarrow Extract, Calendula Extract, Willow Extract, Wormwood Extract, Nettle Extract, Chamomile Extract, Psyllium Extract, Japanese Sophora Extract, St. John's Wort Extract, Bagulica Extract, Sage Extract, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Sodium Lactate, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide.
First Opinion – I was on the fence about covering this soap given the current global situation and when in doubt, I turn to my friend Errol for advice. I am so glad that he convinced me to review it as this is a soap that needs to be experienced purely for its performance and quality. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that while the fragrance may not do much for me, It’s skin nourishing benefits and affordable price point will keep me coming back for more.
Cover Art Work – 5 / 10
Lather Quality – 10 / 10
Fragrance – 4 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 10 / 10
Slickness – 8 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10
Value – 10 / 10
Total Point Score – 57 / 70
First Look - On opening the package that contained my tub of Il Fenomeno Dell’Arte – Eau De Cologne I was taken aback by the cover that greeted me, It was picture of a lady dressed in an old school gown surrounded by an Orange Orchard, reminded me of my Aunt’s Compact powder blush from childhood. I remember the container well as it had a lady with a fruit basket on it, probably a limited edition. Reminiscing aside, this cover seemed a bit feminine but elegant and intriguing at the same time. Definitely not my favorite but it’s a picture that seems pleasant every time I glance at it.
Side note – The Russian brand Fenomeno may be alien to some but in in its home country, Eastern Europe and even in the United States they carry a huge reputation of churning out quality Shaving Soaps.
First Whiff – The fragrance is supposed to be a recreation of the one created by the Dominican monks in Spain who fused various oils of orange, lemon, bergamot, neroli, petitgrain, lavender, rosemary leaves, lemon balm and iris rhizome (violet root), a recipe picked up by Italian Johann Farina, who founded the Cologne manufactory in 1709 and named this fragrance ‘Cologne Water’. That’s a huge slice of history, now let’s get back to the real deal, Fenomeno describe the soap’s fragrance profile as an opening of bitter orange and lemon zest notes, a heart of bright, juicy citrus and a bed of Bergamot, Neroli, lavender and Rosemary. What I get is a mix of light orange and bergamot, it is an odd fragrance to my nose nothing like the 4711 Original EDC that I am so used to. It has a herbaceous scent to it that surrounds the citrus top notes, it isn’t unpleasant in any way neither is it one that I would classify as a strong or unique fragrance. The scent is definitely not this soap’s strength.
First Lather – This is a triple - milled shaving soap and if you shake the container you can actually hear it tapping against the sides. I scooped a little less than a teaspoon into my Oaken lab ceramic bowl and bloomed it in warm water for 15 minutes. I was sure that this soap was going to be an effort to lather but a few swirls with my wet AP Shave Co G5 C knot an I had a rich pasty lather, two cycles of 30 seconds with the brush and a little water was good enough to produce a creamy luxurious lather. I was impressed, maybe this soap had something to offer after all.
First Performance – Never judge a book by its cover or a shaving soap by its appearance, the performance is where Il Fenomeno Dell’Arte EDC hits its stride. I had an amazing first pass with my 2013 Muhle R41, the glide and the cushion blew me away. I proceeded with the second pass and then it hit me, I was using a brand new Feather blade and while the razor was high efficiency and fairly aggressive, the soap tamed it from a beast to a gentleman, it was an outstanding shave with no post shave balm or splash required, just an alum rub to close things up and a splash of cold water. How did this soap perform almost better than my favorites? The secret is in the recipe which includes organic ingredients sourced according to season and carefully blended. I had to list them here cause this mix left me fascinated. Sodium Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Tallowate, Aqua, Potassium Palmitate, SODIUM Palmitate, Sodium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoate, Glycerin, Aloe Vera Gel, Yarrow Extract, Calendula Extract, Willow Extract, Wormwood Extract, Nettle Extract, Chamomile Extract, Psyllium Extract, Japanese Sophora Extract, St. John's Wort Extract, Bagulica Extract, Sage Extract, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Sodium Lactate, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide.
First Opinion – I was on the fence about covering this soap given the current global situation and when in doubt, I turn to my friend Errol for advice. I am so glad that he convinced me to review it as this is a soap that needs to be experienced purely for its performance and quality. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that while the fragrance may not do much for me, It’s skin nourishing benefits and affordable price point will keep me coming back for more.
Cover Art Work – 5 / 10
Lather Quality – 10 / 10
Fragrance – 4 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 10 / 10
Slickness – 8 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10
Value – 10 / 10
Total Point Score – 57 / 70
Bladerunner7
Member
FINE ACCOUTREMENTS – PLATINUM SHAVE SOAP
First Look - Nothing Fancy to look at but a caricature of a man running his palm on the side of his face depicting a clean or freshly shaven look on the Box and the Shaving Soap Container as well. This is not only the mascot for Fine Accoutrements products but it represents CEO Todd Cerami also known as Mr. Fine. While so many Shaving soap offerings have eye catching designs nowadays, Fine Accoutrements have kept their branding and packaging fairly old school or classic and this has made very product of theirs easily recognizable. Every Shaving Soap tub of the Fine line up looks similar and can only be differentiated with the name of that particular soap or fragrance, in this case Platinum. It isn’t a cover that draws my attention but it does spell grooming, sincerity and reliability for me, the kind you’d see on the packaging of products like Tabac or Old Spice or Proraso.
Side note – In 2005, Todd Cerami or Mr. Fine stumbled on an article highlighting the benefits of Wet Shaving and after taking the plunge himself, his dream was to create a unique aftershave splash which after much trials and testing culminated in the Fine Classic After Shave. Since then the company’s catalogue has grown to Shaving Soaps, Brushes, Colognes, Lather Bowls and Safety Razors.
First Whiff – Platinum is popularly known as a dupe of Creed Aventus, my favorite fragrance of all time. Mr. Fine was honest to label this not as a clone but inspired by Creed’s Bestseller (2010) with a scent that features a spicy pineapple note over a smoky oakmoss base. When I open the container, the scent gently hits my nose, it isn’t overwhelming or strong but subtle in a way. A good whiff of the soap and it reminds you of Aventus after it has dried down and the silage has decreased a bit. I wouldn’t call the Pineapple note spicy, it is rather pleasant but then again I am a diehard fan of the fruit itself so I could be biased. As for the oakmoss, it isn’t really smoky but more like an almost mature oakmoss note. This is a very pleasant and instantly likeable fragrance and like all Fine Accoutrements Soaps, the scent is perfect enough to stay on for a while after the shave without the threat of any fragrance burn.
First Lather – Open the Soap container and you are greeted by the Fine Mascot on the croap too just a reminder that this company takes their branding very seriously. My first experience with a Fine soap two years back was Latigo and while I misjudged it as a boring soap before use, I was converted to a ‘Fine’ loyalist soon after (pun Intended). So I had high expectations of Platinum and it didn't disappoint, after three cycles of 30 seconds swirling with my Frank Shaving G9 brush and two tablespoons of water added in all, my teaspoon of soap turned into a rich creamy lather. Platinum like all its siblings isn’t a very thirsty soap and you can build up a dense lather with a minimal amount of water. The role of the brush and rotations in the bowl though are of utmost importance. This of course is only if you scoop out the soap like me.
First Performance – I have used and still own Latigo and I knew that Platinum would perform just as well as my first Mr. Fine Soap. I had a wonderful first pass with my Yaqi Telsatr gliding on the skin, the second pass followed and when I felt my cheeks post shave, they felt moisturized and soft but not oily. A few soaps even though they offer top notch cushion and protection can leave an oily residue on your face due to the presence of the many vegan butters overload but not this one. The minimal ingredients profile for the soap holds the key to its stellar performance, Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Potassium Hydroxide, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Tallow Acid, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Carbonate, Limonene , Linalool. Todd Cerami through his research or creating a top tier shaving soap went back to the basics of a tallow based product made in Italy and keeping the mix of ingredients simple created an effective and winning formula. The magic after all is never in ten thousand ingredients, some which are tongue twisters too but it lies in the marriage and blending of a few that work together to deliver a shave experience that is cushioned, protected, slick and leaves you feeling great, Platinum does just that.
First Opinion – This was my first run with Platinum and once again Mr. Fine vowed me with his simplistic approach and yet, a top shelf product. This isn’t a soap that I would reach out for only on special occasions but one that I could rely on when I am spoilt for choice, it is a top performer and makes every shave with it one enjoyable ride. As for the price point, it is a 5 oz (150 ml) container and I am totally ‘FINE’ with it.
Cover Art Work – 5 / 10
Lather Quality – 9 / 10
Fragrance – 7 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 10 / 10
Slickness – 8 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10
Value – 10 / 10
Total Point Score – 59 / 70
Bladerunner7
Member
Lads, I had to get this one in early as I will be on the road for two weeks but will do my best to keep them coming.
A fellow member wanted to know about IL FENOMENO DELL'ARTE - "EAU DE COLOGNE" soap availability. You can get it through Aliexpress on the FS-The Frank Grooming Industrial Ltd Store page.
Realized that I need to take a page out of my Buddy Errol's book and list the availability, which I will attempt to do going forward.
A fellow member wanted to know about IL FENOMENO DELL'ARTE - "EAU DE COLOGNE" soap availability. You can get it through Aliexpress on the FS-The Frank Grooming Industrial Ltd Store page.
Realized that I need to take a page out of my Buddy Errol's book and list the availability, which I will attempt to do going forward.
Bladerunner7
Member
AION SKINCARE - ROSE CHAI
First Look - Silver tea cups, a teapot, roses and candles all in a sepia toned picture with a colorful duck in the center of it all, welcome to the tea party Mr. Mallard. This has to be one of my favorite covers on a shaving soap container and it is personal, feeding the ducks by the lake in the evenings and watching a mother duck leading her troop of ducklings across the road or the fields was one of my most loved past times as a child. Add to that my love for tea and specially the rose infused black or the saffron and cardamom infused red that I’ve enjoyed on trips to the Middle East make this cover a winner for me, the best part it is teaser of what to expect when you use the soap.
Side note – Mohammad Abed or fondly known as Mo Abed rebranded his company from Grooming department to Aion Skincare a few years back. While wet shavers around the world lathered up with beef tallow or mutton tallow as their favorite base, he employed locally sourced donkey milk and lamb tallow before swimming with the Ducks and putting bird fat on the wet shaving map with shaving soaps that offer a unique experience.
First Whiff – The scent profile is described as a blend of rose, milk, black tea, sugar, ginger, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, fennel, and sandalwood. At first whiff I do get the rose notes with the black tea sitting beneath it. A second whiff brings forth the blend of cardamom, ginger, clove, cinnamon and fennel with a delicate lacing of mill. Sandalwood is the last note to come through and forms a nice base to prop up all the other exotic spices. The fragrance strength is stronger than the original Grooming Department Mallard Rose Chai and will appeal to most that like lighter middle eastern fragrances or anything to do with tea. It isn’t an overwhelming scent but pleasant and gentle, one that will grow on you with every use. In the past, while most wet shavers praised the skin benefiting properties of his products, they weren't fans of the fragrances. Using customer feedback Mo has worked diligently to create fragrances for his soaps that aren't just pleasant but fairly addictive, this product is solid proof of that.
First Lather – The Texture of Rose Chai is very much like all the other Aion Skin Care or Grooming Department soaps, it is soft, pasty and easy to scoop out. I smeared a teaspoon of the of it on the bottom of my Timeless TR Bowl with a few drops of water and started whipping up a lather with my wet Boti synthetic brush. The more water I added, the creamier did the lather become and after four cycles of adding water with 30 seconds of Brush Rotation each time, I was rewarded with a creamy and rich white cloud that wasn’t dense but almost light and fluffy. This soap can handle a lot of water and then it struck me, ‘ducks love water’ and so does this shaving soap.
First Performance – While lathering up, I was reminded of sipping a light and easy rose tea. I could feel the creaminess of the soap and how slick it was with every brush stroke and any concerns of the lather not being as dense or thick as I normally prefer were laid to rest after the first pass with my Yaqi Harlequin. I paused to feel my cheeks and they were smooth and slippery as ever. A second pass and a BBS result had me smiling at how well this soap performed, how different it was from all the others and how well it protected and lubricated the skin for the shave. There are days when I have used a glycerine soap or a pre-shave cube that helped in creating a similar slickness before lathering up with my chosen soap but in the case of Rose Chai, there is no need of any prep. I picked out a few ingredients that could be responsible for the soap’s top level performance : Duck Fat, Kukui Nut Oil, Daikon seed extract, Cocoa Butter, Castor Oil, Cupuacu Butter, Kokum Butter, Glycerin, Shea Butter, Babassu Oil, Murumuru Butter, Sacha Inchi Oil, Beeswax, Tamanu Oil, Sesame Oil, Macadamia Oil and extracts of Green Tea, Sea Buckthorn, Chamomile, Borage, Marshmallow, Lonicera Japonica Flower and Lonicera Caprifolium or Honeysuckle
First Opinion – The Rose Chai fragrance even though pleasant isn’t one of my top favorites but it is a soap that I would reach for when I want maximum cushion, protection and slickness. This is a top shelf product that exceeds expectations and a soap that even straight razor fans would dig big time. The quality and amount of duck fat blended with the complex ingredient profile is the winner here. So, the next time you cross paths with a duck, "Show some respect."
Cover Art Work – 8 / 10
Lather Quality – 7 / 10
Fragrance – 7 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 10 / 10
Slickness – 10 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10
Value – 10 / 10
Total Point Score – 62 / 70
Garry357
Member
Great review, I agree the artwork is quite plain, however the scent sounds really nice.FINE ACCOUTREMENTS – PLATINUM SHAVE SOAP
First Look - Nothing Fancy to look at but a caricature of a man running his palm on the side of his face depicting a clean or freshly shaven look on the Box and the Shaving Soap Container as well. This is not only the mascot for Fine Accoutrements products but it represents CEO Todd Cerami also known as Mr. Fine. While so many Shaving soap offerings have eye catching designs nowadays, Fine Accoutrements have kept their branding and packaging fairly old school or classic and this has made very product of theirs easily recognizable. Every Shaving Soap tub of the Fine line up looks similar and can only be differentiated with the name of that particular soap or fragrance, in this case Platinum. It isn’t a cover that draws my attention but it does spell grooming, sincerity and reliability for me, the kind you’d see on the packaging of products like Tabac or Old Spice or Proraso.
Side note – In 2005, Todd Cerami or Mr. Fine stumbled on an article highlighting the benefits of Wet Shaving and after taking the plunge himself, his dream was to create a unique aftershave splash which after much trials and testing culminated in the Fine Classic After Shave. Since then the company’s catalogue has grown to Shaving Soaps, Brushes, Colognes, Lather Bowls and Safety Razors.
First Whiff – Platinum is popularly known as a dupe of Creed Aventus, my favorite fragrance of all time. Mr. Fine was honest to label this not as a clone but inspired by Creed’s Bestseller (2010) with a scent that features a spicy pineapple note over a smoky oakmoss base. When I open the container, the scent gently hits my nose, it isn’t overwhelming or strong but subtle in a way. A good whiff of the soap and it reminds you of Aventus after it has dried down and the silage has decreased a bit. I wouldn’t call the Pineapple note spicy, it is rather pleasant but then again I am a diehard fan of the fruit itself so I could be biased. As for the oakmoss, it isn’t really smoky but more like an almost mature oakmoss note. This is a very pleasant and instantly likeable fragrance and like all Fine Accoutrements Soaps, the scent is perfect enough to stay on for a while after the shave without the threat of any fragrance burn.
First Lather – Open the Soap container and you are greeted by the Fine Mascot on the croap too just a reminder that this company takes their branding very seriously. My first experience with a Fine soap two years back was Latigo and while I misjudged it as a boring soap before use, I was converted to a ‘Fine’ loyalist soon after (pun Intended). So I had high expectations of Platinum and it didn't disappoint, after three cycles of 30 seconds swirling with my Frank Shaving G9 brush and two tablespoons of water added in all, my teaspoon of soap turned into a rich creamy lather. Platinum like all its siblings isn’t a very thirsty soap and you can build up a dense lather with a minimal amount of water. The role of the brush and rotations in the bowl though are of utmost importance. This of course is only if you scoop out the soap like me.
First Performance – I have used and still own Latigo and I knew that Platinum would perform just as well as my first Mr. Fine Soap. I had a wonderful first pass with my Yaqi Telsatr gliding on the skin, the second pass followed and when I felt my cheeks post shave, they felt moisturized and soft but not oily. A few soaps even though they offer top notch cushion and protection can leave an oily residue on your face due to the presence of the many vegan butters overload but not this one. The minimal ingredients profile for the soap holds the key to its stellar performance, Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Potassium Hydroxide, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Tallow Acid, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Carbonate, Limonene , Linalool. Todd Cerami through his research or creating a top tier shaving soap went back to the basics of a tallow based product made in Italy and keeping the mix of ingredients simple created an effective and winning formula. The magic after all is never in ten thousand ingredients, some which are tongue twisters too but it lies in the marriage and blending of a few that work together to deliver a shave experience that is cushioned, protected, slick and leaves you feeling great, Platinum does just that.
First Opinion – This was my first run with Platinum and once again Mr. Fine vowed me with his simplistic approach and yet, a top shelf product. This isn’t a soap that I would reach out for only on special occasions but one that I could rely on when I am spoilt for choice, it is a top performer and makes every shave with it one enjoyable ride. As for the price point, it is a 5 oz (150 ml) container and I am totally ‘FINE’ with it.
Cover Art Work – 5 / 10
Lather Quality – 9 / 10
Fragrance – 7 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 10 / 10
Slickness – 8 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 10 / 10
Value – 10 / 10
Total Point Score – 59 / 70
Bladerunner7
Member
Thanks Mate. I had no expectations when using my first Fine Soap but the performance blew me away, it was really good and the formula was so reminiscent of the classic Italian soaps. Love most if the scents in the catalogue too including Italian Citrus.
Bladerunner7
Member
AUSSIE TALLOW – KANGAROO TALLOW SOAP BAR
First Look – No fancy tub or container with eye catching artwork on its cover, just an image of Skippy engraved onto the puck’s surface highlighting the star ingredient…Kangaroo Tallow. Is this a presentation that would motivate me to pick up a soap often? I don’t think so, a few uses down the line and that image will be gone for good with the puck reminiscent of a regular bath soap.
Side note – Aussie Tallow have gained much popularity on Etsy due to the fact that the brand uses grass fed cow tallow void of any steroids or antibiotics taken from cows reared on a 100% organic farm. Locally sourced Beef suet and Kangaroo suet are also used in their products which makes them stand apart from many other competitors.
First Whiff – The scent profile is described as fairly straightforward with Rosemary and Cedar wood being the only two fragrance heroes. What I get with my first whiff of it is the smell of lightly fermented milk like a fresh kefir drink or a glass of yoghurt with a teaspoon of sugar in it. A second whiff and that gamey smell steps in trying to match the strength of the dairy notes. The rosemary and cedar wood are so subtle that they are no match for the dominant gamey and dairy blend. This fragrance is definitely not my cup of tea.
First Lather – Having covered Duck fat in the previous review and with the number of soaps I have accumulated that contain all kinds of tallow ranging from grass fed beef, goat, sheep, bison and bear, Kangaroo tallow was always on my review list. I scooped out a teaspoon full of soap into my Timeless TR Bowl and with ten drops of water and my wet Boti Synthetic brush, I proceeded to rotate the brush clockwise and anticlockwise. Four cycles later and the bubbles were still there unlike other soaps that leave you with a thick yoghurt like or creamy lather. I thought that I was doing something wrong, so I worked at the lather some more in an effort to get a nice thick consistency. No matter what I did, the result was a light airy white cloud with a million little bubbles in it. Ten minutes later and with one tired right arm it was time to give up. Looking at my shaving bowl, I was reminded of a German Lager with a nice foamy head. The soap accumulated on my brush had little body to it and 20 seconds later I could see it begin to drip down the brush handle, it looked like snow slowly melting of a snow-capped mountain top with the advent of the warmer months.
First Performance – The soap’s ingredient profile though minimal is fairly impressive with grass-fed and finished Kangaroo tallow, raw Jersey cow milk, castor oil, natural stearic acid, olive oil, coconut oil, Australian red clay, rosemary essential oil and cedar wood essential oil. I was confident that this soap would perform and redeem itself after the presentation and fragrance failed for me. While lathering up, I noticed a bit of the soap had got onto my fingers and it felt slippery or rather super slippery. The first pass with my Stando Chors and a Gillette Blue Swede was drama free but the cushion was absent and the protection minimal. Having said that, this is a slick soap and while it did provide a decent glide there was a tiny bit of razor burn post shave. I have never encountered this with the Stando Chors before. A second pass saw me finish with a BBS but somehow I did not enjoy the shave which felt a tad bit rough. That gamey and dairy infused smell was also fairly annoying through the shave. The post shave feeling too left a lot to be desired.
First Opinion – I’m a proud member of Paste & Cut and saw it upon myself as a responsibility to feature a few artisan soaps from Australia and New Zealand. Given the organic, home bred and homemade tags, Aussie Tallow was my first pick and I really wanted this soap to deliver. While the soap’s fragrance was something I could deal with, the weird slippery lather lacking cushion and protection was a huge disappointment. The soap is also described as a multipurpose puck that can be used for face, body, hair and shaving, none of which I would experiment with further. I am eager to try out the beef tallow version but as far as this one is concerned, the soap needs a reformulation which could work wonders for it with just a few more ingredients thrown into the mix. For now, my suggestion would be Stay away from Slippy and leave Skippy Alone, Will Ya?”
Cover Art Work – 1 / 10 (Had to be kind to Skip for the presentation)
Lather Quality – 4 / 10
Fragrance – 3 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 3 / 10
Slickness – 10 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 3 / 10
Value – 6 / 10
Total Point Score –30 / 70
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Garry357
Member
AUSSIE TALLOW – KANGAROO TALLOW SOAP BAR
First Look – No fancy tub or container with eye catching artwork on its cover, just an image of Skippy engraved onto the puck’s surface highlighting the star ingredient…Kangaroo Tallow. Is this a presentation that would motivate me to pick up a soap often? I don’t think so, a few uses down the line and that image will be gone for good with the puck reminiscent of a regular bath soap.
Side note – Aussie Tallow have gained much popularity on Etsy due to the fact that the brand uses grass fed cow tallow void of any steroids or antibiotics taken from cows reared on a 100% organic farm. Locally sourced Beef suet and Kangaroo suet are also used in their products which makes them stand apart from many other competitors.
First Whiff – The scent profile is described as fairly straightforward with Rosemary and Cedar wood being the only two fragrance heroes. What I get with my first whiff of it is the smell of lightly fermented milk like a fresh kefir drink or a glass of yoghurt with a teaspoon of sugar in it. A second whiff and that gamey smell steps in trying to match the strength of the dairy notes. The rosemary and cedar wood are so subtle that they are no match for the dominant gamey and dairy blend. This fragrance is definitely not my cup of tea.
First Lather – Having covered Duck fat in the previous review and with the number of soaps I have accumulated that contain all kinds of tallow ranging from grass fed beef, goat, sheep, bison and bear, Kangaroo tallow was always on my review list. I scooped out a teaspoon full of soap into my Timeless TR Bowl and with ten drops of water and my wet Boti Synthetic brush, I proceeded to rotate the brush clockwise and anticlockwise. Four cycles later and the bubbles were still there unlike other soaps that leave you with a thick yoghurt like or creamy lather. I thought that I was doing something wrong, so I worked at the lather some more in an effort to get a nice thick consistency. No matter what I did, the result was a light airy white cloud with a million little bubbles in it. Ten minutes later and with one tired right arm it was time to give up. Looking at my shaving bowl, I was reminded of a German Lager with a nice foamy head. The soap accumulated on my brush had little body to it and 20 seconds later I could see it begin to drip down the brush handle, it looked like snow slowly melting of a snow-capped mountain top with the advent of the warmer months.
First Performance – The soap’s ingredient profile though minimal is fairly impressive with grass-fed and finished Kangaroo tallow, raw Jersey cow milk, castor oil, natural stearic acid, olive oil, coconut oil, Australian red clay, rosemary essential oil and cedar wood essential oil. I was confident that this soap would perform and redeem itself after the presentation and fragrance failed for me. While lathering up, I noticed a bit of the soap had got onto my fingers and it felt slippery or rather super slippery. The first pass with my Stando Chors and a Gillette Blue Swede was drama free but the cushion was absent and the protection minimal. Having said that, this is a slick soap and while it did provide a decent glide there was a tiny bit of razor burn post shave. I have never encountered this with the Stando Chors before. A second pass saw me finish with a BBS but somehow I did not enjoy the shave which felt a tad bit rough. That gamey and dairy infused smell was also fairly annoying through the shave. The post shave feeling too left a lot to be desired.
First Opinion – I’m a proud member of Paste & Cut and saw it upon myself as a responsibility to feature a few artisan soaps from Australia and New Zealand. Given the organic, home bred and homemade tags, Aussie Tallow was my first pick and I really wanted this soap to deliver. While the soap’s fragrance was something I could deal with, the weird slippery lather lacking cushion and protection was a huge disappointment. The soap is also described as a multipurpose puck that can be used for face, body, hair and shaving, none of which I would experiment with further. I am eager to try out the beef tallow version but as far as this one is concerned, the soap needs a reformulation which could work wonders for it with just a few more ingredients thrown into the mix. For now, my suggestion would be Stay away from Slippy and leave Skippy Alone, Will Ya?”
Cover Art Work – 1 / 10 (Had to be kind to Skip for the presentation)
Lather Quality – 4 / 10
Fragrance – 3 / 10
Cushion & Protection – 3 / 10
Slickness – 10 / 10
Post Shave Feel – 3 / 10
Value – 6 / 10
Total Point Score –30 / 70
Very good, honest review.
Bloody soap makers, can't learn to make a proper shaving soap.
silverlifter
Member
I made the mistake of buying an "artisan" shave soap made by someone here in Wellington, it lathered as well as you'd expect from a maker with a full beard...
When I tried this kangaroo tallow shaving soap above, the lather just disappeared and leave a thick layer of slickness, that's all.
Nanook
"Abandon all money, ye who enter here."
I tried various ways to try and get a lather that lasted but couldn't. The best I could get was face lathering with a synthetic brush. The slickness was fantastic and is great for a SR shave, but you just can't keep the lather from disappearing.