Today I got a very good lather from a new Stirling soap. But let’s start with the 12-oz bottle of Clearly Natural Essentials Vitamin E Glycerin Hand Soap. I decided to try Jlocke98′s idea with this soap after a reader asked about my use of Dr. Bronner’s and whether a glycerin soap would work better. So I ordered this and the photo shows the result of the first batch.
I emptied the bottle into a bowl. The soap is quite viscous, so I used a whisk to mix the emu oil into the soap. I belatedly realized that my formula amounts to 1 tsp emu oil per 1 ounce of soap. So for 12 oz, I mixed in 4 Tbs (i.e, 12 tsp) of emu oil. I poured back into the bottle as much of the mix as I could—about 12 oz, I would judge—and the rest (4 Tbs, or 1/4 c) I poured into my Dr. Bronner’s mix just to have a place for it.
I used it this morning. Very little separation had occurred overnight, but some had. I shook the bottle vigorously, squirted about 1 tsp into my palm, and did my pre-shave beard wash. It worked well. It is indeed slightly thicker than the mix with Dr. Bronner’s, but so far as I can tell with a single use, it did an equivalent job. I’ll use this a week, then go back to Dr. Bronner’s to see whether I can tell a difference. At this point, though, I would say use whichever you want.
Now, the lather: Per instructions, I used a mug for the Stirling soap, and I wanted a synthetic-bristle brush for the first test lather, so HJM came out to play. I started with a pretty wet brush, letting the extra water spill into the sink, but I think I didn’t need so much water. I loaded for an extended period, based on my previous Stirling experience, and today I was rewarded with a good lather. I’m pleased, and now I’ll start trying less water and shorter loading and see how that goes. (Plus I have another Stirling soap to test, which means I’m going to have to round up another mug. I really do prefer soaps that come in their own tub or jar, but if you’re someone who uses only one soap at a time, having your own mug works out well. I’m not that guy.)
Three passes with the Axwell razor, and the more I use it, the more I like the handle. It turns out that my expectations about the handle, like many other expectations I’ve had, was wrong.
A good splash of Stirling Lemon Chill, and the day begins.
Filed under: Shaving
