Cannot get TOBS sandalwood soap to lather right...

[Dozer]

I've had this for a while and just can't get it to lather like I want it to. I can get creams to lather great, and I get a great lather out of VDH soap. I cannot, however, seem to get the creamy soapy lather that I see in all the threads and on youtube. Does anyone else use this soap? What's your method? I guess I'm only mad because A) it was on the pricier side (albeit not the most expensive) and B) I love the smell and would like to juse it more often, but cannot get a great shave with it especially when I'm in a hurry on the weekdays. I've tried the longer loading times. Sometimes more water, but it just seems to dissipate if that makes any sense. Any suggestions? Is it not a good soap?

[Greg1911]

I wasn't too impressed with TOBS Herbal Sandalwood until I tried a boar brush on it. ( FWIW I'm a badger guy)

Then it was impressive!

My Semogue 1305 gets the call every time I use this soap now. This soap loves the swine :lol:

[Dozer]

I guess I'll need to pick up a boar brush. It's been on my list of future acquisitions. Just jumped the list though. lol.

[Duke of Pall Mall]

Dozer, what brush are you using at the moment? Normally when one uses floppier and brushes that are not dense, they're not quite equiped for soaps.

[Badger & Bengall]

+1 to boar. Try using a good boar brush, more product and more water (TOBS seems to eat water).

[talibeard]

.... but cannot get a great shave with it especially when I'm in a hurry on the weekdays.

Here you have your main problem right there. Creams as well as melt& pour soaps like VDH lather up much faster than your TOBS. Even rather floppy badgers should be able to make it work when you take your time loading the brush properly.

A boar will pick up sufficient amounts of product easier. When I went from mainly creams to mainly soaps I also returned to boars, both for the ease of use as for the nicer feel when face-lathering.

[Dozer]

I'm using the medium EJ BBB. I'll try to take my time a little bit more while loading it. I don't think it's too floppy, but it's definitely not a boar. I think I'll take my time. I just restored a rubberset, and the knot I put in it has quite a bit of backbone. I'll give it a try, and maybe pick up a cheap boar at walgreens.

[cymric]

Talibeard already hinted at the solution: you are not used to a fatty acid-based soap. Those require a little attention compared to creams and melt-n-pour products. What a boar brush does is forcibly scraping off product from the puck's surface; since its hairs are stiffer than a badger's, you pick up more product, and thus get a better lather.

But that doesn't solve the real problem, as this soap will lather fine with a badger too. The point is that these fatty acid-based soaps need water to dissolve. If you give them too little water, or for too short a time, they refuse to play along. Soak your brush for a minute or so (longer is not necessary), then shake out some of the excess water with two or three gentle yoyo-motions. The brush should not be bone-dry, but should still contain some free moisture. Take this brush to the puck and start loading. Don't ram the brush into the puck, let it sag under its own weight, then push a little. Load for a count of 45 to 60 seconds. Don't 'really go at the soap', let the water and swishing motions of the bristles do their work. When done loading, transfer to a bowl or your face as desired and continue building.

With time and practice, you ought to be able to tweak the above procedure to your own needs, like for example using more water in the brush, or loading less. If you remember that the key bit is dissolution, everything'll be fine.

[Crazycarwes]

I feel like I use more water when using TOBS sandalwood soap.

[Dozer]

Thanks for the help. I think the key being dissolution made a lot more sense. I used a lot wetter brush and spent more time on the puck. Got the best lather ever with a soap. Thanks guys!