Imperial Leather

Ceri · Oct 10, 2010

There's something about Imperial Leather that appeals to me. The scent of the bath soap and talc isn't too far away from TOBS Sandalwood, and is among the cheapest you can buy. My big regret is that you can no longer buy the aftershave or shaving soap - at least in the UK, but I found a couple of items on eBay...

Imperial Leather Shavestick

Imperial Leather Aftershave, Talc & Shaving Bowl

Not sure what the vendor means by 'gone off' in the descriptions, but I'm hoping there's a little life left in them.

verdict · Oct 10, 2010

When I was a kid, my mom used to put Imperial Leather soaps in our drawers to keep the smell away, and I remember this smell very fondly. I found an unused bar from the 90s and I used it up this month. Felt good, man.

RF1963 · Oct 10, 2010

Well the vendor is pretty up front in stating that the A/S, Talc and bowl are "not (sold) for use but as a collectable".

taffy · Oct 10, 2010

I love this soap and was thinking how good a shave soap this would actually be, I wonder if there are any usable products left anywhere!

Topgumby · Oct 10, 2010

Is there any source in the US for the bath soaps?

Phog Allen · Oct 10, 2010

Topgumby said:
Is there any source in the US for the bath soaps?

You can try our little British store here in Kansas. When I was in there the other day they had a number of bars of Cusson's displayed. I am not sure of the cost. I am pretty sure Sally will ship nearly anywhere in the U.S. but it would be best to ask them first. BTW, check out their tea and jam selections. LOTS of Britain's best on both counts.

Regards, Todd

Brits!

Bar Soaps

toeknee · Oct 10, 2010

I got an imperial leather Christmas edition box with aftershave,brilliantine and shaving soap from the 60s,the soap doesn't smell off to me in fact the soap doesn't smell of much at all! The aftershave still smells good,I have had it about a year,i really want to try it but just can't bring myself to, it seems a shame to use it as it's been unused all this time,but I suppose the box would still look nice even with an empty soap bowl!

toeknee · Oct 10, 2010

Phog Allen said:
You can try our little British store here in Kansas. When I was in there the other day they had a number of bars of Cusson's displayed. I am not sure of the cost. I am pretty sure Sally will ship nearly anywhere in the U.S. but it would be best to ask them first. BTW, check out their tea and jam selections. LOTS of Britain's best on both counts.

Regards, Todd

Brits!

Bar Soaps

Hey Todd,if you only try one thing from that shop it would have to be a tin of Ambrosia custard eat it cold LOVELY!! :thumbup:

rm71 · Oct 10, 2010

Imperial Leather afetrshave and bath soaps can be bought at any supermarket in Australia.

The Nid Hog · Oct 10, 2010

Ceri said:
There's something about Imperial Leather that appeals to me. The scent of the bath soap and talc isn't too far away from TOBS Sandalwood, and is among the cheapest you can buy. My big regret is that you can no longer buy the aftershave or shaving soap - at least in the UK, but I found a couple of items on eBay...

Imperial Leather Shavestick

Imperial Leather Aftershave, Talc & Shaving Bowl

Not sure what the vendor means by 'gone off' in the descriptions, but I'm hoping there's a little life left in them.

I bought an old boxed set from eBay UK that had aftershave and a shaving stick. It's pretty nice, although the fragrance of the AS has faded a bit. I think that "gone off" means that it's spoiled, but beyond that I guess you'll have to see what it looks like when you get it. Maybe you can salvage something.

Topgumby said:
Is there any source in the US for the bath soaps?

Yep. http://www.shoplondons.com/imperial.html

rm71 said:
Imperial Leather afetrshave and bath soaps can be bought at any supermarket in Australia.

I got a bottle of the AS in a trade a while ago. I don't know what its Australian rep is, but I like it.

bythbook · Oct 10, 2010

as far as I know, the shaving soap is out of production - I have a couple of different Cussons shaving soaps (Imperial Leather, Royal Guard) and though the scents have faded with the years, they are outstanding soaps!

If you can find 'em, get 'em! Use 'em! Love 'em...!

If you can't bring yourself to use them and you'd like to trade for something you will use... please PM me.

Phog Allen · Oct 11, 2010

toeknee said:
Hey Todd,if you only try one thing from that shop it would have to be a tin of Ambrosia custard eat it cold LOVELY!!

I will have to try that. Custard is a gift from God in my life. It is my favourite dessert. We love it as either sauce for the pudding or baked in custard dishes. I even make custard pies a few times per year. I have seen the Ambrosia custard in the tins many times but always overlooked since I was not sure how the tinned stuff held up against that made at home. But a tin will come home with me next time I am there. Thank you for the tip.

And you other Anglophiles out there, give Brits a look. In addition to what you see on the site, they have almost all the Wilkin and Sons jam and preserve line including the Little Scarlet strawberry. The only trouble is with import fees, duty, and whatever else, it can get expensive stocking up on this stuff! They are most certainly the only store around here that carries all the Frank Cooper marmalades including my favourite Vintage Oxford. Check them out and give Sally a call. She has a lot of things not shown on the site.

Regards, Todd

The Nid Hog · Oct 11, 2010

Phog Allen said:
You can try our little British store here in Kansas. When I was in there the other day they had a number of bars of Cusson's displayed. I am not sure of the cost. I am pretty sure Sally will ship nearly anywhere in the U.S. but it would be best to ask them first. BTW, check out their tea and jam selections. LOTS of Britain's best on both counts.

Regards, Todd

Brits!

Bar Soaps

Thanks for the great link! I put together a nice care package for my mum--she'll be delighted.

Ceri · Oct 12, 2010

My antique Imperial Leather was waiting for me when I returned. The aftershave in the gift set was all but gone, tho the bowl soap was still in its cellophane packaging and had lost little of its scent. The shave stick was still in its original foil wrap, and the scent was also fairly good - not as strong as new IL but still identifiable.

There was a price slip inside the gift set - 15/- or fifteen shillings - so it's definitely pre-1970's decimalisation. I think I'll save first try of the soap for my Sunday shave. I've not decided whether to use bowl or stick, but I will use a NOS Slim Twist in a sort of götterdämmerung of the collectables. :001_smile

Ceri · Oct 24, 2010

This morning's shave

Tried some of my Imperial Leather stuff this morning. Shaved after breakfast, so put a little water in the bowl to soak in while I ate. Excellent lather, from the the get go, hardly had to put any effort in at all.

While the soap is pre-1970, the aftershave is later and doesn't smell all that much like the soap - it's very oriental and fairly strong, a real step back in time. I do know it's pretty much all alcohol given the burn it produces.

Phog Allen · Oct 24, 2010

Excellent! What a great find. And good on ya for not laying it up as "collectible". Sooner or later all collectibles become not so collectible and the market cools off. Sometimes way off. Will it make Yardley soaps any cheaper? Maybe, maybe not but I did see one post lamenting the lesser prices on eBay lately and that he had paid significantly more to acquire his.

I recently picked up a vintage MEM English Leather shave soap in trade from a member here and I did not hesitate to use it. It produces superb lather as I suspect all the old soaps do/did. I do not know if it is exactly a collectible and do not care. It makes SUPERB lather and that is what I am all about. Great lather in a scent that reminds me of my dad. I don't care if they had been bringing $100 on eBay unused, I would have still dove right in. Man would I love to try that Imperial Leather. Again, great score!

Regards, Todd

bythbook · Oct 24, 2010

glad you used the soap & glad it was great (as expected).

I'm hoarding old soaps (recently got a bowl of Cussons IL Classic) - to use. Just damned wonderful, almost all of them. Maybe it's the "step back in time" that make these so appealing - there are contemporary soaps that are at least as good - but I just love using the old stuff. (I second the emotion on the EL by the way, Todd.)

justinp · Oct 24, 2010

I recently discovered the glory of Imperial Leather soap upon arriving in the UK for study-abroad. Man do I wish I could buy the shave-soap!

pauls51 · Oct 24, 2010

Nice work Ceri...

I occassionallly use the aftershave and bath soap... !

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