30 Days Of...

[elsmooth]

A few years ago, one of our members (Merit Award Winner JohnnieGold) here embarked on a fantastic, ongoing journey to work through his soap collection 1 product at a time. The thread is called “My Guess…3017.” His goal was (and still is) to work through his collection 1 soap at a time, and in doing so, learn the properties of each soap through and through, and determine which were worthy of repurchase (and a lifelong spot in his rotation). This is HIGHLY recommended reading…pour yourself a drink one night and read it cover to cover…it’s over 80 pages (currently) of soap-destroying goodness.

The thread has its regulars…brave souls who valiantly forge forward and fight the good fight despite having countless soaps in the cabinet crying out for attention. It also has its share of member who, like myself, loved the idea of soap monogamy…but not necessarily the reality. The reality being that killing a soap exclusively is hard work (I’ve know, I’ve had only one success, despite posting in that thread three times that I was back for yet another try).

That thread taught me that I really do enjoy soap monogamy…for limited period of time. Also, since my den is full of stuff that I really do love, I don’t necessarily want to kill them off, or wait too long before using a different one again. However, I really do want to start seriously denting some of them.

That’s where this thread comes in. Each month, I’m going to pull a different soap out of the cabinet, and use it exclusively for 30 days (approximately). I believe that over the course of 30 days, one can learn a lot about a particular soap, and put a rather nice dent in the middle of it.

For those of you interested in doing the same with your collection, feel free to join in! This is sort of like…3017-Lite. And hey, if you find yourself wanting to go the whole nine and kill the puck after 30 days, JohnnieGold’s thread will still be around to welcome you to the fold.

Welcome, one and all, to “30 Days Of…”

[elsmooth]

First up:

Since March 1, 2012, I’ve been beating up a mug of Cella (my avatar). The soap is starting to move slowly downward, and the overall weight of the mug w/ the soap is down from 742 grams to 720 grams (at last weigh-in). Seems about right for how I load my soft-soaps. Over two weeks in…and two weeks to go! I'll be posting before and after pics when the month ends.

[syngent]

popping in and out of the other thread is great i myself didnt want to go through all that for the same reasons you mentioned, i like the lite version though i hve a few things on there way to me once i get it all i think ill sit down and sort out a rotation and pop back in here and join you,... i really think this could be informative for everyone reading and joining in great idea Elsmooth

[Bigsurprise]

Elsmooth, I like your idea. Normally I just pick whatever I fancy that particular day, but sticking to one soap for a month at a time sounds kind of fun. Now to decide which soap to start with!

[njpaddy]

I've tried many times, but I think my longest stretch with one soap was 5 shaves. I have too many that I like and the fact that they're all sitting on top of my bedroom dresser (yelling "pick me") is a recipe for failure.

[NickyBobby]

Great idea. Subscribing to follow...and putting "Read 'My Guess...3017'" on my calendar for after finals.

[Jcabbage]

like the idea but im an every other day shaver, sometimes every 3 days so it would be a 2 or 3 month endeavor for me. But maybe 1 month on a soap is what i should do being only about 4 months into this DE thing...

[beginish]

Great idea for a thread, Eric!

[Songwind]

Interesting. I had been considering this idea one WEEK at a time. Maybe I'll play along.

[Zoro]

Great idea for a thread, Eric!

+1

[ackvil]

Great idea, Eric. From another B&Ber from St. Pete.

[johnniegold]

Great idea. I really do believe that the best way to learn about a particular soap is to use it on a daily basis. Case in point was the Mitchell's Wool Fat. I think no soap performed better after daily usage than MWF. When I used it in a ginormous rotation, it was cracked and somewhat dried out by the time I returned to it. It led me to conclude that MWF wasn't all it was cracked up to be. When I decided to use daily, the puck stayed somewhat hydrated and did not crack. That's when I learned to unlock the secrets of that soap.

So yes, if 2-3 months with one soap seems unrealistic, then consider going 30 days and learn the nuances of each soap you use.

Like Robert Conrad used to say: "Go ahead. I dare ya."

Nicely done Eric.

Subscribed.

[Luc]

I subscribed to the thread, please do share soap #1!

[LeftyT]

I'm currently focusing my attention on Cade, and it's A LOT harder to do than one might think. So far, I've strayed twice in 16 days...not too bad, right?
The cool thing is that I really have learned a ton about Cade. One of the things I've learned is that it absolutely agrees with my skin and another is that I'm growing closer to it...almost sentimental.
Anyways, i'm in!

[cxg231]

Interesting. I had been considering this idea one WEEK at a time.

My thoughts exactly. I have so many soapy mistresses I can't possibly be tied down to just one for more than a week! But I do like the idea of keeping with the same product for a little while to learn its nuances. Right now I use a different product every day and have 31 products (soaps & creams) on a loose rotation, using my favorites more often than the rest.

[Vlad]

Subscribed. I haven't been able to go more than a week or two. I aspire to 30 days!

[5savages]

Great idea! but I'm not ready to commit. I'll be watching the thread though, and perhaps like Songwind I'll try 1 week streaks first.

[MeanGene]

Excellent idea and I am absolutely not committed, not yet anyway. I have MdC and QCS on their way. Once I sample them, I'll make a decision on a soap and do it. I am actually on a five day stretch with Mystic Water, the longest stretch I've ever had with the same brand, but have used four scents. Unless MdC and QCS blow me away, I can see a long-term commitment with Mystic Water soap. Anyway, I am subscribed and looking forward to committing... soon.

[Songwind]

Great idea! but I'm not ready to commit. I'll be watching the thread though, and perhaps like Songwind I'll try 1 week streaks first.

Part of the reason I am hesitant to participate is that I have some very new products. I don't want to wait months to make friends with them!

[texaninkc]

the longest i've ever gone with a product after joining B&B was MdC when I did a blind blade trial where I kept everything constant for 16 shaves. I haven't been able to do more than that, especially since I'm a every-other-day shaver. Right now, I'm doing 7 shaves per product rotation with 4 different soaps (Yardley, MdC scented, P160, and MdC unscented). I just started 14 shaves ago and I'm about to start going for 7 shaves with P160. Once I go through a full rotation, I'm going to give it my best shot to go longer than 7 shaves. Going to follow this thread closely.