Mixing soaps after milling?

[drunkentester]

I was milling some TOBS violet soap into a contain last night when I thought of something which I haven't seen much (if at all) mention on the boards here.

Has anyone tried to mix the milled shavings of two different soaps to form a new soap?

I would imagine this could be employed for the purpose of creating new scent combinations, mixing different lathering capabilities of two soap, or maybe bump up the lathering potential of an underperformer.

I was thinking the MWF would be a good base since it's mostly neutral in scent (almost like the grain component in a blended Scotch).

Some possible experiments that I had running through my head:

1. Mixing 2/3 Penhaligon's new formulation soap with 1/3 MWF to get the classic Pen's scent with a much better lather?
2. Mixing L'Occitane Cade soap with D.R. Harris Marlborough for a richer wood/herbal shave?
3. Blending 50-50 TOBS violet with TOBS rose for the ultimate flower-bomb shave?

Again, this was more of a mental exercise for me since I haven't tried it. I wanted to throw it up here to see if someone else has already tried this and had success or if this will go down as another hair-brained idea of a B&Ber with too much soap on his hands.

--Dennis

[Price]

These experiments are commonly referred to as frankensoaps, and they've been done, with decidedly mixed results. Sometimes, you get the best of both soaps, sometimes you get

Unfortunately, the only way to know whether a particular combination works is to grate 'em up together and give it a whirl.

[Dusty1]

I have heard of folks doing this, but mostly to crappy smelling soaps. Do it in small quantities keeping the proportions the same and give it a shot. Sounds interesting. keep us posted.

[Price]

Yes, "Van der Williams" is one I've seen a few times. For some reason, it's a lot easier to take a chance with a couple bucks on the line as opposed to a $30 puck.

[gaj90027]

The best sounding franken-soap that I read about on B&B was Penhaligon's English Fern with Palmolive Shave Stick.

I really like your idea of Cade with Marlborough as well!

[Absolute Mustard]

I mixed MWF and Col Conk Limes....only lasted two uses before it was tossed

[BroJohn]

I wouldn't grate and mix the high end soaps you mention --they are excellent soaps that you're unlikely to 'improve'.

The grating that I do is simply to recover the tailings of shave sticks. My last mixture was half a puck of Williams, the stubs of Spieck, Euro Palmolive, a Wilkinson, and two butts of Arko. Stirred it up with a couple of splurts of Bigelow and pressed it in a bowl, and let it dry for a few days. It made a pretty darned good shave soap.

-- John Gehman

[FL shaver]

I've only done it to use up soap scraps. Vintage Old Spice and vintage Williams was one combo, and VT Country Store lime musk with modern Williams and Van der Hagen was another. Your proposed combos are much more interesting!

[whereisandy]

I've had good success milling a puck of modern Williams with a puck of Conk Lime.

[sp514]

It'd be interesting to mix up the scents. Let us know how it works out :)