Lathering MB Soaps - a little help???

[rossination]

So I got my Mama Bear Rosemary and Mint and Rosewood soaps in the mail today (thanks, MB!). Naturally, I hopped into the bathroom ASAP to try out the now famous Rosemary and Mint. But I had a real hell of a time trying to get the soap to lather up to anything even close to meringue-like! I don't have too much experience in soaps (I'm a new wetshaver who has been using mostly creams), but basically I just swirled my (very wet) C&E Best Badger brush around in the soap cake for at least 20-30 swirls before going to the (warmed, wet) bowl.

All I was able to get were some weak bubbles and a foam that seemed both dried out and overly watery. I played a bit with different amounts of water, but to no avail.

Why am I so bad at getting a good lather out of this stuff? The shave was pretty nice, and I loved the scent (so strong!) of both soaps - I want to make this work!

Thanks in advance to Sue and all the other B&Bers...

[rtaylor61]

Daniel,

For some great advice, check out Joel's thread and Scotto's Glycerin Tutorial, Part One and Part Two!

Randy

[Rik]

Greetings ros,

I would suspect too much water in the brush. You should at least let it drain so it is only dripping slowly, if at all. I generally start with a drier brush (after soaking it I give it a couple of shakes) as I find it much easier to add water than remove it.

Time spent experimenting with various water ratios should result in achieving copious amounts of fragrant lather.

[Kyle]

Greetings ros,

I would suspect too much water in the brush. You should at least let it drain so it is only dripping slowly, if at all. I generally start with a drier brush (after soaking it I give it a couple of shakes) as I find it much easier to add water than remove it.
Time spent experimenting with various water ratios should result in achieving copious amounts of fragrant lather.

Yessir! Good advice.

[Austin]

Greetings ros,

I would suspect too much water in the brush. You should at least let it drain so it is only dripping slowly, if at all. I generally start with a drier brush (after soaking it I give it a couple of shakes) as I find it much easier to add water than remove it.

Time spent experimenting with various water ratios should result in achieving copious amounts of fragrant lather.

Ditto!

With soaps I expect less meringue than creams. The lather is usually thinner.