Discussion Thread for QED Violetta

**scoopster** · 01-28-2008, 09:35 AM

This is the discussion thread for this review.

**High Plains Drifter** · 01-31-2008, 09:04 AM

Spot on review Dave !!

I really like the scent ... It is intense while shaving..... Then fades nicely.

Lather quality is awesome.

I wish Charles would make Violetta and Wild Rose scents as a regular items.....My two personal favorites !

**boboakalfb** · 01-31-2008, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by High Plains Drifter

I wish Charles would make Violetta and Wild Rose scents as a regular items.....My two personal favorites !

I agree, they are both top notch.

I have used it the last 2 days. This morning my better half walked by and stopped, commenting that whatever I was using smelled really good. So we got another

there.

**Slant-Fan** · 01-31-2008, 09:47 AM

I agree, nice review and great soap. Thanks again to the Scoopster for getting it organized and doing the intensive labor of mailing all of that out.

**A.de.Lioncourt** · 01-31-2008, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by boboakalfb

I agree, they are both top notch.

I have used it the last 2 days. This morning my better half walked by and stopped, commenting that whatever I was using smelled really good. So we got another

there.

No doubt, my lover was simply astonished at her first smell of this; consequently, she's requested a special batch of lather for her this weekend.

I love this stuff; it inspired me to write my first review.

**scoopster** · 01-31-2008, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by A.de.Lioncourt

No doubt, my lover was simply astonished at her first smell of this; consequently, she's requested a special batch of lather for her this weekend.

I love this stuff; it inspired me to write my first review.

A.de.Lion, I'm glad this soap revved you up to write a review. It was a great review. Keem 'em coming as you explore other products.

**TstebinsB** · 02-12-2008, 01:44 PM

The scent is a bit too sweet for me the lather is superlative.

**rabidpotatochip** · 02-12-2008, 01:48 PM

Guys, I have a bit of a problem with this stuff. I really like the scent and I've used it several times now, but I simply can't get a good lather out of it. I'm not ready to give up on it, but relative to a TGQ soap, how much water should I be using? My guess would be less... but how much less?

**TstebinsB** · 02-12-2008, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by rabidpotatochip

Guys, I have a bit of a problem with this stuff. I really like the scent and I've used it several times now, but I simply can't get a good lather out of it. I'm not ready to give up on it, but relative to a TGQ soap, how much water should I be using? My guess would be less... but how much less?

For me, TGQ makes a lot lather without that many swirls of the brush on the soap. I'd first suggest a little more soap for QED but that's just me.

**rabidpotatochip** · 02-12-2008, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

For me, TGQ makes a lot lather without that many swirls of the brush on the soap. I'd first suggest a little more soap for QED but that's just me.

That's probably my problem; if I do any less water I may as well not soak the brush.

**ouch** · 02-12-2008, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

The scent is a bit too sweet for me the lather is superlative.

Then you definately don't want to try the Trumper's Violet.

**TstebinsB** · 02-12-2008, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by rabidpotatochip

That's probably my problem; if I do any less water I may as well not soak the brush.

If the brush is too dry or you use too little soap, then you won't have much lather to speak of. If the brush is too wet, then your lather won't give you much cushion and protection against the blade's edge. I think it's better to start with a damp-to-wet brush but not dripping wet. With a little patience your lather should be very thick and perhaps a little dry. This thickness provides you with some cushion. Afterwards, you can add dashes of water to improve the slickness.

Originally Posted by ouch

Then you definately don't want to try the Trumper's Violet.

I bite my thumb at Trumper's Violet. It was terrible.

**JBHoren** · 02-12-2008, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by rabidpotatochip

Guys, I have a bit of a problem with this stuff. I really like the scent and I've used it several times now, but I simply can't get a good lather out of it. I'm not ready to give up on it, but relative to a TGQ soap, how much water should I be using? My guess would be less... but how much less?

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

For me, TGQ makes a lot lather without that many swirls of the brush on the soap. I'd first suggest a little more soap for QED but that's just me.

Originally Posted by rabidpotatochip

That's probably my problem; if I do any less water I may as well not soak the brush.

Here's my solution (and it's guaranteed to work in all instances): Initially, the lather is fine, right? Well, if/when there's not enough lather for the pass you're about to make, rinse your brush, shake-out the excess water, go back to the shaving soap, and make another 20 swirls!

It really works! I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this one; you won't be disappointed.

**scoopster** · 02-12-2008, 02:14 PM

Interesting. I find I get lather easier with QED compared to TGQ and I've used several different scents from each vendor. Might be related to specific water chemistry in my area.

I don't notice a big difference in how much water I use (but I don't really pay attendion I just keep adding until I get the lather I want).

What kind of brush are you using and are you putting a bit of water on the soap first to soften it up?

**loueedacat** · 02-12-2008, 02:25 PM

Be sure you throw some hot water on top of the soap and let it sit there before doing anything else. Then take the damp brush and swiril it around the soap. then go straight to face and lather like mad, and add a little water to brush if needed as you are face lathering.

For your second pass, quickly get a lilttle more water on the brush, dig in a little on the soap to load up the brush, proceed back to face directly and lather like mad.

**TstebinsB** · 02-12-2008, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by scoopster

Interesting. I find I get lather easier with QED compared to TGQ and I've used several differenct scents from each vendor. Might be related to specific water chemistry in my area.

I don't notice a big difference in how much water I use (but I don't really pay attendion I just keep adding until I get the lather I want).

What kind of brush are you usign and aer you putting a bit of water on the soap first to soften it up?

I should've said that I've only used two TGQ soaps and of the one I actually remember using, it was very easy to make lather. It's not really enough of a sample to say all TGQ soaps. I actually prefer QED.

I notice some of you suggesting that you go back to the soap a second time. If you need to go back to the soap, doesn't it mean you didn't do a good job making lather the first time? Once I make my lather the first time, my soap is put away. I have enough lather for a minimum of three passes. To me, it's an annoyance to have to go back. I feel like I've failed.

**Lynchmeister** · 02-12-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

I should've said that I've only used two TGQ soaps and of the one I actually remember using, it was very easy to make lather. It's not really enough of a sample to say all TGQ soaps. I actually prefer QED.

I notice some of you suggesting that you go back to the soap a second time. If you need to go back to the soap, doesn't it mean you didn't do a good job making lather the first time? Once I make my lather the first time, my soap is put away. I have enough lather for a minimum of three passes. To me, it's an annoyance to have to go back. I feel like I've failed.

It took me a while to realize that making lather is a dynamic process. It's never the same. If you need to go back to the soap, it certainly doesn't mean you're a failure. What it does mean is you didn't use enough soap. That's it.

Next time instead of putting the soap away, try leaving it uncovered on your counter while you're shaving. That way if you need it it's there, not to mention the fact that it won't be a pain in the ass to go dig it out of storage and you'll then be more inclined to use it.

**scoopster** · 02-12-2008, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

I should've said that I've only used two TGQ soaps and of the one I actually remember using, it was very easy to make lather. It's not really enough of a sample to say all TGQ soaps. I actually prefer QED.

I notice some of you suggesting that you go back to the soap a second time. If you need to go back to the soap, doesn't it mean you didn't do a good job making lather the first time? Once I make my lather the first time, my soap is put away. I have enough lather for a minimum of three passes. To me, it's an annoyance to have to go back. I feel like I've failed.

I'm OK, you're OK.

It's OK to add more cream to your bowl and its OK to hit the puck again to finish the number of passes you want to get. Sure it's a personal challenge to get it right the first time. But just like the gals have bad hair days, we can have bad lather days and need to make adjustments on the fly.

Lastly, bad lather day is much better than bad blade day.

**rabidpotatochip** · 02-12-2008, 05:19 PM

It sounds like my problem is definitely that I'm not using enough of it. The TGQ soaps take a lot of water but they build a lot of lather with very little soap. I guess I'll use my regular amount of water and swirl the hell out of that purple-blue stuff.

**cr8n** · 02-13-2008, 07:31 PM

I couldn't believe the excellent quality of the lather produced by the QED Violetta.

Because I was worried about it, I made sure the brush was quite dry (after soaking it while I showered), and put a little extra water on the soap at the same time.

When I hit the soap with the brush, I worked the brush on the soap long and hard, and really tried hard NOT to develop lather til I got my brush over to my scuttle. (Seems I didn't need to?) Bang. Whipped cream.

Dry brush, wet soap. Bang.

Paul