Needing help for the Soap Forum

[cvargo]

Hello gents! As steward of probably the best forum on B&B, I wanted to reach out to all of you the readers to find out what content if any you would like to see added to this area?

Currently our most popular areas under soaps the last couple of months in my opinion have been:

3017 thread
themes such as Speicktember, Tabactober, etc
the major passaround boxes that are out there. I think there are 3 main ones that are going, 2 of which being manned by dfoulk (thanks for doing those by the way)

Obviously there are the awesome threads from soap reviews, pointing out new soaps on the market, and other random questions that we all love reading and answering. I learn so much from this section of B&B.

So what more if anything would you like to see added? I have contemplated continuing the themes around other popular soaps such as a month for Stirling, MWF, Haslinger... or maybe a menthol month? Or a bay rum month? Maybe we do them weekly?

The blue willy thread was fun as well... maybe we do that again???

What are your ideas?

For the record I do not have a theme currently set-up for November so if this is something that you have enjoyed please chime in.

I know that the SOTD section has some great content for weekly posts but we could make it more specific to using a certain soap brand or type and reporting your findings.

It is hard to come up with ideas that will stick especially when this area of B&B is so frequently visited so it might not even be needed, but if we can get better and more engaging content here I would like to do that. So please take a moment and provide some input below, or send me a PM It will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lightcs1776]

I'm pretty new here, so I don't really know what a steward does, so forgive me if I go off in a few days different direction. My favorite things right now are sample packs, so a week of shaving with a different soap each day might be interesting. I really enjoy the reviews folks share, and my list of future soaps to try continues to grow. This is one of my favorite areas of the site. Thanks for taking the time to head up this area.

 

[ciderguy]

I like themes. Haslinger should definitely have its own month. I'm absolutely in love with it.

I'd like to learn more about soaps in general. Maybe a periodic (monthly / weekly) spotlight on soapmakers, an in-depth article about how a particular ingredient in a soap goes from the raw material to soapmaker, or something along those lines. We all use soap every day. I'd have fun learning more about it.

 

[cvargo]

I'm pretty new here, so I don't really know what a steward does, so forgive me if I go off in a few days different direction. My favorite things right now are sample packs, so a week of shaving with a different soap each day might be interesting. I really enjoy the reviews folks share, and my list of future soaps to try continues to grow. This is one of my favorite areas of the site. Thanks for taking the time to head up this area.

Welcome to B&B. Samplers are definitely the best way to learn. I like the weekly idea too. Good recommendation

I like themes. Haslinger should definitely have its own month. I'm absolutely in love with it.

I'd like to learn more about soaps in general. Maybe a periodic (monthly / weekly) spotlight on soapmakers, an in-depth article about how a particular ingredient in a soap goes from the raw material to soapmaker, or something along those lines. We all use soap every day. I'd have fun learning more about it.

The soap maker spotlight idea is a good one. I will have to look into that. I am not someone that is personally interested in soapmaking but doesn't mean others aren't... I'd be open to starting threads on specific ingredients and then people can chime in about those ingredients... I'd learn alot too. Good recommendations. Keep em coming folks!

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[mdevine]

With the upcoming Sue Moore auction, a limited issue TTFF craft soap was released, and rapidly sold out. I'd love to see a thread to hear opinions on the currant and rose soap. It would keep attention on the charity fund-raiser as well. I've not had experience with the soap maker (in fact, I hadn't heard of them prior to this), so I'm curious to see what people think of it.

 

[cvargo]

With the upcoming Sue Moore auction, a limited issue TTFF craft soap was released, and rapidly sold out. I'd love to see a thread to hear opinions on the currant and rose soap. It would keep attention on the charity fund-raiser as well. I've not had experience with the soap maker (in fact, I hadn't heard of them prior to this), so I'm curious to see what people think of it.

TTFF make the soaps for Maggards. They are good soaps. Once the soaps are delivered we will all be posting in that thread are reviews. But I agree it should keep attention on the auction and good cause

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[dfoulk]

The thing I always look for and I've started a thread or two on is finding some really great new undiscovered soaps. I'm always looking for something new that'll break into my top five.

Interviews with soap makers would be cool, though I'm not sure how that would mesh with paid vendor status vs. unpaid vendor status.

I've also thought about some kind of a review format to grade soaps but it's so subjective it's hard to standardize it and keep the scoring accurate. I'd love to have a database of soaps to house these scores in different categories as well as overall scores. It would be a great resource but it might be a good deal of work to get there.

People that are newer seem to ask the same question in different ways. Which basically comes down to "what soap should I buy?"

 

[cvargo]

The thing I always look for and I've started a thread or two on is finding some really great new undiscovered soaps. I'm always looking for something new that'll break into my top five.

Interviews with soap makers would be cool, though I'm not sure how that would mesh with paid vendor status vs. unpaid vendor status.

I've also thought about some kind of a review format to grade soaps but it's so subjective it's hard to standardize it and keep the scoring accurate. I'd love to have a database of soaps to house these scores in different categories as well as overall scores. It would be a great resource but it might be a good deal of work to get there.

People that are newer seem to ask the same question in different ways. Which basically comes down to "what soap should I buy?"

The database is a great idea. I know what I personally would want it to look like as I manage databases at work... But honestly I don't want to do that on B&B it would turn it into work for me. But it is a great idea!

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[fast shaver]

A soap maker of the week sounds interesting. If I have to read about Haslinger soap for a whole month I will barf up. I have noticed that certain soaps have their voracious fans. Usually the same soaps hashed over & over again such as : Tabac, MWF, Mikes & Haslinger to name a few.

 

[Clausewitz]

I like themes. Haslinger should definitely have its own month. I'm absolutely in love with it.

I'd like to learn more about soaps in general. Maybe a periodic (monthly / weekly) spotlight on soapmakers, an in-depth article about how a particular ingredient in a soap goes from the raw material to soapmaker, or something along those lines. We all use soap every day. I'd have fun learning more about it.

I really like this idea. Something that I think would be interesting would be to hear their opinions on individual components. Why I did or didn't use tallow or clay etc.

Another idea along the same lines would be to sticky an allergy thread. For example there is a current thread about being allergic to shea butter. With the number of soaps owned by many of the members here, people could get some wide ranging definitive answers that would be very helpful.

ETA there not their. Ugh

 

[cvargo]

A soap maker of the week sounds interesting. If I have to read about Haslinger soap for a whole month I will barf up. I have noticed that certain soaps have their voracious fans. Usually the same soaps hashed over & over again such as : Tabac, MWF, Mikes & Haslinger to name a few.

Very good point. I feel that way sometimes about Arko or Proraso. Both good soaps but I don't usually read the threads.

I really like this idea. Something that I think would be interesting would be to hear their opinions on individual components. Why I did or didn't use tallow or clay etc.

Another idea along the same lines would be to sticky an allergy thread. For example there is a current thread about being allergic to shea butter. With the number of soaps owned by many of the members here, people could get some wide ranging definitive answers that would be very helpful.

ETA there not their. Ugh

Very good idea. Thanks you

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[Gdawgs]

I'm fairly new around here as well, so I'm not sure what things are being done as far as themes. It's a ways out there, but how about "Artisan April". There are so many fantastic artisan makers out there that are literally "mom and pops shops" and I like supporting them. So in April, maybe those who sign up only use soaps from artisans. Encourage people to buy an artisan soap if they don't already have any, or if you do already have some, perhaps purchase one from a maker that you haven't purchased from before.?????

 

[fast shaver]

Soap scents appears to be a big deal around here so, maybe a scent of the week would be a good idea.?

 

[Steve56]

How about a soap making thread where techniques and materials can be discussed in an easily found place? I'm not making soaps muself, but have thought about it.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Quinner30]

How about a lather wars thread, where every week, a person lathers 5 or 6 of their favorite soaps and photographs them, then everyone can vote on which looks the best, or something like that...

 

[cvargo]

I'm fairly new around here as well, so I'm not sure what things are being done as far as themes. It's a ways out there, but how about "Artisan April". There are so many fantastic artisan makers out there that are literally "mom and pops shops" and I like supporting them. So in April, maybe those who sign up only use soaps from artisans. Encourage people to buy an artisan soap if they don't already have any, or if you do already have some, perhaps purchase one from a maker that you haven't purchased from before.?????

Soap scents appears to be a big deal around here so, maybe a scent of the week would be a good idea.?

How about a soap making thread where techniques and materials can be discussed in an easily found place? I'm not making soaps muself, but have thought about it.

Cheers, Steve

How about a lather wars thread, where every week, a person lathers 5 or 6 of their favorite soaps and photographs them, then everyone can vote on which looks the best, or something like that...

All excellent ideas. Keep em coming

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[Grundi]

I've loved this forum and have learned a lot and have really loved the pass-arounds! There are so many aspects to the wet shaving adventure and B&B has made this great!! I've missed out on the past couple of B&B limited run soaps and just missed out on the limited run soap auction. That's ok, I'm sure there's more coming and I'll be able to get in on some.

I like the idea of spotlighting a soap maker - maybe with an added draw - maybe the featured soap maker could make a limited run soap (or special sample size) to be offered for sale in the same thread as their feature.

 

[cvargo]

So here is what I am gathering.

1. Theme weeks
2. Interviews with soap makers (I will look into doing this with our vendors) Spotlighting them with SOTDs
3. Threads about specific ingredients and the pros and cons they provide


Those are the three that have been mentioned the most.

 

[Lightcs1776]

So here is what I am gathering.

1. Theme weeks
2. Interviews with soap makers (I will look into doing this with our vendors) Spotlighting them with SOTDs
3. Threads about specific ingredients and the pros and cons they provide


Those are the three that have been mentioned the most.

Excellent top three. I might add that a sample offering of the featured soap would be fantastic, if the vendor doesn't already offer samples. For example, I was hesitant to purchase a large container of Captain's Choice, but eagerly purchased the sample pack.

 

[California Cajun]

I don't know if anything is needed to spice this forum up. Shaving soap is my favorite forum here because of the strong feelings people have about their likes and dislikes.