Soap

[Russell Street]

I'm not going to get all Badger & Blade here, but I think regular soap is something with enough variety to warrant a thread.

I'll start with my mainstay since my teens, Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap in peppermint.

I first got the stuff after reading about the zany quasi-religious rantings on the labels, but the product itself warranted lifelong devotion. Mild but effective, it's really concentrated and a bottle will last and last. The peppermint is especially invigorating and a kick if such a think causes candy cane nostalgia for you.

It used to be hard to find, but nowadays every Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, EMS, health food store etc. carries the stuff and in a bewildering variety.

 

[Russell Street]

You never really know, as you get used to an omnipresent scent, but presumably if someone got in really close they could catch a whiff. It's soap, it rinses off. I've had days when some spot of shaving cream or soap evaded rinsing and stunk me up, and it's never that strong.

As I said, it reminds me of candy canes. Being natural, it's pleasant and balanced and not some overwhelming chemical concoction.

 

[Grand Potentate]

I can't fuck with Dr Bronners. It dries the ever loving shit out of my skin. Like a sponge in the microwave.

I've been on a soap sampling frenzy lately and I have found a few winners on Amazon.

Pre de Provence - makers of my favorite shaving soap also make a lovely body soap. A HUGE 8oz bar runs around $7.

Mitchell's Woolfat Soap - same maker as the shaving soap. The bar has the lanolin in it as well. This is my first lanolin based soap. It's very nice and has little smell. Doesn't seem to dry me out either. A 3pk of 5oz bars was $20.

 

[Russell Street]

That woolfat soap sounds worth a try. What got me thinking of soap was that I was about to place an order at this pace on eBay, the rather unfortunately named Special Needs Natural Soap.
http://stores.ebay.com/Special-Needs-Natural-Soap/
They used to have cool lip balms too, but that seems to be gone. I'm a sucker for oddball stuff and they have anise soap, camphor, and this stuff I tried that claims to repel insects. I might try their soap that has lanolin.

 

[OfficePants]

This one from Trader Joe's rocks. I have been using it for a good year solid now. Big bar, 8.8 oz and its cheap as shit, like $3 a bar.

 

[Grand Potentate]

For soap I stick with Irish Spring. It cleans good, which is all I need from a soap. Fragrances and such come afterwards. Hell, I showered with a bar of lava for a half semester in college cause that's all I could steal from work to use.

JESUS CHRIST THATS'S SAD.

I'm shipping you soap. No questions.

This one from Trader Joe's rocks. I have been using it for a good year solid now. Big bar, 8.8 oz and its cheap as shit, like $3 a bar.

I believe that Pre de Provence makes the Trader Joes soaps.

 

[OfficePants]

Hmm, I love almond and ginger can go both ways with me. I wish I was nearer one to one of their stores, but this warrants a try too.

Try it. I don't bother with trying anything new anymore. In fact I buy like 8 or 10 at a time now.

I believe that Pre de Provence makes the Trader Joes soaps.

If so, you're way overpaying.

 

[Grand Potentate]

If so, you're way overpaying.

No Trader joes here in FL

 

[OfficePants]

No Trader joes here in FL

See, that's why T J's is successful. They don't dip their toes into muddy water.

If you want me to send a bar, I can. If you like it I can send a dozen. Goes for anyone else.

 

[Grand Potentate]

See, that's why T J's is successful. They don't dip their toes into muddy water.

If you want me to send a bar, I can. If you like it I can send a dozen. Goes for anyone else.

I may take you up on that some day. I'm trying it out for the first time. Coconut. No real smell but the soap is fantastic.

 

[Russell Street]

JESUS CHRIST THATS'S SAD.

It's not luxurious or anything, but I was wondering if I'd get responses for Ivory or Neutrogena along with the more exotic stuff.
I must say, the old Ivory Spring commercials with some lad in a fisherman's sweater slicing the bar and whatever were memorable marketing. I really am not sure if I ever used the product.

 

[OfficePants]

It's not luxurious or anything, but I was wondering if I'd get responses for Ivory or Neutrogena along with the more exotic stuff.
I must say, the old Ivory Spring commercials with some lad in a fisherman's sweater slicing the bar and whatever were memorable marketing. I really am not sure if I ever used the product.

As a kid, I did. I put Irish Spring right into my mom's cart. "2 deodorants, and a fine fresh scent".

The other product was Pert. I swallowed it right up.

 

[Russell Street]

The other product was Pert. I swallowed it right up.

Some "Wash'n'Go, Pert Plus" jingle remnant comes to mind, if that's what you mean.

Wasn't Irish Spring "clean as a whistle" too?

 

[OfficePants]

 

[Grand Potentate]

Rambo: "]No Trader joes here in FL

There is one in the Miami area and one in Tampa.

They finally opened the Miami one? I might have to go check that out.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Nothing worse than Florida tomatoes.

 

[Fwiffo]

I work in the financial district and there are two boutique stores that opened just selling soap. The set up is like a posh cosmetics counter with bright lights, very little furnishings and plenty of mirrors. It looks like the clientele is supposed to be women but given my rakish dress they sometimes try to solicit me too. I just use the cheapest I get - should I not?

 

[Russell Street]

I just use the cheapest I get - should I not?

Well, ignorance is bliss and you'll be fine never knowing what you're missing. Obviously I'm not the biggest spender, but I see it a lot like microbrews in that you get substantially better product and variety for the dollar and life just seems better.

 

[Grand Potentate]

This one from Trader Joe's rocks. I have been using it for a good year solid now. Big bar, 8.8 oz and its cheap as shit, like $3 a bar.

BTW - I went to TJ's and they didn't have this. But, their verbena and lavender soaps were not bad. Good for hand soaps.

 

[OfficePants]

BTW - I went to TJ's and they didn't have this. But, their verbena and lavender soaps were not bad. Good for hand soaps.

I've had success asking them to stock items. It seems they have some latitude within the store to choose what they want to sell.

 

[Grand Potentate]

I've had success asking them to stock items. It seems they have some latitude within the store to choose what they want to sell.

That store is over 50 miles away. Thankfully, they're opening one here in Del Boca Vista sometime soon.

 

[Russell Street]

I used Dial while staying with someone. It was akin to a rental car in that it made me appreciate what I take for granted. Do not recommend Dial soap.

 

[Thruth]

Whenever I travel I steal extra soaps from hotels. I have quite a collection of soaps from across America and from foreign lands.

I know this is weird, but it's what I do.

Not weird. They have some schwanky soaps and akin products at some hotels. I am a cheap as Mofo at least as soap goes. Shaving products is a different story.

Gotta check me out some of the recommendations here. 'Course probably have the shit is not imported to Canada.

My son used to make good soap then I hires him to work for me. He shut down his soap making rather quickly

 

[Grand Potentate]

I'm using Mitchell Wool Fat soap now. Gotta admit, this shit's pretty good. Leaves my skin feeling less dry than most soaps.

 

[Russell Street]

This Yardley London stuff seems to be readily available and none too pricey, yet made with real ingredients. Anyone use it?

 

[Grand Potentate]

Meh. Yardley is cheapish drugstore stuff. You'd be better off with Dove.

 

[Russell Street]

Meh. Yardley is cheapish drugstore stuff. You'd be better off with Dove.

Oh yeah, it was a buck at some awful cheapo store. But the essential oil thing pumps it above most mass-market poo, I think.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Oh yeah, it was a buck at some awful cheapo store. But the essential oil thing pumps it above most mass-market poo, I think.

Not really. In that soap its all marketing gimmick.

 

[Russell Street]

I may well sink the buck and find out. Whenever I run out of soap...

 

[Grand Potentate]

I may well sink the buck and find out. Whenever I run out of soap...

You can do better. Don't succumb to the cheapness within you.

 

[Russell Street]

Thanks for worrying about my dollar!

 

[Grand Potentate]

Thanks for worrying about my dollar!

DON'T DO IT!

 

[Grand Potentate]

I have often toyed with the idea of making my own soap. I used to make my own deodorant in college and it was quite good. I bet I'd be real good at soap making.

EDIT - Rambo, get up here and let me lipo the fat out of you to make soap, Fight Club style.

JK, Rambo is not fat, his protestations to the contrary.

We could make a mint! You need to get a plastic surgeon client stat. I've got a Costco-sized pallet worth of the stuff in here.

 

[Russell Street]

This one from Trader Joe's rocks. I have been using it for a good year solid now. Big bar, 8.8 oz and its cheap as shit, like $3 a bar.

I finally got to a TJ and opted for the Next to Godliness Oatmeal & Honey Soap, a pure vegetable soap, whatever that means. Two 4oz bars for $1.69. Will report back after use.

 

[doghouse]

Acca Kappa White Moss is my daily these days.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Acca Kappa White Moss is my daily these days.

Nice stuff, but I found their soaps to be overly drying. Of course, all but the most moisturizing is overly drying for me, but I digress.

 

[doghouse]

Nice stuff, but I found their soaps to be overly drying. Of course, all but the most moisturizing is overly drying for me, but I digress.

Drying is a positive with my complexion.

 

[OfficePants]

I finally got to a TJ and opted for the Next to Godliness Oatmeal & Honey Soap, a pure vegatable soap, whatever that means. Two 4oz bars for $1.69. Will report back after use.

Bad move yo

 

[Russell Street]

Bad move yo

because...

 

[OfficePants]

because...

I've tried every soap there. The one I suggested is by leaps and bounds the best.