I have used several B&M soaps. Is the one in question one of their Latha line? If I remember correctly, that is a much softer soap than the normal formulations. I do tend to throw some water on the top of my thirstier soaps, then use that water to wash my face before I lather. I don't do this on really soft soaps, like my Jabonman because it doesn't add much and just makes a mess. Try it both ways and see what works better for you.
OED defines 'soaking' as "imposing heavy charges or taxation on." That's what you do with your pucks, right?
I suppose if one gets aggressive enough with the brush, due to friction, a certain amount of heat could be built up... (#9) Pick one... verb (used without object) 1. to lie in and become saturated or permeated with water or some other liquid. 2. to pass, as a liquid, through pores, holes, or the like: The rain soaked through the tear in the umbrella. 3. to be thoroughly wet. 4. to penetrate or become known to the mind or feelings (followed by in): The lesson didn't soak in. 5. Informal. to drink immoderately, especially alcoholic beverages: They were soaking at the bar. verb (used with object) 6. to place or keep in liquid in order to saturate thoroughly; steep. 7. to wet thoroughly; saturate or drench. 8. to permeate thoroughly, as liquid or moisture does. 9. Metallurgy. to heat (a piece) for reworking. 10. Informal. to intoxicate (oneself) by drinking an excess of liquor. 11. Slang. to beat hard; punish severely: I was soaked for that mistake. 12. to extract or remove by or as by soaking (often followed by out): to soak a stain out of a napkin. 13. Slang. to overcharge: He was soaked by the waiter. noun 14. the act or state of soaking or the state of being soaked. 15. the liquid in which anything is soaked. 16. Slang. a heavy drinker. 17. Australian. any small area of land, as near a spring or at the foot of a hill, that becomes swamplike or holds water after a period of heavy rain. Verb phrases 18. soak up, to absorb or take in or up by absorption: Blotting paper soaks up ink. to absorb with one's mind or senses; take in: to soak up information. Slang. to drink to excess: He can really soak up the booze.
I put some water on top of the pre-glissant Lavanille to enhance the scent while I brush my teeth. It's not needed strictly to make the soap perform, however. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ok, so doing so at or shortly after purchase to accurately get the scent. Sorry, got no experience with B&M specifically but I have bloomed, soaked, and my new favorite, steeped many soaps.
So to properly bloom soap, it has to be heated. Hmmm... guess the cold water shavers are left out in the.... Nope. Can't do it. Couldn't finish the video. Got tired of his rant about why newbies shouldn't write reviews.
And on top of that (I'm going out on a limb, here) just from what I did watch, the purpose of blooming is to release scent. Edit to add: finished watching the video. As I thought - no mention of blooming as an aid to lathering a soap. Goes to what I know - blooming isn't necessary for me* to get a good lather. *It's your shave. Enjoy it your way.
I only went back to finish it so I could justify my point. It would have been embarrassing to make a point on assumption, then have someone point out I did make an ___ of myself.
Check this web site: http://www.whyiwetshave.com/different-methods-to-lather-shaving-soap/. It somewhat answers the "Bloom" question and the why. I refers more to the releasing of the scent.
After another thread on this subject I decided to give it a try without blooming/soaking/saturating. I like it better without. If I use just the small amount of water left in my brush after I bloom/soak/saturate it I find I can get a denser load of soap without much mess. Then transfer to bowl/face and have my way with it. Do what you want, if it makes you happy and works for you then it's the right way to do it.
