Take Stirling for example. What's the difference between buying the jar vs the puck? Is the jar a croap? Can you lather directly on it like a puck or are you supposed to scoop it out and use a bowl? Thanks Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
The puck is meant to be a refill but you can certainly put it in any container you want or even put it in a push up container and use it as a shave stick. I believe they are both the same consistency. Also, you get more soap when you buy the tub.
I put pucks in a cup or bowl. With tubs, I load up my brush directly. But, there is typically no difference unless the maker says so. Proraso comes to mind. Their tubs are soaps, but they offer the same stuff as a cream in a tube. Stirling (like, many modern soap makers; Mickey Lee, Wet Shaving Products, Soap Smooth, etc.) is generally a little softer than, say, bath soap whether is in a puck or a tub, but I guess that might make it a croap. Though, I don't think it is that soft. Pretty sure its the same stuff, though.
Except for my Aramis and Col. Conk, all my soaps came in their own tub(Razorock, Route 66 and soon Cella).
For Stirling the consistency is similar in either format, kind of like a firm croap. I think they just fill the tubs directly vs molding them as they do for the pucks. Really it just depends on whether you want it in a tub or would rather use your own container.
For stirling it's the same cost per oz and you get the tub for $.50 with the larger size. Regardless which you pick it's a good deal on great soap. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know it's good. Or rather I'm sure it is. I bought some sample pucks. I also bought some other samples from Dr. Jon's and they come in a tub not puck. And I notice that a lot of artisans have like a tub option or a puck option but didn't know if there were any differences. Thanks all for the responses. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
The only difference is whether the manufacturer pours the soap in a tub or a mold. Where you really get differences is when the soap is triple milled vs. French milled (milled once) vs. an Italian soft soap.
Either I would have to deal with the green containers or buy pucks and put them into my beautiful blue ones!!!
Pucks are great if you like to use Old Spice shaving mugs. I happen to know a guy who has at least 40 of them.
As @Fly2High mentioned above, If the soap doesn't come in a tub, I put the puck in tins I buy. And if possible, I re-use the labels onto the tins.
When I buy the pucks, I just press them into mugs and use it that way. The Stirling soaps are the same consistency whether as a puck or in a tub.
As in the first photo below - you load your brush directly from the tub. This happens to be a Stirling soap. Then some folks will directly do a "face lather". I prefer doing a bowl lather as seen in the photo and then apply the larger volume of soap to my face. The second photo below is a "puck" which I store in a 1 cup pyrex glass storage container that comes with a lid. I follow the same routine as before.