He's a class act. Sent pictures as the handle went through the process and confirmed/re-confirmed satisfaction before shipping out. I cCouldn't be happier with the brush. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The maker is one of our own - Chris @americanshamrock. He produced a batch of the cream and selected several members to Beta Test the product. I was fortunate to be a tester and tried both the peppermint patty & lavender scented. Yes, they both are heavily mentholated. Get a bit of lather on your lip, you'll see! It takes a while to go from experimental to commercially available and I do think there's hope to market the fully developed version. If you choose to not use tallow based soaps for ethical reasons, you should skip this product. It does have a non-Vegan ingredient but that's Chris's to reveal when he goes live with the finished shave cream.
I was informed the Musgo Real Lime Oil is not a shave soap. It is a pre-shave soap. Guess that explains why I failed at getting it to lather. If I'm purchasing a product I like to research it. During this testing of The Box samples I have sniffed, and jumped right into each sample blind. Didn't want my impression to be tainted by others reviews. I think I'll do a cursory lookup on the next product I try, just to be sure!
Just curious if anyone besides myself have purchased soaps based on their experiences with the pass around box? Did you pass out a brand you have never tried and ended up liking? So far it has cause me to dive into B&M, Rasorock, Saponificio Varesino and grab soaps from Stirling I otherwise might not have based on description alone.
Box is just about packed up for shipment tomorrow. Below are my gives and takes unless someone has an issue or wants a sample. I also have a couple more SOTDs to post this evening. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I put that Musgo Real Lime soap in there, as well as an Oakmoss oil. Didn't know it was a pre-shave soap!! I received those in a big PIF and had never used them (or opened them) and thought they would do well in the box. Whoops!
April 30 - Crowne & Crane Port Royal Bay Rum Today I chose another sample from the pass around box, C&C Port Royal Bay Rum. Having little experience with bay rums, I was anxious to try it. Demitasse spoon amount was pressed into the bowl and methodically water was added very slowly. Lather reminded me of Barrister & Mann or Stirling in that it was thick, rich and slick. Scent was like a slightly sweeter rum with some spice and herbal notes. I really enjoyed its scent. I did not fill the bathroom but was strong enough to be smelled from the bowl set a few feet away. The manufacturer posted this for the scent: . I liked that it wasn't just a powerful clove scent and was nicely balanced. I was very light with the razor being the blade was now on its fourth multipass shave. I was very pleased and surprised that the alum was less stinging today that yesterday. Light passes and a great soap are my belief for these results. The Personna Red did very well and would use them when others are not available. I am very happy with Royal Port Bay Rum and would enjoy adding it to my den.
It's come to my attention Mystic Waters has an Old and a New formula. Anyone know the difference? I got the Raspberry Lemon tub during my time with the box. If this is Old formula, I'm OK with it. If it is New it's good, too! (All the remaining Old product on sale at half price.) Breaking News! From @clint64 ; "This is from the Mystic Water Website. "The New formula soaps include a small amount of citric acid as a chelating agent to make lathering easier if you have hard water, and cut down on soap scum. I am gradually replacing all of my soap with the new formula." So not much of a change at all but for me it seemed to work easier." I live in a soft water zone so Old Formula is good, too. I wonder if the citric acid in Lemon EO was already doing the desired effect for those that needed it?
No harm done, as I did get a shave from the sample. There's two ways I can evaluate a product. First is to read reviews, research ingredients, and go in with some idea what to expect. The Second is blind testing. That's what happened with the Musgo - I sniffed, I lathered as well as I could, and I shaved. While I see some folks that use many products including preshave soaps or oils, I have reduced steps. Shave Secret got it's testing period and although I didn't notice much difference I didn't like the BayRumish scent. I should have dropped it in The Box for others to give a try. Now that I've experienced a preshave soap it's been demystified.
Box is on its way to Florida, should be delivered Friday. Thanks for allowing me to participate, this was an amazing introduction to a wide array of soaps that I wouldn't have otherwise been exposed to or known to try. Now to work through those samples... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Unless Perry @PLAla wants to get The Box back in his hands. The ever changing nature has cycled enough that it's full of interesting products HE needs to see! Any plans for another round? Or something different like aftershave box, or brushes & razors?
Yes, I was planning on another round once this one comes back to me. I have some things to add and I want to sample from the current box. But it can go as long as it needs to before that happens. I'll probably take a month off before restarting Volume 3. I don't have any plans on doing aftershaves and razors, etc. That was the Nationwide Box that @fishcrow administrated. It was a great box but I'm most interested in soaps and will keep this one going as long as there is interest.
I can't wait to get the box. Are there any Mike's natural soaps in it? If not I've got the coconut and the vetiver scents so I can put a few samples in it. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
