Call me unorthodox but I feel it's a waste of time. Get that brush nice and wet, and get just the right amount of water out, and your good to go. No, I've not tried with a triple milled soap, and yes, I plan on it when I get one.

Now, how soon before "blooming" must be defined. That's why I hate the term. I guess I am unorthodox as well.

I don't bloom or soak my whole puck or tub of shaving soaps, I just dribble some tiny water on top of my shaving soap to help loosen the top layer only.

That's what I do as well and I like "blooming" my soaps. Not everyone needs it, but a few difficult ones gets easier to lather if I use a little bit of water on the soap before I get into the shower.

After discovering MdC, that only takes me 9 seconds to load, I have found that I no longer have the inclination to load a brush for a whole minute or more. By blooming the soap I find the whole loading process to be more efficient and pleasant.
Furthermore, the few soaps I have that have proven to be very difficult to lather (Mystic Waters, Crabtree & Evelyn) gets much easier to work with after a short blooming period.

I don't bloom. I'm a "keep it simple, stupid" kind of guy.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

The only soap I've ever "bloomed" is Williams. It did help me build a lather on that soap. Other than Williams, I never bloom my soaps.

I don't bloom either, and today is Williams Wednesday. I just wet the knot and shake it out well and begin to load my brush. I count to 30 while I load and then I build my lather on my face. That is just the way I do it. Whatever works for you.

Meanwhile, an update from Bloom County:

I've seen a few soap makers even say you don't need to bloom the soap. Will from B&M and Douglas Smythe from PAA. Smythe did say in a YouTube video that the only real reason to bloom is to unlock the scent but you can dry bloom for that too.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

Personally I'm of the opinion that it's a quick way to waste soap

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

What is dry blooming ?

I will soak (in the jargon of @swarden43) Williams and Mitchell's Wool Fat while I'm showering. Those are the only soaps that I bloom.

Another silly made up word/idea that means nothing if you have to ask.

This! Before I jump in the shower I grab the the brush and let it drip a little water on the puck then I jump in the shower. Nothing more.

With that and my Jayruh 30DC brush I can load for 5-10 sec and its more than enough soap for a 3 pass shave.

Have never bloomed myself..........

Would that be some sick form of torture to bloom yourself?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I bloomed a few times and then stopped. If my lather needs more water I just drizzle a little more on my brush.

I don't bloom my soaps. I load the damp brush and go. If it's too dry, I drizzle a little more water in the bowl until it's right.