So after reading quite a few reviews on the web praising La Savonniere du Moulin "Asses Milk" and Bullgoose Shaving was the US supplier, I decided I had to try it out. Well I was a little late to the party as Bullgoose sold out right away and pondered if I should just buy a jar or two direct from the Artisan over in France. Now the version Bullgoose sells is the 30% Donkey Milk but she also sells a 40% version and her AS Balm is made with 50% Donkey Milk and all of the reviews claim the AS is fantastic. Anyway, as luck would have it, someone on another forum didn't care for the aroma so I swooped in and purchased it off his hands. Soap arrived in two days and sorry gents I forgot to take pics of the soap container but it is pretty flimsy feels like balsa and it is stapled on the side. Below the shave puck is a little Loofa which I assume is used for anti-bacterial purposes but can also be used to scrub your face or body. Upon opening the cover the first thing that came to mind was MWF aroma but a little more floral and sweeter. The puck is of the same consistency of MWF and Scottish Fine Soap. I removed the puck from the shipped container and placed in an old spice mug. I used the SdM two consecutive days as I had to rush through the first shave as I was running late for work and then next two days I did side by side comparisons with MWF then yesterday side by side comparisons against MdC which some have gone on record as SdM as being an MdC killer. My shave gear for the SdM/MWF comparison: Razor: ATT H1/Wolfman WRH2 Blade: Gillette Spoiler (D4) Brush: Shavemac Americana D01 3 Band 24mm Bowl: Georgetown G12 Pre Shave Scrub: RazoRock GLO Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Rosemary Mint Shave Soap: SdM; left side of face Mitchells’ Wool Fat Right side of face Aftershave: TOBS Lavender Water I filled the G12 with warm water and soaked my brush in a cup of warm water then went off to take my shower. After showering I applied my PSO, then I took soaked brush out, shook it twice so it was still pretty damp the swirled my brush on the SdM puck for 15 seconds(see below). This soap or at least for me was super easy to whip up enough lather(again 15 seconds) to transfer to my G12 scuttle as I prefer to bowl lather. The picture below is 55 seconds of whipping up the SdM and for me way to much lather for my typical two pass shave. The aroma does get stronger while you lather up and the scent grew on me and prefer it over MWF and Scottish Fine. I then rinsed out my brush, then lathered up the MWF in my Buffalo horn bowl and again comparing the aroma both lathered up, I prefer the SdM aroma and looking at the two side by side in their respective bowls, the SdM lather appeared creamier, and denser. I then proceeded to lather my left side of my face with SdM and this is some slick soap and lather did not get airy on my face as I then lathered up the right side with MWF. This too was slick but have to give a slight edge to SdM and SdM again took the edge on lather consistency on my face. Grabbed by ATT H1 standard bar and I started on the SdM side. Nice and smooth blade glide with zero irritation. I rinsed off the razor and shaved the MWF side. Again smooth glide, no irritation but the SdM side I felt less stubble and a tad better slickness but really close. I again lathered up both sides for the XTG pass and going against the grain the SdM glided better over my neck and chin than MWF side. Final rinse off and both side pretty darn slick. Overall the SdM was the better of the two and now 11 hours after I shaved I feel both side of my face and SdM side I feel less stubble. Was it my shave technique, cant say for sure but SdM was the better product. Shave gear for the SdM/MdC Lavender comparison: Razor: ATT H2/Wolfman WRH2 Blade: Gillette Spoiler (D6) Brush: Shavemac H4414024 24mm Silvertip Bowl: Turkish Porcelain Bowl 4 ¾” Pre Shave Scrub: RazoRock GLO Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lavender Mint Shave Soap:Martin De Candre Lavender left side of face SdM right side of face Post: Monster Alum Block Aftershave: Herbs of Bulgaria Lavender Again soaked brush while I showered, gave my brush two shakes then swirled 15 seconds on SdM (see below) and then transferred to Turkish porcelain bowl and this time only needed 45 seconds to whip up the lather seen below. This stuff just seems to get better after each use. I rinsed off the brush gave it two shakes and then swirled six seconds on the MdC which is usually all I need for this product and transferred to another Turkish Porcelain bowl and this took me 1:10 seconds to get to the consistency I wanted. Comparing the strength of aroma both lathered up, the SdM came out as the stronger scent and lather consistency also went to SdM and before I even started I thought to myself that MdC would win out. An algology I can think of would be SdM as being cream and MdC as being milk as one pours. You can see the slight difference as you whip up the lather and again once you apply the soap on your face. Since I used SdM on my left side previous comparison with MWF, I switched sides for this MdC comparison. The glide of the razor was smooth with no irritation from either product but edge again went to SdM. This time I did not rinse off between passes and XTG the SdM glided smoother over face and neck. Final rinse off and both pretty smooth but once again SdM came out on top. As I was doing my final rinse off, my 6yo granddaughter came in to see what I was doing and was mad at me for not waiting to shave as she has her own pretend shave kit and shave with me when she is visiting, but I had her slide her hand over both sides of my face and she said the right side (SdM) felt smoother. Now what everyone wants to know: How would I rate it overall. I like to think of it as MWF with a Steroid kick. I never had a problem lathering MWF and some struggle lathering MWF as much as Stirling but in either case SdM wins hands down, no contest in my house anyway. Aroma again goes to SdM but some do not like the scent of MWF and this one is more of a floral scent with a touch of sweetness to it. Not my favorite scent but can live with it. Now is it an MdC killer. Not quite in my book as my minds eye I was thinking a knockout blow over MdC as some write it up to be but yes, I would give the edge to SdM shave quality wise. The aroma may not be your thing and for all of us aroma is very subjective and at half the price of MdC pretty good deal, but no one to date knows if the shave/cost ratio is equal to MdC and I think the cost per shave with MdC is pretty darn good. Is it a keeper in my book, yes it is and now I wonder how much better the 40% Donkey Milk version is over this 30% version. SIDE NOTE: I own all three version of MdC so I'm not being biased here. 15 seconds loading on the puck then transferred to bowl 45 Seconds of whipping up lather. I admit when I whip it up at a fast clip
I haven't seen one yet but I'm sure one will pop up soon. Only place to buy the 40% is direct from Artisan over in France.
I see that Bullgoose is now also carrying a 10% Donkey milk shaving soap stick LE SAVON DES VOLCANS SHAVE SOAP STICK (100G) Le Savon des Volcans by Savonnerie du Bon Berger is a little known treasure from France. This shave soap stick utilizes 10% Donkey Milk which leads to excellent post shave skin care. The stick offers a fairly strong dose of Peppermint and the mild cooling effect is especially pleasant during the humid summer months. It is a great way to wake up! This shave soap is especially favored by straight razor shavers due to its superior slickness. All Natural Ingredients Hand Made 10% Donkey Milk Formulation Additional Butters for slickness and post shave skin conditioning Protective Lather and Superb Conditioning INGREDIENTS: potassium palmate, sodium palmate, potassium stearate, potassium palm kernalate, glycerine, aqua, asinae lac, butyrospernum parkii butter, mentha arvensis oil, palm kernel acid, limonene, linalol.
i have been eyeing this soap and it sounds like it would be great for the skin. I have heard of people using goats milk in soap but donkey milk is new to me. it gets great reviews online and I like the fact that they are trying to be different by using uncommon ingredients. looks like it is worth checking out.
I ordered some ass milk soap from Esty I will let you guys know how it is soon as I get it. If it isnt any good I will just feel like a dumb ass.......
