And yep, you guessed it – the hybrid soaps may contain various quantities of each prominent ingredient, possibly along with a few others. Some brands will forgo the tallow for a vegan or cruelty-free option, replacing it with plant-derived options like stearic acid combined with and glycerine. Transfer to the face or bowl, and adjust the consistency by adding more water to your face or your bowl and continuing with the swirling motion. Although most soaps come in a container that allows plenty of room for lathering and mixing, it’s better to mix in your own bowl for both the end result and the condition of the soap/container. When you consider that shaving soaps have been around since the 14th century and were actually the only option for shavers until around the time of World War I, then there must be something to them. Probably the most obvious difference between shaving cream and soap in terms of use is that soaps are set firm to begin with, which means (at least theoretically) that they require more water to build a lather than the more liquefied foams or creams. Anyone who takes the business of shaving even slightly seriously will have tried at least one Bay Rum shaving product at some point. Many get hooked. Some say it’s a matter of taste. But one thing is for sure, there is no mistaking the overtly yet subtle masculine overtones of the Bay Rum aroma, whether in cream, oil, or soap form.

Any newcomers to the art of shaving may find, with a little digging, that using shaving soap is about as old-school as it gets – especially when taking into account one with the Bay Rum scent. It is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly by any discerning shaving gent. Bay Rum Soap is carefully crafted using a blend of high-quality ingredients that offer a range of properties beneficial for your skin. At LilyMichael.co.uk, we believe in the power of nature and strive to bring you the best that it has to offer. One of the key ingredients in Bay Rum Soap is bay leaf oil. Bay leaves have been used for centuries for their aromatic properties and are known for their soothing and calming effects on the skin. The oil extracted from bay leaves is rich in antioxidants, which help to protect your skin from environmental damage and premature aging. Other uses include as under-arm deodorant and as a fragrance for shaving soap, as well as a general astringent.

Once the right consistency is achieved you can get to work with the razor, repeating any of the previous steps as necessary until you have reached the required degree of razor glide and smooth shaving. Keep your eye on the lather throughout the shave adding extra drops of water as and when required. It is a distillate that was originally made in Saint Thomas "and probably other West Indian islands" [2] from rum and the leaves and/or berries of the West Indian bay tree, Pimenta racemosa. Even though it was the first available shaving resource, many self-respecting shavers may still lean towards thinking that soap belongs on the ‘washing’ shelf in the bathroom rather than the ‘shaving’ one.

As I said earlier this is a cold process soap which means it doesn't like to sit in the water flow or be wet all the time. The best way I've found to use it so far is to keep it out of the shower or higher up in the shower away from splashing water. The best way to apply it is to get your skin wet, use the bar to lather and then use a wash cloth or shower sponge, etc to scrub and exfoliate. If you leave this soap under running, hot water, it WILL melt rapidly. There is certainly a broad variation in the interpretation of the Bay Rum scent from brand to brand. The ‘classic’ Bay Rum is usually defined as being somewhat woody, sweet, and spicy in nature. Certainly it is also fair to say that various blends of essential oils with citrus hints have also cemented themselves upon the senses of many Bay Rum adherents and converts.As with all shaving products worth their salt, your skin is on to a winner if you can find a shaving soap with all the traits of a carefully-crafted product made with natural ingredients, and of course as free as possible of anything synthetic or potentially harmful. That said, it shouldn’t come at the expense of excellent razor glide and closeness. John Maisch identified the leaf in the herbarium at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, collected in Saint Croix, "by the late Dr. Griffith", which was identified as Myrcia acris, now transferred to the genus Pimenta. Maisch added that it was "very probable that various species are made use of for the same purpose." According to an 1889 reference, other ingredients may be citrus and spice oils, the most common being lime oil and oil of cloves. A drop of oil of cloves is added to two parts bay oil and one part pimento oil in one of two recipes for bay rum; [3] the aromatics are steeped in alcohol and as a last step an equal part of "good rum" is added, and cinnamon. It doesn't dry your skin out like other soaps may and it removes nasty greases off you skin you may gain during a regular day at work. And if you are not new to this game you will know that shaving soaps are still held in high esteem by any die-hard old-schooler who gravitates towards the traditional aspects of wet shaving. In their mission to create the best bay rum shaving soap on the planet, Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements have a twist in that there is no clove included. In short Atomic Age Bay Rum is the fruit of 5 years of development, deep, complex and smooth - you may never want another Bay Rum shaving soap!

First off, this soap IS better than most generic soap you can find at your local stores. It's clean, refreshing, and it smells good (More on this further on.). After using two whole bars of this soap and of different scents however, I can see it's flaws. So let me just take you to my list. First and foremost, Bay Rum Soap is known for its invigorating scent. The rich aroma of bay leaves and exotic spices transports you to a tropical paradise, immersing your senses in a delightful experience. The refreshing fragrance lingers on your skin long after you step out of the shower, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized throughout the day. If you are doing things the right way and have your natural-hair shaving brush at the ready – then simply let it soak to soften and prepare it for what’s coming. MAGUIRE'S Barbershop are Exclusive European Retailers of Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum products. How to useIn addition to bay leaf oil, our Bay Rum Soap also contains exotic spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. These spices not only add to the soap's irresistible scent but also have antimicrobial properties that help to cleanse and purify your skin. Warm and spicy, Fine Bay Rum shaving soap has authentic Dominican Bay Leaf extract that provides a richness with subtle and sweet balsamic notes. Strong clove with a touch of citrus freshness - Fine have really developed a formula that epitomises Bay Rum! We all know that sailors love a tipple, with rum being a firm favourite! They soon discovered that if they soaked the Bay leaves in rum, the result extracted the oils more efficiently and added a new aroma - thus the Bay Rum scent was born! What is a Bay Rum scent? If you have greasy hair, it doesn't do anything to remove that, rather leaving it greasy and moist.

The ingredients of shaving soaps may be a factor in the decision to use them by some adherents. We could probably get away with categorizing shaving soaps into three main groups in terms of their prominent, most commonly-used ingredients. For the purposes of reduction let’s say they are largely either: Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum products have a bold, fresh fragrance, with some unique ingredient combinations, like you remember from years ago in the barber shop! A stronger than usual Bay Rum with distinctive tones. A traditional 'old-time' product, which is as good a performer as it was years ago. Ogallala Shaving Soaps do notcontain artificial colourings. Made in USA

Ogallala

Fine Accoutrements shaving soaps are artisan made in Italy with a formula that is rich in animal fats, vegetable oils and butters to nourish and protect the skin from razor irritation while shaving. When it comes to choosing the right soap for your bathing routine, it's essential to consider the benefits it provides. Bay Rum Soap from LilyMichael.co.uk offers a plethora of advantages that make it a must-have for every bathing experience. In terms of the soap though, it may be the case that many die-hard, old-school-style shaving buffs have overlooked it in light of the fact that it doesn’t have enough ‘body’ to either carry the scent or provide the same results as an oil or cream. I have very oily skin typically and products made for oily skin go way beyond oil reduction and leave your skin a dry husk. Dr. Squatch gets my skin clean and free of oily residue without leaving it dry and itchy. When you step out of the shower and dry off your skin feels soft and clean, you can feel air against your skin and it after a day or two of use, your skin looks a lot healthier. If you've ever used other moisturizing soaps you probably know they can leave an oily feeling film on your skin which I can't stand, other soaps for oily skin make your skin feel like it's pulling and covered in astringents as it dries and will commonly result in dry scaly skin. Dr. Squatch does neither. It leaves you feeling clean and soft and makes it feel like your skin can actually breathe. Let the soap soak for a few minutes beforehand in your shaving bowl with warm water while you wash your stubble or beard. It’s not completely unheard of for some soap proponents to nuke it in the microwave beforehand – but warm water should serve the same purpose. As most (but not all) shaving soaps are hard, you’ll need to consider adding the warm water to it in time for the shave . A couple of minutes should soften up the surface of the soap to give you something to work with.