Old shave soaps

[Kingpepper]

I have 3 pucks of soaps that are probably 50+ years old. They make a great lather, but there is no fragrance and they smell old. Is there any way to "spice" them up? Brands are Colgate, Colgate Menthol, and Williams Menthol. I have a nice cheese grater so grinding them up is not a problem. Thanks!

[IsaacRN]

Mix them with a nice cream...and let the magic begin :)

[Queen of Blades]

Interesting question.

Now this is only an idea, so don't everybody start yelling at me, but......

What if you took a bit of glycerin shave soap and melt it, then pour it over these old soaps after you re-mill them with your handy dandy cheese grater.

Only suggestion I can think of.

I don't think it would be a good idea to just add a fragrance (EO or FO) oil to the old soaps, even if you did grate them. I don't think the fragrance would mix with the old soap that way. But I don't know....

[Queen of Blades]

Mix them with a nice cream...and let the magic begin :)

Those soaps aren't glycerin based, though, I think.

[PalmettoB]

Mix them with a nice cream...and let the magic begin :)

Superlather! :D

[Kingpepper]

Would mixing in some shea butter after grinding them up work? Then adding a FO/EO.
And of course there is Superlather.

[TOB9595]

I was hoping to see more energy than just superlather....
This is what I was hoping to see

Interesting question.

Now this is only an idea, so don't everybody start yelling at me, but......

What if you took a bit of glycerin shave soap and melt it, then pour it over these old soaps after you re-mill them with your handy dandy cheese grater.

Only suggestion I can think of.

I don't think it would be a good idea to just add a fragrance (EO or FO) oil to the old soaps, even if you did grate them. I don't think the fragrance would mix with the old soap that way. But I don't know....

My only thought was to add EO to the grated soap I like the idea of seeing what happens if you blend Tallow with Glycerine..I don't know.
I'll bet that you can blend some other soaps...tallow or veg.shred some stuff that you're not too excited about and see if you can reach a fine smelling "concoction"
Tom

[Queen of Blades]

Would mixing in some shea butter after grinding them up work? Then adding a FO/EO.
And of course there is Superlather.

I've found that Shea Butter kills lather in my soaps. Not sure if you want to try it with this project.

[Kingpepper]

I've found that Shea Butter kills lather in my soaps. Not sure if you want to try it with this project.

I'll take your advice, no shea butter.

[Scorpio]

Interesting question.

Now this is only an idea, so don't everybody start yelling at me, but......

What if you took a bit of glycerin shave soap and melt it, then pour it over these old soaps after you re-mill them with your handy dandy cheese grater.

Only suggestion I can think of.

I don't think it would be a good idea to just add a fragrance (EO or FO) oil to the old soaps, even if you did grate them. I don't think the fragrance would mix with the old soap that way. But I don't know....

I think it is somewhat difficult to ascertain how a 50 year old soap will react. JoAnna's idea is actually something that is done is the soapmaking community with left over CP tallow based soaps. The shavings are place in the melted soap and then placed in a mold. THe MP base is usually clear so you can see all the different color shavings. Kinda purdy. It would be at this stage, before it is poured, that I would add the desired scent. I have not read about milling old soap and scenting the same. This of course does not mean it cant be done.

I have seen re-milling tutorials where the soap, after milling, is placed in a seal ziplock bag type and placed in boiling water until melted. It was at this stage that, when melted, that scent was added. After a little old fashion bake and shake the melted mixture was poured in the desired mold and left to cure. Again, this was rather new soap and not 50 year old soap.

Maybe Issy can chime in.

Raf

[TOB9595]

What does CP and MP refer to?
I've seen this before but I never asked.
Tom

[Queen of Blades]

What does CP and MP refer to?
I've seen this before but I never asked.
Tom

CP= Cold Process (atleast in soapmaking)

MP= Melt & Pour

[TOB9595]

Thank YOU!


YOU SHOULD BE IN BED!!!!!

With your eyes CLOSED...most of the time!!!!

Tom

[Queen of Blades]

Thank YOU!


YOU SHOULD BE IN BED!!!!!

With your eyes CLOSED...most of the time!!!!

Tom

Gee, that's the most sexist thing anyone has ever said to me! :p

:rofl

[moviemaniac]

To be honest, I wouldn't tamper with those soaps. I have some vintage ones as well, with their scent being almost gone, but that belongs to the character of the soap as it is. Melting it down, adding to it or whatever else would change the soap and you wouldn't have the soap you've had before.

But, of course, that's just me ;)

[TOB9595]

I'd probably alter it to increase the pleasure...
But it will take a LOT for me to take it out and start using it.
Tom

[mastermute]

To be honest, I wouldn't tamper with those soaps. I have some vintage ones as well, with their scent being almost gone, but that belongs to the character of the soap as it is. Melting it down, adding to it or whatever else would change the soap and you wouldn't have the soap you've had before.

But, of course, that's just me ;)


I have to agree, unles you are on a very tight budget and need to get your soaps to last you through a rough phase. But I'd still go with the "lightly" scented option.

If you want to experiment with melt and pour I'd suggest you buy a bar and do it by the book, you'll get much better, and [hopefully] predictable, results.

[moviemaniac]

I have to agree, unles you are on a very tight budget and need to get your soaps to last you through a rough phase. But I'd still go with the "lightly" scented option.

If you want to experiment with melt and pour I'd suggest you buy a bar and do it by the book, you'll get much better, and [hopefully] predictable, results.
For me it's not about the danger of ruining the soap, it's just a no-go to alter things I might probably never get again. I want to use them things as they were, unadulterated, untouched.

[TOB9595]

Yes, but at the same time they are no longer untouched.
They have been touched by the ravages of TIME..the scent is gone..
I'd just leave it alone and whip up some lather..
Can you put a drop of EO into your lather bowl and get something good?????
I'll bet you could
Tom

[moviemaniac]

Can you put a drop of EO into your lather bowl and get something good?????


If I really wanted to that's the only way I'd do it :cool:

[TOB9595]

I think I'll have to play with blends and alchemy and see what happens
Tom

[crackstar]

If I really wanted to that's the only way I'd do it :cool:

Klaus, you're right bro--no way would I ever fool around with my vintage soaps like my Shavallo, or Dalli-Werke. They're great just as they are!

[Kingpepper]

A lot of good advice and comments. I will leave them intact. They will make a great Superlather or I can add an EO or FO to the lather; William's Orange.:D I think I read somewhere here at TSD, EDC/EDT's can be used. There's no sense in wasting good soap. Thank you all!:happy088

[TOB9595]

I love it when there's a lot of input. I'm pretty blind about the WAYS of wetshaving.
I'll bet those pucks will lather wonderfully.
Let us know when/if you do play with the pucks

[Queen of Blades]

Man, now I have to go find my own vintage soaps to torture........I mean, test my idea out on.

[Issy]

I think it is somewhat difficult to ascertain how a 50 year old soap will react. JoAnna's idea is actually something that is done is the soapmaking community with left over CP tallow based soaps. The shavings are place in the melted soap and then placed in a mold. THe MP base is usually clear so you can see all the different color shavings. Kinda purdy. It would be at this stage, before it is poured, that I would add the desired scent. I have not read about milling old soap and scenting the same. This of course does not mean it cant be done.

I have seen re-milling tutorials where the soap, after milling, is placed in a seal ziplock bag type and placed in boiling water until melted. It was at this stage that, when melted, that scent was added. After a little old fashion bake and shake the melted mixture was poured in the desired mold and left to cure. Again, this was rather new soap and not 50 year old soap.

Maybe Issy can chime in.

Raf
This will even work with a super dry soap (50 yo) grate it up and put it in a bag as Raf said (Im sure at that age its tallow based and they are easier to re batch also) if you add just enough fluid to get it good and moist (I would let it sit for a day to asorb some water and then add a touch more ) make SURE the bag is sealed so NO more fluid can get into the bag and boil it...in awhile, maybe a hr or less with that amount it should melt..will kinda look like soft mashed potatoes...add your scent, stir...smash it into a mold (or your mug..make sure your mug is warm too so it dosent crack) in a few days when the water evaporates you will be set. I HATE re batching but it works. Mind you I have only done this with homemade soap..also dont go nuts and over scent it or use aftershave to scent it..lol...use a FO or a EO.
Good luck in your venture


Issy

[TOB9595]

More good info, Thanks

[crackstar]

Man, now I have to go find my own vintage soaps to torture........I mean, test my idea out on.

JoAnna, be nice to those soapies! :rofl

[Queen of Blades]

:D ;)

[Kingpepper]

Tom, the old soaps make a fantastic lather. The problem is they smell "bad". I may sacrifice one and try the methods Raf and Issy suggested. Williams Orange Mug Soap would be interesting!

[Issy]

Man, now I have to go find my own vintage soaps to torture........I mean, test my idea out on.
Torture a Williams, it wont be a great loss :rofl

Issy

[TOB9595]

Keep us in the loop if you do start to play with em

[Scorpio]

we will keep you in our sights....errrr I mean loop

Raf

[TOB9595]

we will keep you in our sights....errrr I mean loop

Raf

Not lost here :)
Hahahahaha