Comparison shave
Several comparisons made in today’s shave. First was comparing my Otoko Organics experience with that of a couple of others. I used my Rooney Finest and made sure to load the brush fully. I noticed that it takes a little longer with the Otoko before I got the microscopic bubbles, but once there, I had a bucket of lather in the brush. Three passes with no diminution at all in lather quality, and then I lathered my hand a couple of times to see whether the lather would continue to hold up, and it did. This is at variance with the experience of Palpz, for example. Some speculation as to why: I did take a longer time to load the brush than I usually do, so perhaps he did not fully load the brush. There also could be a difference in water quality (my water is relatively soft). And finally, my tub is three or four years old, so the formulation may have changed. But for me, the lather was totally satisfactory and stable.
Second comparison was the heads of the Red-Tipped Super Speed and the Slim Handle. I thought they would feel much alike, and so far as I could tell, they do. I ended up using the Red Tip for most of the shave, which was a good shave but not quite BBS on the left side.
Finally, I got a number of sample aftershaves of a particular fragrance to test, and that’s one shown there. I’ll be testing these over the next few days and see no reason to photograph the test bottles, so no aftershaves shown until I finish.
What setting was the adjustable at?
Ayodh
12 February 2013 at 9:27 am
It was at 5, the same setting I now use for all my Gillette adjustables (after starting at 3, staying there for quite a while, then 4 for months and months, and finally 5).
LeisureGuy
12 February 2013 at 10:01 am
The Otoko shaving soap is really good. I live in a hard water area and have no problems with lather. I actually load the brush for less time now than when I first started to use this soap. I work up the lather in my “Dirty Bird” shaving scuttle and after loading the brush for no more than 15-20 seconds have enough protective lather for a 4 pass shave. I find Otoko is really good quality and leaves your skin feeling really soft. I used it exclusively for a week a while back as I developed a rash (I’ve narrowed the cause down to the new reformulated ProRaso pre/post shave, seems strange the old “chemical” formula never bothered me) and this soap was the only one I could tolorate until the rash disappeared. My tub is about 18 months old and still going strong. IMO more is less with this soap.
Tony The Blade
13 February 2013 at 4:15 am
Frankly, I think it might be a change in formulation. Just looking at the photo, yours seems a heck of a lot darker than my tub. I’m pretty sure I have relatively soft water too, and I know I loaded the heck out of that brush!
Here’s a better shot to show the colour variation: http://i.imgur.com/Ir7zXbJ.jpg
Palpz
14 February 2013 at 5:09 pm
Soapmakers do change formulations, and they never tell their customers. I have a spare tub purchased at the same time that I now will treasure.
LeisureGuy
14 February 2013 at 5:57 pm
Thanks for your thoughts guy’s and leisure guy for your on going support. There has been ZERO CHANGE to my formula. The colour variation comes about through temperature exposure. Unfortunately or shipment to the states was not handled correctly and was exposed to higher temperatures than ideal for a natural product. Most times putting the puck in the fridge over night then allowing it to come to room temperature again clears the cloudy appearance. I have mixed reports on the hard water issue. Some Australian users living on properties with bore water claim no loss of lather. My chemist thinks it may in fact be the treatment chemicals different water suppliers use. To address the suggestion of ingredient listing, we are an Australian company that complies with label laws here. When I had our first batch of packaging made I hadn’t expected the popularity of Otoko for the OS market. Steps have been made for our next printing run that we will use the international guidelines.
But at the end of the day shaving is an intensely personal act and while Otoko works for most some may feel differently and we appreciate all feedback from all. Thanks guy’s Jamie – Otoko organics.
Jamie Montague
14 February 2013 at 6:20 pm
My tub was the dark colour variety. I agree that I actually got a better shave when I charged less with this soap rather than more, which is contrary to every other soap. If you overcharge it turns into cottage cheese and doesn’t shave all that well IMO. Also my soap didn’t last that long because I think I overcharged it too many times, which isn’t an issue with most other soaps.
J Dogg
28 February 2013 at 2:40 pm
My Otoko was better when I charged less. When you overcharge it turns into a dry shave and lather like cottage cheese. Also when you overcharge the product does not last very long.
J Dogg
28 February 2013 at 2:43 pm
Very interesting. I load by bubble size rather than time, but I didn’t register the loading as shorter, though I now would bet that it is. I’ll have to shave again with that one soon.
LeisureGuy
28 February 2013 at 3:36 pm