Cusson's Imperial Leather Bath Soap

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:33 pm

I was browsing a local Indian grocery store this afternoon and spotted a 4 pack of the Imperial Leather for about $8. Made in the UK. I know this is an old brand and hopefully I'll enjoy it immensely in the morning shower. It appears that each bar has a label stuck neatly to the side of it! Regarding shaving products, they did have an alum block for $2, and the gentleman took my name and phone number in the event he decides to stock some Indian brands of shaving cream, specifically Godrej. They did have toothpaste from Dettol and Necco.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:20 pm

Gary, $8 for four bars huh? Wow, we can get four bars for £1 in the UK ($1.50).

I use this soap every day. It's a classic, traditional soap in both style and scent which is well priced (at least here).

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:31 pm

Well, the Imperial Leather bath soap costs me around $2.98 per cake in our local 'British shop'....when they have it that is. I use it mostly as a hand soap as it's a little to...a...assertive for me in the shower. Very good soap, with a scent that I love, at a reasonable price. The Indian groceries that I've checked in these parts just don't seem to carry any toiletries except for a couple of Indian shampoos. No shave creams, blades, talcs, nada. It's unfortunate. Then again, they don't have the high end India tea brands either.
Regards,
Gordon

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:57 am

I wonder if it's a generation issue? Most of our indian population is 30 something degreed contract workers with young families. They may wear sandals, rent bollywood movies and eat indian food, but many western 'norms' are being assimilated including 'grooming' or lack there of.
I've always wondered how they react calling for assistance outsourced back home and get Ravi pretending to be Randy from Houston

jww · Post by **jww** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:19 am

Imperial Leather is by far my favourite bath soap. We stock up lots and lots when we visit England. As Gareth points out - 4 bath-size bars can be had on just about any local market for anywhere between £1 and £2 tops. Great stuff.

The Seeker · Post by **The Seeker** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:51 am

jww wrote:Imperial Leather is by far my favourite bath soap. We stock up lots and lots when we visit England. As Gareth points out - 4 bath-size bars can be had on just about any local market for anywhere between £1 and £2 tops. Great stuff.

Do you use the oil-based or do you manage to find tallow-based bars?

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:13 pm

I don't know what it's like over on the other side of the pond, but here in the UK we can also get Imperial Leather in bars which are coloured white and blue, as well as the regular yellowish colour.

I've never tried the other two scents myself, although apparently the blue one is for men.

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:18 pm

Gareth wrote:I don't know what it's like over on the other side of the pond, but here in the UK we can also get Imperial Leather in bars which are coloured white and blue, as well as the regular yellowish colour.

I've never tried the other two scents myself, although apparently the blue one is for men.

Blue for men means yellow is...???

BTW, good to see you posting Gareth!

rsp1202 · Post by **rsp1202** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:24 pm

Blue, white and orange bars here in the States through http://www.shoplondons.com/imperial.html

They've been out of stock of the Original for some time, and that bar is a pink color. Gareth, are you saying the regular/original IL you get there is yellow? Wonder if that has to do with tallow or palm oil-based bars.

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:41 pm

Shop London's comes through one more time. I don't mind paying their price because they've got it all at one place. Next time I find myself in VA, I'd like to go there just so I could say I've been there. Kinda like Disneyland for Dad!

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:55 pm

Gene - thanks, it's nice to be back.

Ron - ah, so you are able to get the other two types of soaps then. The 'Original' bars here in the UK are a sort of yellowish-orange colour, not particularly dark.

As you speculate, it may have something to do withe tallow/palm oil content....

rsp1202 · Post by **rsp1202** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:07 pm

Gareth, I got the impression from members here in N. America and in the UK that we were dealing with different formulations. I've seen some British import shops online offering the "Original" but can't confirm which bar they're selling. Unlike the worldwide Vinolia reformulation, you at least get to keep using the original Original Imperial Leather.

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:49 pm

Ron, The Imperial Leather I buy locally is, I am almost positive, the same stuff that they sell in Britain. I used to see it years ago at Cambridge Chemists, but they, of course, charged an arm and a leg for it ( chuckle ). I've also seen the white version ( 'for sensitive skin' ) for years, and, I think, the blue once or twice. But those cakes smell quite different from the 'Original', and I've never been interested. The stuff available here now is the newer palm oil version, but honestly, with this particular soap I don't notice much difference.
Regards,
Gordon

rsp1202 · Post by **rsp1202** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:26 am

Gordon, what color are the bars you get? The "Originals" from shoplondons.com were always pink, so I assumed that was the standard color, at least until Gareth spoke up. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to order a single bar from one of those import vendors, even though they're a bit pricey. (I might also order another sample of the new Venolia to see if my impressions have changed since my review from last year.)

joe mcclaine · Post by **joe mcclaine** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:25 am

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:44 pm

Ron, They're tan colored, but I suppose one could describe them as "yellowish orange".
Regards,
Gordon

rsp1202 · Post by **rsp1202** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:15 pm

Good to know. Thanks, Gordon.

And just to add to the general misery, the packaging on the bars I had differs from those currently being sold by the import shops. Both say "Original," but the package design on the import versions appears more . . . retro (:roll:) -- so maybe those are the real deal.

Jeez, the things we do for soap.

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:43 pm

Ron, You have a PM.
Gordon

DEF · Post by **DEF** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:23 am

Might I propose that the color of the Imperial Leather original is "chamois."

I got mine from www.theindianfoodstore.com. $5.99 for a 100g four-pack. Of course, there's also the shipping.

And the first thing I do is rip off that sticker.

rsp1202 · Post by **rsp1202** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:00 am

Thanks, Doug. I'm a sticker-ripper, too.