Haslinger shave soap
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- Duke of Silvertip!
- Posts: 27393
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 1:02 pm
Haslinger shave soap
As many of you know I am generally disinterested in trying out new shave products. I went through that phase earlier and had way more mediocre shaves than good ones in the process and finally settled with products that I know work very well for me; almost entirely top shelf classic English creams and soaps. However, I do make an exception in the case of products that come highly recommended by experianced members here. I was willing to chip in blind for a chunk of that Barberieri Colla soft soap because of what Chris Fisher had to say about it. This Haslinger's soap was similiar in that John ( 'JR Taster' ) highly recommended it and offered to sent me one gratis. Under those circumstances, I could hardly refuse.
Well, the soap arrived today in time for me to use it for my daily shave. I asked for the Coconut one from the ones he'd offered and it surely does have a definate 'coconut' scent mixed with a kind of old time, vaguely almondish fragrance. Okay, it doesn't smell like English Fern or Trumpers Rose but it's pleasant enough. The ingrediants list made it plain that this is a stearate and tallow based soap so that considerably raised my hopes. It is a small cake, however, which means that the surface area that the brush interacts with is considerably less than the hard soaps that I usually use and that must be taken into account. I plopped it into a small anchor glass bowl and lathered it up with my Kent BK4, the brush that I consider to be the very best I have for hard soaps. And the Haslinger is a hard soap, not one of those Italian type soft soaps or what some call 'croaps'. However, although hard I do not think that it is hard/triple milled although I'm not certain. Anyway, it proceeded to provide a very good lather and my face felt excellent post shave. For me, the lather didn't seem quite as 'good' as say D R Harris's or the Barberieri Colla but it was close. An altogether excellent shave soap, IMO, especially considering it's more modest price
Regards,
Gordon
Well, the soap arrived today in time for me to use it for my daily shave. I asked for the Coconut one from the ones he'd offered and it surely does have a definate 'coconut' scent mixed with a kind of old time, vaguely almondish fragrance. Okay, it doesn't smell like English Fern or Trumpers Rose but it's pleasant enough. The ingrediants list made it plain that this is a stearate and tallow based soap so that considerably raised my hopes. It is a small cake, however, which means that the surface area that the brush interacts with is considerably less than the hard soaps that I usually use and that must be taken into account. I plopped it into a small anchor glass bowl and lathered it up with my Kent BK4, the brush that I consider to be the very best I have for hard soaps. And the Haslinger is a hard soap, not one of those Italian type soft soaps or what some call 'croaps'. However, although hard I do not think that it is hard/triple milled although I'm not certain. Anyway, it proceeded to provide a very good lather and my face felt excellent post shave. For me, the lather didn't seem quite as 'good' as say D R Harris's or the Barberieri Colla but it was close. An altogether excellent shave soap, IMO, especially considering it's more modest price
Regards,
Gordon
Last edited by bernards66 on Sun May 26, 2013 6:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Craig_From_Cincy
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2005 11:38 pm
- Location: Cincinnati, OH USA
Craig, I'm not Gordon, but Smallflower has most if not all in stock here http://www.smallflower.com/search/haslinger-shavingCraig_From_Cincy wrote:Gordon tried two new soaps in recent month. It must be very chilly down in Hades today
Seriously, thanks for the report Gordon. What does Hanslinger's sell for, and might you remember what the other scents are?
I've had Coconut, and found it a bit too sweet for my nose. I got their newest offering, Schifmilck (sheep's milk with lanolin) and I like it very much.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Gordon provided his usual balanced and thoughtful view and has our thanks.
His point about the small 60gm puck offering little surface area for soap/brush contact is a good one but it didn't impact me as much since my brushes tend to be smaller anyway.
Smallflower carries a slighter wider range of Haslinger Soaps, but West Coast Shaving stocks a nice selection and may prove to be a better source, since you might be ordering other goodies from there as well.
Prices around $ 8-10 seem to be the norm.
Some varieties may come in a "dish," a flimsy transparent sealed cup. It adds about $ 1.25-$ 1.75 to the cost; take it or leave it..it will enable easier travel but I don't know if you can use it as a lathering cup.
I'm using the "honey" version and love it. A new cake of "calendula," or marigold, supposedly good for sensitive skin, awaits its turn in the rotation.
In a shrinking universe of tallow soaps this old timer (from the late 1800's) may be one worth trying. It ousted TOBS Lavender (non-tallow) from my limited rotation and holds its own against DR Harris, MWF, and AOS (tallow) Lavender soaps...damn fine company!
jr/John
His point about the small 60gm puck offering little surface area for soap/brush contact is a good one but it didn't impact me as much since my brushes tend to be smaller anyway.
Smallflower carries a slighter wider range of Haslinger Soaps, but West Coast Shaving stocks a nice selection and may prove to be a better source, since you might be ordering other goodies from there as well.
Prices around $ 8-10 seem to be the norm.
Some varieties may come in a "dish," a flimsy transparent sealed cup. It adds about $ 1.25-$ 1.75 to the cost; take it or leave it..it will enable easier travel but I don't know if you can use it as a lathering cup.
I'm using the "honey" version and love it. A new cake of "calendula," or marigold, supposedly good for sensitive skin, awaits its turn in the rotation.
In a shrinking universe of tallow soaps this old timer (from the late 1800's) may be one worth trying. It ousted TOBS Lavender (non-tallow) from my limited rotation and holds its own against DR Harris, MWF, and AOS (tallow) Lavender soaps...damn fine company!
jr/John
I've always enjoyed Haslinger soaps, even when rebranded by Muehle and Jagger. The scents are esoteric, but well worth the experiment. Meersalgen and Honig being my favourites. I've bought them from Shavemac with no problem and fast shipping in the past.
And if I dare say it, Gordon, I hope you will agree that trying something new isn't always bad! When I make my gardenia scented version of my own soap, I shall have to send you a sample.
Chris
Lather it and weep, o you mighty!
And if I dare say it, Gordon, I hope you will agree that trying something new isn't always bad! When I make my gardenia scented version of my own soap, I shall have to send you a sample.
Chris
Lather it and weep, o you mighty!
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Wow, Muhle and Jagger rebranded Haslinger... never tried either and would never have known if not for Chris" intel!drmoss_ca wrote:I've always enjoyed Haslinger soaps, even when rebranded by Muehle and Jagger. The scents are esoteric, but well worth the experiment. Meersalgen and Honig being my favourites. I've bought them from Shavemac with no problem and fast shipping in the past.
And if I dare say it, Gordon, I hope you will agree that trying something new isn't always bad! When I make my gardenia scented version of my own soap, I shall have to send you a sample.
Chris
Lather it and weep, o you mighty!
Another example of the extensive knowledge base available at SMF.
jr?john
The Hanslinger Ewe's Milk is simply STUNNING in every aspect.
As Gorden noted, the puck has a small diameter and can be awkward to lather. In my case I placed a new puck of Hanslinger Ewe's Milk into a ziplock bag and slowly squezzed it in a vice several times as I rotated the puck. Eventually I got the approx. size I needed to place in a permanent bowl.
I load generously with all my soaps. No three swirwls for for three passes with this guy. I load for 40 seconds to one minute until the brush gets bogged down and sticky. Soap is cheap. I then face lather on a hot water splashed face to build a lather and add drops of water as necessary.
The performace of Hanslinger Ewe's Milk is "top shelf" in every aspect. Glide, cushion, protection, post shave feel, whatever you can measure a shave by it is incredible. Lather has a pearl like sheen as I find all good lathers have. Scent is a hint floral to my nose with a hint of new linens. Not very masculine, but fresh.
Don't let the cartoonish lamb fool your on the packaging. I paid $9 for a small puck. Its worth way way more.
As Gorden noted, the puck has a small diameter and can be awkward to lather. In my case I placed a new puck of Hanslinger Ewe's Milk into a ziplock bag and slowly squezzed it in a vice several times as I rotated the puck. Eventually I got the approx. size I needed to place in a permanent bowl.
I load generously with all my soaps. No three swirwls for for three passes with this guy. I load for 40 seconds to one minute until the brush gets bogged down and sticky. Soap is cheap. I then face lather on a hot water splashed face to build a lather and add drops of water as necessary.
The performace of Hanslinger Ewe's Milk is "top shelf" in every aspect. Glide, cushion, protection, post shave feel, whatever you can measure a shave by it is incredible. Lather has a pearl like sheen as I find all good lathers have. Scent is a hint floral to my nose with a hint of new linens. Not very masculine, but fresh.
Don't let the cartoonish lamb fool your on the packaging. I paid $9 for a small puck. Its worth way way more.
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- Posts: 195
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- Location: Virginny
I think the Meeresalgen has quite a pleasant scent, but I cannot liken it to anything. It is different from the EJ/Muhle Sea Buckthorn, which is a citrus-like one. I think the EJ/Muhle reformulated their creams and soaps to be all natural and paraben-free. I wouldn't doubt that Haslinger may make them.
Ron
Ron, I think you're right that EJ/Muhle are now a different soap, veggie-based. I quite like the Meersalgen scent, and it's the only Haslinger I have on hand.
Regards,
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
Having sniffed them all and used three, (Ringleblumen, Coconut and Aloe Vera) I find all the scents of Haslinger to be on the mild side. This obviously can be a pro or con depending on what you personally like in a shave soap. I find the mild scents to be quite pleasing and have settled on Aloe Vera as the one I pull out most frequently. But, I now see that Merz has brought in stock of the Ewe's Milk so I will make a stop today to check it out.
As usual, living quite close to Merz can be both a gift and a curse. Lucky me!
As usual, living quite close to Merz can be both a gift and a curse. Lucky me!
Good shaving,
Gary
Gary
Re: Hanslinger shave soap
At one time according to the fair Dr. M, I have know Haslinger only as Haslinger.crackstar wrote:Aren't they related to the Muhle soaps?
Good shaving,
Gary
Gary
Re: Hanslinger shave soap
I tried one of these years ago, all I can recall is it was a light honey color, may have been the honey, or the marigold, recall little except I liked it.
Regards,
Squire
Squire
Re: Hanslinger shave soap
I will heartily endorse this statement - have just used Haslinger Ewe's Milk the past two days and have to say it is REALLY GOOD. Scent is sort of a lighter version of MWF, but this little puck lathers quickly and easily by comparision. Lanolin warning, but if you can use it this is definitely worth throwing on your next order from your favorite purveyor who may have it in stock.tester wrote:The Hanslinger Ewe's Milk is simply STUNNING in every aspect.
Good shaving,
Gary
Gary
Re: Hanslinger shave soap
gsgo wrote:I will heartily endorse this statement - have just used Haslinger Ewe's Milk the past two days and have to say it is REALLY GOOD. Scent is sort of a lighter version of MWF, but this little puck lathers quickly and easily by comparision. Lanolin warning, but if you can use it this is definitely worth throwing on your next order from your favorite purveyor who may have it in stock.tester wrote:The Hanslinger Ewe's Milk is simply STUNNING in every aspect.
Add me to that endorsement.
One can't believe everything one reads on the internet -- Abraham Lincoln
Re: Hanslinger shave soap
oldtrout wrote:gsgo wrote:I will heartily endorse this statement - have just used Haslinger Ewe's Milk the past two days and have to say it is REALLY GOOD. Scent is sort of a lighter version of MWF, but this little puck lathers quickly and easily by comparision. Lanolin warning, but if you can use it this is definitely worth throwing on your next order from your favorite purveyor who may have it in stock.tester wrote:The Hanslinger Ewe's Milk is simply STUNNING in every aspect.
Add me to that endorsement.
Add me also. It is a superb shave soap. The lil' giant.
Re: Haslinger shave soap
I've been on a buying sabbatical for 2.5 years. This will be my first purchase in 2017
One can't believe everything one reads on the internet -- Abraham Lincoln