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Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:26 pm
by Modern Ancient
I have noticed this. Why is this? I, much, prefer a hard roundel, of soap, as opposed to the soft mess that most artisan soap makers seem to be making, these days.

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:43 pm
by brothers
I understand what you are saying, but the interesting thing about it, to me, is that there are some outstanding tallow based (and vegan) soaps being made all around the world these days and we have so many options to choose from. The best news coming out of this new class of soap making is that they just keep getting better and better in terms of performance, and there are some really good fragrances being offered too. Collectively, we seem to be less loyal to the hard triple milled traditional classics, and more accepting of the softer soaps for the obvious reasons that they work so well and they smell so good. Go Artisans! :)

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 1:23 am
by CMur12
I agree with Gary about the artisan soaps and I, too, really like them.

Not all of them are soft soaps, however. Mike's Natural Soaps aren't truly "hard" soaps, but they're more hard than soft. Since artisans don't have the machinery for milling, their soaps will never be as hard as the commercial soaps that are triple-milled.

Beyond that, I don't use creams but I'm equally happy with a hard soap or a soft soap, as both behave like soap.

- Murray

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:06 am
by fallingwickets
I havent 'looked' for a soap in a really long time, but a few weeks ago I went down that rabbit hole for several hours. I was amazed by the depth of the market and a little peeved that i dont have the resources to try them all. Lots of eye catching labels and names and of course scents I would never dream of concocting myself :D At the end of the day, and maybe its just familiarity breeding a type of contempt for the other soap makers, trumpers rose is what I return to with a relish after one of my soap buying 'missions'

clive

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 12:39 pm
by Squire
I rather like the Italian soft soaps, which reminds me I should buy more. Don't actually need more but the pull is inexorable.

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 9:21 am
by fallingwickets
Squire, post names after your shopping spree :D :D

clive

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:47 pm
by brothers
Yes, please post. :)

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 10:42 pm
by CMur12
My favorite commercial ("big company") soaps are both Italian: Valobra hard soap and Cella soft soap.

- Murray

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 8:28 am
by brothers
Murray, do you know if the newly-labeled Cella soaps still have tallow? I am thinking they didn't change their formula, just the label. I hope that's accurate.

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:03 pm
by CMur12
brothers wrote:Murray, do you know if the newly-labeled Cella soaps still have tallow? I am thinking they didn't change their formula, just the label. I hope that's accurate.
I don't know, Gary. Cella has made a big deal about making their soap the same way for over a hundred years, so I wouldn't expect a major reformulation. I could be wrong, though.

- Murray

Re: Artisan Makers Making only Italian Style Soft-Soaps

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 1:33 pm
by Rufust445
I suspect both artisan makers and larger manufacturers do more soft soaps
for the same reason: cost.

An artison can pour a measured amount of hot liquid mix into a retail container
and allow it to cool. A white tub of Proraso I used this summer had the same look
when I first opened it as a fresh tub of hummus from the supermarket: A semi-liquid
paste squirted in precisely measured amounts from machinery into retail containers.

The machinery for triple milling into precise shapes and amounts I suspect takes
more initial capital investment, and more time in processing.

The closest thing I have to a hard triple-milled soap is an LEA stick, which also works
at least as nicely as the soft soaps I've been using this summer.