Soaps you've hated this year

B&M Night Music-- I loved the scent in this soap and I wanted to love it so much but I simply could not get it to perform for me. No slickness and it dried out to a pasty crust halfway through each pass.

Wow - this is really surprising, as it's one of the slickest soaps I use. I'm actually using Night Music for the month of August, and do quite a bit of blade buffing when I shave my head - no skipping, no need to add water. Have you tried any other B&M in the latest formula? If you're used to the older B&M formula, I found that the new formula is much easier to load - making it easier to overload.

But then again - OP had trouble with CB, which I am able to get great lathers with. My water, brushes, and technique just might be perfect for these soaps.

B&M Night Music-- I loved the scent in this soap and I wanted to love it so much but I simply could not get it to perform for me. No slickness and it dried out to a pasty crust halfway through each pass.

Wow - this is really surprising, as it's one of the slickest soaps I use.  I'm actually using Night Music for the month of August, and do quite a bit of blade buffing when I shave my head - no skipping, no need to add water.  Have you tried any other B&M in the latest formula?  If you're used to the older B&M formula, I found that the new formula is much easier to load - making it easier to overload.  

But then again - OP had trouble with CB, which I am able to get great lathers with.  My water, brushes, and technique just might be perfect for these soaps.

It was my first and only experience with B&M soaps. However, after a discussion with Will, I followed his suggestions and purchased a couple of Latha soaps, and they perform fantastically for me. Well enough, in fact, that I am convinced that my poor experience was my own fault, and that with improved technique, they deserve another chance. So I will be getting something from their primary line...haven't decided what yet, but something...They deserve a second chance and a fair trial...

It was my first and only experience with B&M soaps.  However, after a discussion with Will, I followed his suggestions and purchased a couple of Latha soaps, and they perform fantastically for me.  Well enough, in fact, that I am convinced that my poor experience was my own fault, and that with improved technique, they deserve another chance. So I will be getting something from their primary line...haven't decided what yet, but something...They deserve a second chance and a fair trial...

Glad Latha worked out for you - those are amazing soaps with a really good price point.

You mentioned local artisan soaps - I've had the same experience. I ended up just using them as bath soaps or badger defunking soaps since that's all they were good for. It would be pasty, but immediately turn into foam as soon as I add just a few drops of water.

B&M Night Music-- I loved the scent in this soap and I wanted to love it so much but I simply could not get it to perform for me. No slickness and it dried out to a pasty crust halfway through each pass.

Wow - this is really surprising, as it's one of the slickest soaps I use.  I'm actually using Night Music for the month of August, and do quite a bit of blade buffing when I shave my head - no skipping, no need to add water.  Have you tried any other B&M in the latest formula?  If you're used to the older B&M formula, I found that the new formula is much easier to load - making it easier to overload.  

But then again - OP had trouble with CB, which I am able to get great lathers with.  My water, brushes, and technique just might be perfect for these soaps.

It was my first and only experience with B&M soaps. However, after a discussion with Will, I followed his suggestions and purchased a couple of Latha soaps, and they perform fantastically for me. Well enough, in fact, that I am convinced that my poor experience was my own fault, and that with improved technique, they deserve another chance. So I will be getting something from their primary line...haven't decided what yet, but something...They deserve a second chance and a fair trial...

When I first got ahold of the Glissant B&M soaps, I was shocked at how much water they could take. I added more, and I added more and I added more and kept thinking each time, ok this will break the lather. I did not have my absolute best shaves with Adagio and Cologne Russe until I added what seemed like a quart of water to the lather. Its truly incredible how much volume it achieves when its close or at its peak of hydration. Happy you are going to give it another try.

B&M Night Music-- I loved the scent in this soap and I wanted to love it so much but I simply could not get it to perform for me. No slickness and it dried out to a pasty crust halfway through each pass.

Wow - this is really surprising, as it's one of the slickest soaps I use.  I'm actually using Night Music for the month of August, and do quite a bit of blade buffing when I shave my head - no skipping, no need to add water.  Have you tried any other B&M in the latest formula?  If you're used to the older B&M formula, I found that the new formula is much easier to load - making it easier to overload.  

But then again - OP had trouble with CB, which I am able to get great lathers with.  My water, brushes, and technique just might be perfect for these soaps.

Night Music is glissant.

I agree on Catie's. I haven't used the new formula yet but the old formula explodes into lather. Nuavia actually reminds me or CB in that regard.

Catie's Bubbles LPV & Le Marche Du Rasage - Just didn't like either scent and both burned my skin.

Yeti Snot - The first and only soap I've had that I could not get to lather. It was thin and dissipated as soon as I put it on. And what "lather" I did create burned like fire. I have Chiseled Face Cryogen and love it. It's the perfect ice cold soap for a hot summer day after cutting the grass. But Yeti Snot went in the garbage.

B&M Night Music-- I loved the scent in this soap and I wanted to love it so much but I simply could not get it to perform for me. No slickness and it dried out to a pasty crust halfway through each pass.

Wow - this is really surprising, as it's one of the slickest soaps I use.  I'm actually using Night Music for the month of August, and do quite a bit of blade buffing when I shave my head - no skipping, no need to add water.  Have you tried any other B&M in the latest formula?  If you're used to the older B&M formula, I found that the new formula is much easier to load - making it easier to overload.  

But then again - OP had trouble with CB, which I am able to get great lathers with.  My water, brushes, and technique just might be perfect for these soaps.

It was my first and only experience with B&M soaps.  However, after a discussion with Will, I followed his suggestions and purchased a couple of Latha soaps, and they perform fantastically for me.  Well enough, in fact, that I am convinced that my poor experience was my own fault, and that with improved technique, they deserve another chance. So I will be getting something from their primary line...haven't decided what yet, but something...They deserve a second chance and a fair trial...

Oh yay! I'm glad that they worked well for you.

Catie's Bubbles LPV & Le Marche Du Rasage - Just didn't like either scent and both burned my skin.

Yeti Snot - The first and only soap I've had that I could not get to lather. It was thin and dissipated as soon as I put it on. And what "lather" I did create burned like fire. I have Chiseled Face Cryogen and love it. It's the perfect ice cold soap for a hot summer day after cutting the grass. But Yeti Snot went in the garbage.

I know LPV has a very high chance of irritating peoples skin. I was very excited that it didn't do anything on my face as the scent is fantastic!

I understand there has to be a counterbalance to all the love soaps get. One reason or another they dont all work out. I tried this local soapers shave soap. It fit perfectly in a OS mug. I am sure this is by design. Using a stiff boar it didnt take long for it to pop up a decent looking lather. But it was unstable. If you divide your face up into quarters, I would have to reapply lather before shaving the next quarter. So as I was shaving one side of my face, it was literally disappearing on the left side. It reminded me of Mystic Waters, to the end-scale worst degree. I really enjoy all of my CB soaps so it pains me to see Chris' soaps in this thread. So no offense to the MW fans out there.

When you look at the Oil content of this soap, it is no wonder it couldnt stand for longer than 45 seconds. I want to give them some helpful advice and tell them to adjust and keep working on their recipe, but I dont want to insult them

It reminded me of Mystic Waters, to the end-scale worst degree. I really enjoy all of my CB soaps so it pains me to see Chris' soaps in this thread. So no offense to the MW fans out there.

I think it’s refreshing to read of some of the issues people are having with some well-known soaps, especially when those issues are brought up in a civil and constructive manner.

Because these are well-known brands, I’m sure they work well for many (I quite like Mystic Water Soap), and will continue to have their fans. But it’s also good to see some honest accounts of things going wrong. Somewhere down the line that can help spark some changes.

Sounds like Bearden’s Back Acre Farm could use such a spark right about now…