Tallow or Vegan, and why?

Ok folks, which do you prefer and why? Tallow or Vegan?

In my head I feel I generate a creamier lather with tallow but I'm not convinced of it. With no real way to measure the difference it's difficult to say. What say you?

If the soap performs well, I don't care whether the fat is animal or vegetable.

For me, tallow-lanolin-shea combo tends to provide the best lather and post. It is more rare for me to find excellent vegan soaps (though, there are a few exceptions like Catie's and Tim's).

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One of my two favourite soaps has tallow, the other is vegan. Gosh I really don't know.... I think I probably lean ever so slightly to tallow. For whatever reason I feel like there is a slight advantage in post shave feel. But that's really grasping at straws for me.

If the soap performs well, I don't care whether the fat is animal or vegetable.

I don't disagree.


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For me, tallow-lanolin-shea combo tends to provide the best lather and post. It is more rare for me to find excellent vegan soaps (though, there are a few exceptions like Catie's and Tim's).

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Phil! Long time no see. Hope you are well.


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If the soap performs well, I don't care whether the fat is animal or vegetable.

I don't disagree.


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Another thought provoking thread Chris!

I feel that when I first started wet shaving some 10+ years ago there was a distinct difference in performance between tallow and vegan style soaps. Not so much anymore.

I don't use it as a selection criteria as I used to and have great performers in each category. Just received a tub of Renewal from Soap Commander today in fact and looking forward to a great shave tomorrow with a wonderful vegan soap!

That's like asking me if I dress to the left or the right.

The answer is yes.

Just to mix things up Many vegan soaps aren't vegan! They use Stearic Acid, generally Stearic Acid comes from animal fats.


Stearic acid occurs in many animal and vegetable fats and oils, but it is more abundant in animal fat (up to 30%) than vegetable fat (typically <5%).

As long as the soap is well made with great post-shave, then, I don't have a preference, but I seem to gravitate towards tallow-based ones as I find the lather creamier and richer, in general.