WhollyKaw

Do any of the special editions even come in vegan formula? I loved the original vegan formula so I can only imagine I'd love the upgraded one even more. I wish more of these special editions/collaborations came in vegan formula and vendors stocked it but that's not WhollyKaw's fault, the shave community loves to perpetuate the tallow myth.

While I find that tallow soaps often feel better on my skin (during and after the shave), there are some great vegan soaps out there, some of which are absolute top performers. WhollyKaw is one of them. (Also, obviously there are plenty of tallow soaps that just aren’t that great.)

I agree with wyze0ne that it’s all about finding what works best for you, but I’m afraid I do also have an idea of what Wet_Shavers is talking about. There are many wet shavers who won’t even consider a soap if it doesn’t have tallow in it. I have also heard this from at least one or two soap makers — if there is a tallow and a vegan version of the same soap, the tallow will usually outsell the vegan by a wide margin.

Wet_Shavers, there are at least four special edition (enhanced formula) vegan soaps available on the WhollyKaw site right now: King of Oud, Man from Mayfair, Merhant of Tobacco and Monaco Royale. On each respective soap’s product page, there is a drop-down menu titled “Tallow or Vegan”. Select Vegan. The price difference may be an additional pleasant surprise, in addition to the wonderful performance.

(I must note that most who have tried the donkey milk formula say it’s definitely worth its price. I’m here to say that the special edition vegan formula is also well worth the price. It’s good to have options!)

King of Oud comes in Vegan, I ordered a tub of vegan for my brother when I got the tallow formula for myself. WK makes an awesome vegan soap, I didn't try the King of Oud in vegan but I have some of their other scents in vegan and even though I'm generally a tallow soap guy, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any WK vegan soap. One thing I found is that the Canadian Vendors who stock WK don't stock any of the WK vegan soap so I have to buy it directly from WK which costs a little more in shipping but still worth it I think.

Do any of the special editions even come in vegan formula? I loved the original vegan formula so I can only imagine I'd love the upgraded one even more. I wish more of these special editions/collaborations came in vegan formula and vendors stocked it but that's not WhollyKaw's fault, the shave community loves to perpetuate the tallow myth.

While I find that tallow soaps often feel better on my skin (during and after the shave), there are some great vegan soaps out there, some of which are absolute top performers. WhollyKaw is one of them. (Also, obviously there are plenty of tallow soaps that just aren’t that great.)

I agree with wyze0ne that it’s all about finding what works best for you, but I’m afraid I do also have an idea of what Wet_Shavers is talking about. There are many wet shavers who won’t even consider a soap if it doesn’t have tallow in it. I have also heard this from at least one or two soap makers — if there is a tallow and a vegan version of the same soap, the tallow will usually outsell the vegan by a wide margin.

Wet_Shavers, there are at least four special edition (enhanced formula) vegan soaps available on the WhollyKaw site right now: King of Oud, Man from Mayfair, Merhant of Tobacco and Monaco Royale. On each respective soap’s product page, there is a drop-down menu titled “Tallow or Vegan”. Select Vegan. The price difference may be an additional pleasant surprise, in addition to the wonderful performance.

(I must note that most who have tried the donkey milk formula say it’s definitely worth its price. I’m here to say that the special edition vegan formula is also well worth the price. It’s good to have options!)

King of Oud comes in Vegan, I ordered a tub of vegan for my brother when I got the tallow formula for myself.  WK makes an awesome vegan soap, I didn't try the King of Oud in vegan but I have some of their other scents in vegan and even though I'm generally a tallow soap guy, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any WK vegan soap.  One thing I found is that the Canadian Vendors who stock WK don't stock any of the WK vegan soap so I have to buy it directly from WK which costs a little more in shipping but still worth it I think.

I thought I should chime in with my two cents.

It's true that tallow outsells vegan due to the perceived demerits of vegan soaps.  We have taken that challenge by the horns and developed a formulation in vegan that addresses several aspects of vegan soaps - post shave dryness and tightness, slickness, creaminess of the lather. Our new vegan formulation is what is now on the site for the new scents and with Merchant of Tobacco we have added Mango Oil to the vegan.

Here is what has been incorporated in the vegan formulation with the goal of getting the vegan formulation on par or exceeding the tallow formulation without the donkey milk.

1. Triple butter - shea, kokum and cocoa butters are added replicating the butter side of our tallow formulation.

2. Hyaluronic Acid - HA in a multi-molecular form that has low, medium and high molecular weights to provide extended moisturization.  Even though the soap is a wash off product, some of the HA would remain in the skin due to the presence of #3 below.  This will also provide the slip or slickness that is critical for wet shaving.

3. Lanolin equivalents from non-animal origin in the form of unsaponifiables that provide film forming and emollient properties.

4. Mango Oil - is a superior emollient with good saponification values.  This is a new addition that is now in the vegan version of Merchant of Tobacco

5. Linoleic and Linolenic Acid - essential fatty acids that are excellent for the skin.

And we have priced it at a discount as an incentive for users to buy it and use it.

This ingredient deck is quite unique and it took us months to get to this formulation. Lot of work went into R&D, formulation process and techniques to get us here. The feedback from the experienced wet shavers have been extremely positive.

Now Donkey Milk - holy grail is to find the vegan equivalent of this ingredient that has a close or similar amino acid, essential fatty acid or vitamin profile to that of the Donkey Milk.  We have been researching this with the help of our vendors and have some vegan options but still has a long way to go in terms of formulation process and testing.

Hope this is helpful to the debate of tallow vs. vegan.

And the resulting soap is awesome

While I find that tallow soaps often feel better on my skin (during and after the shave), there are some great vegan soaps out there, some of which are absolute top performers. WhollyKaw is one of them. (Also, obviously there are plenty of tallow soaps that just aren’t that great.)

I agree with wyze0ne that it’s all about finding what works best for you, but I’m afraid I do also have an idea of what Wet_Shavers is talking about. There are many wet shavers who won’t even consider a soap if it doesn’t have tallow in it. I have also heard this from at least one or two soap makers — if there is a tallow and a vegan version of the same soap, the tallow will usually outsell the vegan by a wide margin...

I would have to agree with this.  I'm a tallow man generally - but don't sell yourselves short because of any mythology.  Saponificio Varesino, for example - makes a bombastic vegan soap and one of my favorites.  There can be both good and bad soaps of each variety.  Experiment, and then you'll know what works best for you.  One day I hope to try the latest vegan formulation from Wholly Kaw (but to be honest, I'll buy the donkey milk version every time unless there's no option).

Wholly Kaw is also not alone when it comes to the numbers... Barrister and Mann sells tallow over vegan by a large degree as well.

There can be both good and bad soaps of each variety.  Experiment, and then you'll know what works best for you.  One day I hope to try the latest vegan formulation from Wholly Kaw (but to be honest, I'll buy the donkey milk version every time unless there's no option).

Truly, in wet shaving, the only way to know is to try.

I only have one of each, but I can tell you — if the donkey milk soap is something special (and it is), then so is the new vegan soap, as well. whollykaw, I, for one, appreciate your efforts in both areas!

There can be both good and bad soaps of each variety.  Experiment, and then you'll know what works best for you.  One day I hope to try the latest vegan formulation from Wholly Kaw (but to be honest, I'll buy the donkey milk version every time unless there's no option).

Truly, in wet shaving, the only way to know is to try.

I only have one of each, but I can tell you — if the donkey milk soap is something special (and it is), then so is the new vegan soap, as well. whollykaw, I, for one, appreciate your efforts in both areas!

Thank you. Mango oil in the vegan formulation takes it to another level. The journey continues

Thank you.  Mango oil in the vegan formulation takes it to another level.  The journey continues

My question is: How many more levels can there be…?

My question is: How many more levels can there be…?

Well, Dante's got nine circles... Kevin Bacon's got six degrees... So probably more than a few, I'd imagine.

No allergy here. I just dont like my eyes watering and hands (in between fingers) getting the menthol chill for 30 minutes after applying. If it's very mild then I'll give it a try.

I know what you mean, some of those super mentholated aftershaves are crazy.  I'd say you wouldn't have that problem with the WK King of Oud aftershave or toner, as I mentioned earlier, if you hadn't told me it had menthol on the ingredients list I wouldn't have known it.  I have several WK post shave products and they're all very nice and none of them give me any indication of having menthol in them but I'd have to check the label to confirm that.

Thanks. I'll have to check out their aftershaves.

On a related note, Stirling Executive Man worked well with my King of Oud shave this morning.

Greg, I just shaved with King of Oud and applied the aftershave afterwards and dong it if there isn't a bit of a menthol coolness, just a bit, no eye watering nose running I've been tear gassed effect but its there. I don't recall it being there but today I shave with the Rockwell 6s on pate 6 with a feather blade - very close BBS shave. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it but I thought I should tell you asap. Sorry if I misled you.

Marko

I know what you mean, some of those super mentholated aftershaves are crazy.  I'd say you wouldn't have that problem with the WK King of Oud aftershave or toner, as I mentioned earlier, if you hadn't told me it had menthol on the ingredients list I wouldn't have known it.  I have several WK post shave products and they're all very nice and none of them give me any indication of having menthol in them but I'd have to check the label to confirm that.

Thanks. I'll have to check out their aftershaves.

On a related note, Stirling Executive Man worked well with my King of Oud shave this morning.

Greg, I just shaved with King of Oud and applied the aftershave afterwards and dong it if there isn't a bit of a menthol coolness, just a bit, no eye watering nose running I've been tear gassed effect but its there.  I don't recall it being there but today I shave with the Rockwell 6s on pate 6 with a feather blade - very close BBS shave.  I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it but I thought I should tell you asap.  Sorry if I misled you.

Marko

Thanks, Marko. I decided to forgo their aftershave splashes at this time.