When you consider that shaving soaps have been around since the 14th century and were actually the only option for shavers until around the time of World War I, then there must be something to them. My favorite west coast supplier of 350 different essential oils is Liberty Natural located in Oregon City, Oregon - great customer service and a really nice crew that will patiently answer all your questions. Probably the most obvious difference between shaving cream and soap in terms of use is that soaps are set firm to begin with, which means (at least theoretically) that they require more water to build a lather than the more liquefied foams or creams. Warm and spicy, Fine Bay Rum shaving soap has authentic Dominican Bay Leaf extract that provides a richness with subtle and sweet balsamic notes. Strong clove with a touch of citrus freshness - Fine have really developed a formula that epitomises Bay Rum!

Bay Rum Soap is carefully crafted using a blend of high-quality ingredients that offer a range of properties beneficial for your skin. At LilyMichael.co.uk, we believe in the power of nature and strive to bring you the best that it has to offer.The tallow-based soaps – which if you weren’t aware are fatty substances derived from animals, often beef — are the most traditional and common type of shaving soap. Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea but they are renowned for providing excellent razor glide, often with complex aromas. These shaving soaps tend to leave the skin feeling moisturised and nourished when you are done with the shave. And if you are not new to this game you will know that shaving soaps are still held in high esteem by any die-hard old-schooler who gravitates towards the traditional aspects of wet shaving. John Maisch identified the leaf in the herbarium at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, collected in Saint Croix, "by the late Dr. Griffith", which was identified as Myrcia acris, now transferred to the genus Pimenta. Maisch added that it was "very probable that various species are made use of for the same purpose." According to an 1889 reference, other ingredients may be citrus and spice oils, the most common being lime oil and oil of cloves. A drop of oil of cloves is added to two parts bay oil and one part pimento oil in one of two recipes for bay rum; [3] the aromatics are steeped in alcohol and as a last step an equal part of "good rum" is added, and cinnamon. Any newcomers to the art of shaving may find, with a little digging, that using shaving soap is about as old-school as it gets – especially when taking into account one with the Bay Rum scent. It is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly by any discerning shaving gent. The scents don't really smell, unless you directly smell the bar of soap. Once you wash it off and dry your body, there will basically be no smell of the soap on you (I tried two different scents by the way, I smelled like nothing after drying myself.).

When it comes to choosing the right soap for your bathing routine, it's essential to consider the benefits it provides. Bay Rum Soap from LilyMichael.co.uk offers a plethora of advantages that make it a must-have for every bathing experience. It doesn't dry your skin out like other soaps may and it removes nasty greases off you skin you may gain during a regular day at work.Handmade in small batches in the UK, Phoenix and Beau tallow shaving soap produces a rich and voluminous lather that is a joy to use. There are many variatons of this classic Caribbean scent available nowadays. Most blends start with essential oils of bay with some kind of citrus essential oils such as orange and may be lime with the more anchoring notes of cloves and allspice. This recipe is a basic bayrum with bay, orange and cloves. Further experimentation could yield other versions with allspice, pepper, tobacco, orrisroot and even vetiver essential oils to impart richness to the middle notes and extend the drydown. The top notes may be played with to give a fresher impact with bergamot, lime and mandarin essential oils. In terms of the soap though, it may be the case that many die-hard, old-school-style shaving buffs have overlooked it in light of the fact that it doesn’t have enough ‘body’ to either carry the scent or provide the same results as an oil or cream. First off, this soap IS better than most generic soap you can find at your local stores. It's clean, refreshing, and it smells good (More on this further on.). After using two whole bars of this soap and of different scents however, I can see it's flaws. So let me just take you to my list. Proprietary bay rum lotions are produced by labs in several West Indian countries, as well as American and European fragrance companies. The original bay rum from St. Thomas by A. H. Riise continues to be produced locally in the US Virgin Islands by the West Indies Bay Company. [9]

Even though it was the first available shaving resource, many self-respecting shavers may still lean towards thinking that soap belongs on the ‘washing’ shelf in the bathroom rather than the ‘shaving’ one. I have very oily skin typically and products made for oily skin go way beyond oil reduction and leave your skin a dry husk. Dr. Squatch gets my skin clean and free of oily residue without leaving it dry and itchy. When you step out of the shower and dry off your skin feels soft and clean, you can feel air against your skin and it after a day or two of use, your skin looks a lot healthier. If you've ever used other moisturizing soaps you probably know they can leave an oily feeling film on your skin which I can't stand, other soaps for oily skin make your skin feel like it's pulling and covered in astringents as it dries and will commonly result in dry scaly skin. Dr. Squatch does neither. It leaves you feeling clean and soft and makes it feel like your skin can actually breathe. In addition to bay leaf oil, our Bay Rum Soap also contains exotic spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. These spices not only add to the soap's irresistible scent but also have antimicrobial properties that help to cleanse and purify your skin. More recently, artisans may add citrus notes such as lime or bergamot for that extra zing or cloves and cinnamon for depth and warmth. Benefits of a Bay Rum Shaving Soap Other uses include as under-arm deodorant and as a fragrance for shaving soap, as well as a general astringent.

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There is certainly a broad variation in the interpretation of the Bay Rum scent from brand to brand. The ‘classic’ Bay Rum is usually defined as being somewhat woody, sweet, and spicy in nature. Certainly it is also fair to say that various blends of essential oils with citrus hints have also cemented themselves upon the senses of many Bay Rum adherents and converts.

As I said earlier this is a cold process soap which means it doesn't like to sit in the water flow or be wet all the time. The best way I've found to use it so far is to keep it out of the shower or higher up in the shower away from splashing water. The best way to apply it is to get your skin wet, use the bar to lather and then use a wash cloth or shower sponge, etc to scrub and exfoliate. If you leave this soap under running, hot water, it WILL melt rapidly. At the end of trace and after mixing in any herbs or colorants, combine essential oils and add to soap mixture before pouring into mold. Continue as per directions in How To make Cold Process Soap for curing soap. One of the key ingredients in Bay Rum Soap is bay leaf oil. Bay leaves have been used for centuries for their aromatic properties and are known for their soothing and calming effects on the skin. The oil extracted from bay leaves is rich in antioxidants, which help to protect your skin from environmental damage and premature aging.Transfer to the face or bowl, and adjust the consistency by adding more water to your face or your bowl and continuing with the swirling motion. Although most soaps come in a container that allows plenty of room for lathering and mixing, it’s better to mix in your own bowl for both the end result and the condition of the soap/container. And yep, you guessed it – the hybrid soaps may contain various quantities of each prominent ingredient, possibly along with a few others. Some brands will forgo the tallow for a vegan or cruelty-free option, replacing it with plant-derived options like stearic acid combined with and glycerine. Next step is getting the top layer of the soap onto your brush before building it into a lather. Shake the pre-soaked brush to leave it merely damp, then start to move it briskly in a circular motion over the top of the shaving soap, for about 30 seconds or so. Continue until you achieve the desired consistency and load the brush. Let’s not overlook the fact that soaps also happen to be long lasting, easy to use, and let’s face it—for the most part cheaper than creams, foams, and oils. If you have greasy hair, it doesn't do anything to remove that, rather leaving it greasy and moist.