So, it's no secret that we all have enough shaving soap for five lifetimes. The good news is that it appears to last a very long time, though I would expect soaps with ingredients, such as avacado oil, that can go rancid to have a shorter shelf life.
I just received a Woodbury's soap bowl purchased from eBay. I have no idea how old the soap is. The company was founded before 1900 and the last references I can find are in the 1960s.
See pics below to draw your own conclusions.
So, I decided to take this soap on a test run. I cleaned it thoroughly and soaked it in warm water.
It performed well shaving. My best guess is that there is not any degradation of the soap. I have no idea of the quality level of the original. It certainly didn't perform like a Barrister & Mann. I'm guessing that it is like a currently produced inexpensive, yet completely workable soap.
[Image: Woodbury%201_zpspworieu1.jpg]
[Image: Woodbury%202_zps2r8qs57v.jpg]
[Image: Woodbury%203_zpsrjsjhxee.jpg]
I just received a Woodbury's soap bowl purchased from eBay. I have no idea how old the soap is. The company was founded before 1900 and the last references I can find are in the 1960s.
See pics below to draw your own conclusions.
So, I decided to take this soap on a test run. I cleaned it thoroughly and soaked it in warm water.
It performed well shaving. My best guess is that there is not any degradation of the soap. I have no idea of the quality level of the original. It certainly didn't perform like a Barrister & Mann. I'm guessing that it is like a currently produced inexpensive, yet completely workable soap.
[Image: Woodbury%201_zpspworieu1.jpg]
[Image: Woodbury%202_zps2r8qs57v.jpg]
[Image: Woodbury%203_zpsrjsjhxee.jpg]