Grooming Dept

Currently, the two main bases are the vegan Nai base and the tallow Kairos.  I believe Mohammad is developing a new duck fat base (Mallard).   There may be a lamb tallow product as well.

In my communications with Mohammad I have expressed the idea that he fix on a base and keep it for a while for the purpose of stability of his product line.  In the past he has changed the lineup and tweaked the formulas so often it was impossible to keep track.  Nor was it possible to anticipate anything would be available for reorder when the time came.  It appears that with the introduction of Nai and Kairos, Grooming Dept is moving in the direction I had hoped for.  I believe the Nai, Kairos and Mallard soaps will become staples in his line-up.  That said, it appears Mohammad is still not able to keep up with demand as no soaps are currently available even though he has stated that they will be available.  

In his defense, Mohammad is a one man operation with issues regarding his production facilities.  I have sympathy with that because I had my own business for a number of years as a solo.  It is very difficult.  As an example, if you get sick or have a family problem, the business ceases functioning in whole or in part.  Your customers are unhappy but what can you do.

Currently, the two main bases are the vegan Nai base and the tallow Kairos.  I believe Mohammad is developing a new duck fat base (Mallard).   There may be a lamb tallow product as well.

In my communications with Mohammad I have expressed the idea that he fix on a base and keep it for a while for the purpose of stability of his product line.  In the past he has changed the lineup and tweaked the formulas so often it was impossible to keep track.  Nor was it possible to anticipate anything would be available for reorder when the time came.  It appears that with the introduction of Nai and Kairos, Grooming Dept is moving in the direction I had hoped for.  I believe the Nai, Kairos and Mallard soaps will become staples in his line-up.  That said, it appears Mohammad is still not able to keep up with demand as no soaps are currently available even though he has stated that they will be available.  

In his defense, Mohammad is a one man operation with issues regarding his production facilities.  I have sympathy with that because I had my own business for a number of years as a solo.  It is very difficult.  As an example, if you get sick or have a family problem, the business ceases functioning in whole or in part.  Your customers are unhappy but what can you do.

Thanks for this very thoughtful answer. What an artistically creative guy he is. Constantly innovating. Sounds like some very sound advice you are giving him from a business perspective as well.

Hi @"Ali_R".

Thank you Southsider for chiming in. Your comments were spot on!

The formulae that will be available on a regular basis are Fortis, Nai, Kairos, and Mallard. Fortis is a $17.00 tallow soap, for the time being, it will only be available at West Coast Shaving. 

I don't have these formulas in a ranked system. Each formula provides a different experience or relies on different ingredients.

I recently bought additional curing trays, I hope to make a lot more soaps than I have made in the past.

Hi @"Ali_R".

Thank you Southsider for chiming in. Your comments were spot on!

The formulae that will be available on a regular basis are Fortis, Nai, Kairos, and Mallard. Fortis is a $17.00 tallow soap, for the time being, it will only be available at West Coast Shaving. 

I don't have these formulas in a ranked system. Each formula provides a different experience or relies on different ingredients.

I recently bought additional curing trays, I hope to make a lot more soaps than I have made in the past.

I'm very glad to see that fortis will stay around! It's an incredible soap regardless of the price, but at $17 it's a steal.

Having been asked to test the new Mallard base I can report it's as good as any GD's other soaps. I've come to the conclusion that I can only test GD soap against GD soap because there just so much better than any other soap I've tried ,and I've tried hundreds. The Mallard is rich , slick , with a nice post shave feel lathers easily and is a pleasure to use . I'll miss some of the old soaps when there gone but understand where Mo's going with this.

GroomingDept
Mo - can you tell us when you may have more pre-shave available?

Thanks!

When I discovered Grooming Department in 2019, I was very fascinated with the array of different formulas on offer, even so, as no other soap artisan offered or had so many different base offerings at that time. This peeked my interest into this brand and I made it my mission to try every formula possible available, with the aim of finding my favourite. To date, I have tried the Donkey Base, Mallard, Lamb Tallow, Lusso, Janus (Vegan & Tallow) Fortis, Nai & Kairos.
Every base has it's own unique characteristics and different ingredients list, but the standout base for me has to be the Lusso. The Lusso base is modelled after the classic Italian soaps of the past. Every time I use the Lusso base it reminds me of my all time favourite Italian soap, Valobra. So easy to lather, loves water, but the performance is crazy! Cushion, glide, slickness, post shave feel, it has everything. I believe the Lusso base had the fewest ingredients list of all of Mo's soaps to date (correct me, if I'm wrong)
I was disappointed to hear that moving forward Lusso et al will be no more, as I only have 1 tub, but I also understand Mo's focus of streamlining his offerings, thus giving time to produce other forthcoming great GD products. in particular, I'm looking forward to the GD Toner and the Hydrating Gel with Hyaluronic Acid when they become available.


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Having been asked to test the new Mallard base I can report it's as good as any GD's other soaps. I've come to the conclusion that I can only test GD soap against GD soap because there just so much better than any other soap I've tried ,and I've tried hundreds. The Mallard is rich , slick , with a nice post shave feel lathers easily and is a pleasure to use . I'll miss some of the old soaps when there gone but understand where Mo's going with this.

When I discovered Grooming Department in 2019, I was very fascinated with the array of different formulas on offer, even so, as no other soap artisan offered or had so many different base offerings at that time. This peeked my interest into this brand and I made it my mission to try every formula possible available, with the aim of finding my favourite. To date, I have tried the Donkey Base, Mallard, Lamb Tallow, Lusso, Janus (Vegan & Tallow) Fortis, Nai & Kairos.
Every base has it's own unique characteristics and different ingredients list, but the standout base for me has to be the Lusso. The Lusso base is modelled after the classic Italian soaps of the past. Every time I use the Lusso base it reminds me of my all time favourite Italian soap, Valobra. So easy to lather, loves water, but the performance is crazy! Cushion, glide, slickness, post shave feel, it has everything. I believe the Lusso base had the fewest ingredients list of all of  Mo's soaps to date (correct me, if I'm wrong)
I was disappointed to hear that moving forward Lusso et al will be no more, as I only have 1 tub, but I also understand Mo's focus of streamlining his offerings, thus giving time to produce other forthcoming great GD products. in particular, I'm looking forward to the GD Toner and the Hydrating Gel with Hyaluronic Acid when they become available.


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I have used the  Lusso, Primus, Janus Tallow, Mallard and the original Fortis offering. I never used the donkey base. They were all excellent soaps, elite in their time, but the world of artisan soaps has moved on and Mohammad has moved on as well. The latest releases (now sold out) of Kairos tallow and Nai vegan are two of the very best soaps available in the marketplace, bar none. Mohammad has been diligently working on upgrades to Mallard and Fortis. Having tested the new, improved Mallard, it is different than Kairos and Nai, but equally superb.  I am anxiously awaiting release of Mallard to join Kairos and Nai in my collection.

Fortis is designed to be a more affordable option to these three elite soaps. It is not as good as the top three; but it was never intended to be. It will be offered at a price that will be attractive to those who cannot or will not buy the top level soaps. By my evaluations, Fortis will be one of the best soaps available in the $15-20 price range. As such, it is a wonderful value. For those who have never tried a Grooming Department soap, look for release of the new Fortis. I will be a great introduction to Mohammad's talents without spending a lot of money.

I use allot of DM and Lusso bases but I did get the new Mallard.

Shaved like a dream but wanted to ask.

This takes much more water to e
pop than DM and Lusso, correct?

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When I discovered Grooming Department in 2019, I was very fascinated with the array of different formulas on offer, even so, as no other soap artisan offered or had so many different base offerings at that time. This peeked my interest into this brand and I made it my mission to try every formula possible available, with the aim of finding my favourite. To date, I have tried the Donkey Base, Mallard, Lamb Tallow, Lusso, Janus (Vegan & Tallow) Fortis, Nai & Kairos.
Every base has it's own unique characteristics and different ingredients list, but the standout base for me has to be the Lusso. The Lusso base is modelled after the classic Italian soaps of the past. Every time I use the Lusso base it reminds me of my all time favourite Italian soap, Valobra. So easy to lather, loves water, but the performance is crazy! Cushion, glide, slickness, post shave feel, it has everything. I believe the Lusso base had the fewest ingredients list of all of Mo's soaps to date (correct me, if I'm wrong)
I was disappointed to hear that moving forward Lusso et al will be no more, as I only have 1 tub, but I also understand Mo's focus of streamlining his offerings, thus giving time to produce other forthcoming great GD products. in particular, I'm looking forward to the GD Toner and the Hydrating Gel with Hyaluronic Acid when they become available.


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Lusso is my jam. Really want the hydrating gel.