Has the Phoenix Risen FromThe Ashes??

Several years ago I purchased three tubs of British hard triple milled soaps.  D.R. Harris Arlington, Mitchell’s Wool Fat and Edwin Jagger Limes & Pomegranate.  Let me begin saying that I have 72 hard soaps, soft soaps and creams and except for two brands I have never had any problems achieving a great lather.  Including two that many people have problems with, Mitchell’s Wool Fat and Bath House Spanish Fig & Nutmeg.  All are easy to lather and have great performance.  In addition, because I have hard water I have been using distilled water for a very long time.  The D.R. Harris and MWF are almost completely gone but I do have refills and have also purchased D.R. Harris Windsor.  However, the Edwin Jagger (here and after Jagger) was virtually impossible to acquire a good lather.  I bloomed and did not bloom, used a wet brush and used a dry brush.  I even popped the puck out and completely submerged it in distilled water whiled I took a shower and held it in my hand while I attempted to lather it.  This is the hardest soap I have ever owned.  I could almost hammer nails with it.  The puck is only 65 grams (2.29) ounces and with the wooden tub as I remember it was expensive.  After approximately 16 months of use the puck only gave up 4 grams and you could still see the pressed logo.

So, I sent Jagger an email explaining my problem and asked if I had received a puck from a bad batch.  I did not think I would hear back from them but within a few days I received an email and they were very nice.  I was told they contacted their soap manufacture which led me to believe that British soaps are contracted to an outside manufacturer based on their specifications.  This is not surprising because the machinery to make triple milled soap is expensive.  I was told that their manufacturer said that the lanolin used in MWF may have remained in my brush and could be causing the problem of not achieving a good lather.  When I wrote back I explained that I was using a Simpsons #2 Chubby with the MWF and because the Jagger tub is so small I had to use a different brush.  They did ask for my address and they sent me a free replacement puck.  There was no difference.  So I put both pucks on the bottom shelf and never used them again.

Recently, I figured I would try one last thing.  I grated the puck using the grater pictured below.  Even though this was a large cheese grater the soap became powder not pieces.  I then put it in a Pyrex one cup bowl added water and let it sit.  I pressed it down as hard as I could during the drying period and let it get hard.  I used it this morning and I was greatly surprised because I got a great lather and the performance was at around 3 maybe 4 stars.  I must admit I put more effort into this soap then it was worth but it now works and I have two of them.  The only problem I found was it lost it’s fragrance.  Just wanted to share this with everyone.  I still believe that I may have received two pucks from a bad batch.

Sure sounds like a bad batch or a bad product (Limes). I've had two EJ soaps (maybe three) and never had an issue with them. But none were limes. or lemons , LOL)