I Have to Admit that.......

, although discontinued, I like Williams Mug Soap. I get wonderful lathers from it and like how it leaves my face feeling. I also have at least 30 cakes of it and wish I had more.

I was surprised how good the shave and post were. Not the sturdiest or prettiest lather, but it does its job very well.

There are a number of different versions of Williams Mug Soap. In later years of production, the focus was more on maintaining a low price point rather than maintaining quality.
The ingredient list says" Sodium Tallowate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Water, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Pentasodium Pentetate. May Also Contain: Sodium Palm Kernelate

My concern is with the very last statement "May Also Contain: Sodium Palm Kernelate". What that says to me is that they will substitute palm kernel oil if it is less expensive than the other ingredients. While tallow, stearic acid and cocoa butter are good ingredients in a shaving soap, palm kernel oil is not.

The version of Williams I currently have in my den is one of the worst soaps I have every used but there are five soaps that are even worse. Fortunately, I have dozens of better soaps, so I do not need to use the ones that are not so good. If I had to use Williams Mug Soap for shaving, I would grow a beard.

   Clear example of YMMV!  Everything in shavedom that is loved by someone is hated by someone else and vice-versa.  Maybe thats how balance is maintained!?  

Aside from that it's also an example of you dont have to spend a lot of money to get a great and satisfying shave.  Another product that is dirt cheap yet in my opinion highly effective is Nivea Sensitive Shaving Cream.  A tube costs $3 or $4 and gives a very nice shave and a great lather.  My onyl criticism is that if you try to work it in to another soap or cream (remember super lathers?) it will destroy the scent of the other soap.  I've always got a tube on hand. 

I'm with RayClem. Williams is undoubtedly one of the worst shaving soaps I've ever used.

Well I still have modern and vintage Williams. The vintage is cinchy to lather. Modern is what I used getting back to my roots with soap and brush. It shaves for sure but best of all it may have taught me how to lather almost anything. Love the scent…….a lot!

... Another product that is dirt cheap yet in my opinion highly effective is Nivea Sensitive Shaving Cream.  A tube costs $3 or $4 and gives a very nice shave and a great lather.  My onyl criticism is that if you try to work it in to another soap or cream (remember super lathers?) it will destroy the scent of the other soap.  I've always got a tube on hand. 

That scent-altering feature is exactly why I used Nivea with Wilkinson Sword in a frankensoap I call "Blue Monday".