Mystic Water Soap

My thought was that if someone used different brushes for each sample, they might get widely different results that wouldn't accurately reflect the difference between samples.  It is very interesting though that someone without a lot of experience with my soap gets a different result using a different brush with the same sample.

Thanks Michelle. The instructions were pretty clear

My thought was that if someone used different brushes for each sample, they might get widely different results that wouldn't accurately reflect the difference between samples. It is very interesting though that someone without a lot of experience with my soap gets a different result using a different brush with the same sample.

This makes sense. Best minimize the variables.

How hard is your hard water? That seems to be one significant variable for some people. When I was having issues with the original formula in my hard water, I tried every type of brush except horse and synthetics, and all produced roughly the same result.

Thanks for sharing, but she asked for the testers to use the same brush, I'm sure it was a reason for it.  I just started working with the Control Sample.

NeoXerxes, good to read of your experiences. To quote my water district’s web page, the water here is “about 290 parts per million (ppm) or 17 grains per gallon, categorized as ‘very hard’.”

hrfdez, perhaps my wording was not very clear. When I said “I first used the control sample three consecutive times to get a feel for it,” I used the boar brush one of those times just to get better acquainted with the original formula.

Michelle’s instructions were very clear. I have used the same brush with every sample soap so far, and will continue to do so. (I was merely interested in hearing if anyone else has noticed that the type of brush makes a difference with the original soap.)

How hard is your hard water? That seems to be one significant variable for some people. When I was having issues with the original formula in my hard water, I tried every type of brush except horse and synthetics, and all produced roughly the same result.

Thanks for sharing, but she asked for the testers to use the same brush, I'm sure it was a reason for it.  I just started working with the Control Sample.

NeoXerxes, good to read of your experiences. To quote my water district’s web page, the water here is “about 290 parts per million (ppm) or 17 grains per gallon, categorized as ‘very hard’.”

hrfdez, perhaps my wording was not very clear. When I said “I first used the control sample three consecutive times to get a feel for it,” I used the boar brush one of those times just to get better acquainted with the original formula.

Michelle’s instructions were very clear. I have used the same brush with every sample soap so far, and will continue to do so. (I was merely interested in hearing if anyone else has noticed that the type of brush makes a difference with the original soap.)

I’ve had the samples for a week now. Having only read (many good things) about Mystic Water Soap prior to this, I first used the control sample three consecutive times to get a feel for it. After that, I have used samples A and B one time each.

When I first tried the control sample, I had no issues lathering it with a synthetic brush, and had a really enjoyable shave. All with hard water! I was wondering what all the fuss about lathering issues was.

For the following shave (still with the current production formula), I used a boar brush, just to compare. I believe I’m echoing what momor said earlier in this thread, because that experience was just not great for me.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no boar pro, but my experience makes me wonder if other people are having lathering issues more because of their brush type than their water type. After the unfortunate boar experiment, I have proceeded to use the same synthetic brush for all my testing, and have had good results with the control soap and the samples so far. I have a couple of samples left before I can turn in my evaluation. I think it’s commendable that Mystic Water is willing to conduct further research on a product that already is so good.

How hard is your hard water? That seems to be one significant variable for some people. When I was having issues with the original formula in my hard water, I tried every type of brush except horse and synthetics, and all produced roughly the same result.

I'd agree. I have on average, around 175-250ppm in my tap water. The original formula required a good minute to minute and a half brush load with a Muhle XL Synthetic. I would have to lather longer than other soaps as well. I would get a great lather, but it took a lot of work. All of the samples resolved that issue for me.

I’ve had the samples for a week now. Having only read (many good things) about Mystic Water Soap prior to this, I first used the control sample three consecutive times to get a feel for it. After that, I have used samples A and B one time each.

When I first tried the control sample, I had no issues lathering it with a synthetic brush, and had a really enjoyable shave. All with hard water! I was wondering what all the fuss about lathering issues was.

For the following shave (still with the current production formula), I used a boar brush, just to compare. I believe I’m echoing what momor said earlier in this thread, because that experience was just not great for me.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no boar pro, but my experience makes me wonder if other people are having lathering issues more because of their brush type than their water type. After the unfortunate boar experiment, I have proceeded to use the same synthetic brush for all my testing, and have had good results with the control soap and the samples so far. I have a couple of samples left before I can turn in my evaluation. I think it’s commendable that Mystic Water is willing to conduct further research on a product that already is so good.

How hard is your hard water? That seems to be one significant variable for some people. When I was having issues with the original formula in my hard water, I tried every type of brush except horse and synthetics, and all produced roughly the same result.

I'd agree. I have on average, around 175-250ppm in my tap water. The original formula required a good minute to minute and a half brush load with a Muhle XL Synthetic. I would have to lather longer than other soaps as well. I would get a great lather, but it took a lot of work. All of the samples resolved that issue for me.

Your last sentence sounds promising.

For what it's worth, I don't have hard water and I feel the same way. In the past, lathering Mystic Water soap with Boar took a lot more work to get the lather where i wanted it to be. (more so than boar vs. badger for other soaps). I always use Badger for this soap, and get great results with her current formulation.

I can't believe I missed this! Oh well.

How hard is your hard water? That seems to be one significant variable for some people. When I was having issues with the original formula in my hard water, I tried every type of brush except horse and synthetics, and all produced roughly the same result.

I'd agree. I have on average, around 175-250ppm in my tap water. The original formula required a good minute to minute and a half brush load with a Muhle XL Synthetic. I would have to lather longer than other soaps as well. I would get a great lather, but it took a lot of work. All of the samples resolved that issue for me.

For what it's worth, I don't have hard water and I feel the same way.  In the past, lathering Mystic Water soap with Boar took a lot more work to get the lather where i wanted it to be.   (more so than boar vs. badger for other soaps).   I always use Badger for this soap, and get great results with her current formulation.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, it’s interesting to find some similarities to the limited experience I have so far with Mystic Water Soap. And I’m sure Michelle will appreciate knowing about these matters, as well.

It seems that at least for some, the choice of brush does play a somewhat meaningful role in how MWS lathers. And I, too, believe that some of the samples may present an improved formula in that regard.

Merkur Man should be on board with this experiment. I have seen some of your lather artistry, and you would be a valuable voice in assessing the new options. But I’m confident all of us current testers are doing our best to provide some good insight.

I have to agree that choice of brush made a huge difference to me, trying to get these soaps to perform, early on.
My favourite brush has always been the Chubby 2 Manchurian and I just couldn't get it to work. Then, I read about synthetics being easier, bought an EJ, and it completely transformed my experience.
I now have little difficulty lathering Michelle's standard formula with badger brushes, although the CH2 is still a challenge. My impression is that higher lofted, less dense badger knots perform better. For this very reason, I have taken to using a CH2 Manchurian throughout this trial.