Venting on vendors

I am really tired of lazy vendors that sell shaving soaps without indicating the ingredients. I don't know how they expect prospective customers to make an informed decision upon coming across a new soap that they have not explored before. Even if it is highly touted in threads/posts, one may want to know what the heck is in it. Some folks don't want tallow whereas other may insist on a tallow formulation; some find lanolin irritating, some find it the cat's meow. What is so difficult about listing ingredients; even just a photo of the ingredient portion of the label could be of help? It really brings out the Louie Di Palma in me (remember the sitcom Taxi?);

Anyhow, thanks for listening.

Instead of pissing and moaning, why not simply avoid patronizing such vendors? See how easy that is?

I am really tired of lazy vendors that sell shaving soaps without indicating the ingredients.  I don't know how they expect prospective customers to make an informed decision upon coming across a new soap that they have not explored before.  Even if it is highly touted in threads/posts, one may want to know what the heck is in it.  Some folks don't want tallow whereas other may insist on a tallow formulation; some find lanolin irritating, some find it the cat's meow.  What is so difficult about listing ingredients; even just a photo of the ingredient portion of the label could be of help?  It really brings out the Louie Di Palma in me (remember the sitcom Taxi?);

Anyhow, thanks for listening.

"Imagine walking through the snow on a cold and breezy night while holding hands with your girlfriend and drinking hot chocolate. Gents, this is the feeling you'll get with (Insert soap here)."

I am really tired of lazy vendors that sell shaving soaps without indicating the ingredients.  I don't know how they expect prospective customers to make an informed decision upon coming across a new soap that they have not explored before.  Even if it is highly touted in threads/posts, one may want to know what the heck is in it.  Some folks don't want tallow whereas other may insist on a tallow formulation; some find lanolin irritating, some find it the cat's meow.  What is so difficult about listing ingredients; even just a photo of the ingredient portion of the label could be of help?  It really brings out the Louie Di Palma in me (remember the sitcom Taxi?);

Anyhow, thanks for listening.

"Imagine walking through the snow on a cold and breezy night while holding hands with your girlfriend and drinking hot chocolate.  Gents, this is the feeling you'll get with (Insert soap here)."

Hilarious, its like the catalogue company that Elaine worked for on Seinfeld - they're selling you the sizzle when you want to know whats in the steak. I agree that I'd like to know ingredients. Just as irritating is when the soap is named something completely unrelated to what it smells like and they make no attempt to tell you in the description. You're supposed to be satisfied with "smell like a man, man" . I'm pretty sure that when a soap maker comes up with a fragrance thats pleasantly nondescript they just call it Barbershop.

Yep that's the only thing that bothers me are some of the, " Descriptions."

Yep that's the only thing that bothers me are some of the, " Descriptions."

I agree. I understanding branding and such but the name of the soap should give some indication of the scent.

I agree with descriptions of scents being vague about what they are being annoying, I'll usually steer clear of those and buy something else. However ingredients are a whole other thing, I recently had this happen, simple solution email the artisan, my experience is that most are more than happy to reply quickly and inform you on their product and add a personal touch

Technically, as a soap, there is no ingredient requirement, unless it is touted as being a moisturizer, conditioner, or some other such hygiene specialty item. Soap does not require an ingredients list, which is why Proctor & Gamble can make New Wave Whistle-Clean "Pure" Green Friendly soap and never tell you which cleansing chemicals are being used...

I do, however, agree with scent descriptions. I'm not a fan of the overly poetic, nostalgic claims that I will feel like a New Man on an Old Beach with a tropical drink and sexy Senorita. I don't care. Is it coconut or pineapple? I don't need to know that a mahogany library lined with 100 year old books smells the same as this new soap. Is it tobacco, spice, or leather?

It's tough to blame vendors and artisans for not revealing their core ingredients. Soaps are very proprietary, and revealing the ingredients list could cause issues for a small vendor or artisan. It's really difficult to say an artisan should bite the bullet and reveal their ingredients despite a lack of requirements in this case. They need to protect the differences between their "best new soap" and Soapmaker B's "best new soap"...

My suggestion...if you are curious due to specific allergies or requirements...ask. If you know what you are trying to avoid, it's easy enough to ask the vendor or maker...

This would have been deleted in a New York second over at that Skunk & Shaver site. Which is why I don't go there.

Interesting thread, let's stay on topic so it can play out.