05-15-2012, 08:40 AM
Hi All,
A few updates:
1. As many have noticed, my stocks have been very low for a couple of weeks. In addition to making soap, I'm also a full-time PhD student and a part-time adjunct lecturer. With the end of the semester upon me, I am very pressed for time. Things will settle down after May 21 and my soap stock will become more consistent.
2. In spite of my erratic stock
, I now have a new scent of shaving soap available for purchase on my site: Lemongrass & Eucalyptus.
3. As many of you know, I'm working on an all-veggie shaving soap formula. I've received some very helpful input from my testers and hope to be offering the new soap for sale shortly.
4. I plan on introducing shave sticks at some point in June.
Thanks!
A few updates:
1. As many have noticed, my stocks have been very low for a couple of weeks. In addition to making soap, I'm also a full-time PhD student and a part-time adjunct lecturer. With the end of the semester upon me, I am very pressed for time. Things will settle down after May 21 and my soap stock will become more consistent.
2. In spite of my erratic stock

3. As many of you know, I'm working on an all-veggie shaving soap formula. I've received some very helpful input from my testers and hope to be offering the new soap for sale shortly.
4. I plan on introducing shave sticks at some point in June.
Thanks!
05-15-2012, 09:11 AM
Wow, Mike. You certainly are busy. But now I completely understand why your soap formulations are so fantastic... you're a PhD student. Awesome, keep up the hard work that I know it requires. Thanks for the update and I'll be looking forward to hearing what people think of the new scent.
05-16-2012, 12:07 AM
(05-15-2012, 08:40 AM)OckhamsRazor Wrote: Hi All,
A few updates:
1. As many have noticed, my stocks have been very low for a couple of weeks. In addition to making soap, I'm also a full-time PhD student and a part-time adjunct lecturer. With the end of the semester upon me, I am very pressed for time. Things will settle down after May 21 and my soap stock will become more consistent.
2. In spite of my erratic stock, I now have a new scent of shaving soap available for purchase on my site: Lemongrass & Eucalyptus.
3. As many of you know, I'm working on an all-veggie shaving soap formula. I've received some very helpful input from my testers and hope to be offering the new soap for sale shortly.
4. I plan on introducing shave sticks at some point in June.
Thanks!
thanks for the update, Mike. I'm looking forward to your shaving sticks and ought to put an order in for some of your samples in the mean time.
05-16-2012, 07:59 AM
Mike,
I wish I'd known before you were a starving graduate student. When I was in grad school, had three jobs in order to pay the bills. Never occurred to me to actually start a business. Then again, this was pre-public internet.
Just made my first purchase. Should be enough to pay for one and half six packs of good beer.
I wish I'd known before you were a starving graduate student. When I was in grad school, had three jobs in order to pay the bills. Never occurred to me to actually start a business. Then again, this was pre-public internet.
Just made my first purchase. Should be enough to pay for one and half six packs of good beer.
05-16-2012, 08:31 AM
Mike, I'm a huge fan of your soaps. I've ordered Barbershop about a month ago and later ordered Rose & Cedarwood and Lavendin & Eucalyptus.
I love the depth and complexity of the scents, but more importantly they do everything that a shave soap should do: cushion and protect, provide lubrication and my face feels moisturized afterwards.
I tried Mike's Natural because I really like MWF and wondered how much of what makes it special was the lanolin. When I saw that MN soap had both tallow and lanolin, I was in.
To be frank, my other primary soaps, MWF, Tabac and Palmolive are gathering dust as they get a lot less use. I look forward to your shave stick as I love sticks when travelling.
Best of luck in your academic quest. If you don't mind, what are you studying for in your Doctoral quest?
I love the depth and complexity of the scents, but more importantly they do everything that a shave soap should do: cushion and protect, provide lubrication and my face feels moisturized afterwards.
I tried Mike's Natural because I really like MWF and wondered how much of what makes it special was the lanolin. When I saw that MN soap had both tallow and lanolin, I was in.
To be frank, my other primary soaps, MWF, Tabac and Palmolive are gathering dust as they get a lot less use. I look forward to your shave stick as I love sticks when travelling.
Best of luck in your academic quest. If you don't mind, what are you studying for in your Doctoral quest?
05-16-2012, 08:33 AM
(05-16-2012, 08:31 AM)redrako Wrote: Mike, I'm a huge fan of your soaps. I've ordered Barbershop about a month ago and later ordered Rose & Cedarwood and Lavendin & Eucalyptus.
I love the depth and complexity of the scents, but more importantly they do everything that a shave soap should do: cushion and protect, provide lubrication and my face feels moisturized afterwards.
I tried Mike's Natural because I really like MWF and wondered how much of what makes it special was the lanolin. When I saw that MN soap had both tallow and lanolin, I was in.
To be frank, my other primary soaps, MWF, Tabac and Palmolive are gathering dust as they get a lot less use. I look forward to your shave stick as I love sticks when travelling.
Best of luck in your academic quest. If you don't mind, what are you studying for in your Doctoral quest?
I was wondering this as well. My initial thought was a PharmD but that's not a PhD.
05-16-2012, 08:38 AM
(05-16-2012, 07:59 AM)oakeshott Wrote: Mike,
I wish I'd known before you were a starving graduate student. When I was in grad school, had three jobs in order to pay the bills. Never occurred to me to actually start a business. Then again, this was pre-public internet.
Just made my first purchase. Should be enough to pay for one and half six packs of good beer.
Thank you!

(05-16-2012, 08:31 AM)redrako Wrote: Mike, I'm a huge fan of your soaps. I've ordered Barbershop about a month ago and later ordered Rose & Cedarwood and Lavendin & Eucalyptus.
I love the depth and complexity of the scents, but more importantly they do everything that a shave soap should do: cushion and protect, provide lubrication and my face feels moisturized afterwards.
I tried Mike's Natural because I really like MWF and wondered how much of what makes it special was the lanolin. When I saw that MN soap had both tallow and lanolin, I was in.
To be frank, my other primary soaps, MWF, Tabac and Palmolive are gathering dust as they get a lot less use. I look forward to your shave stick as I love sticks when travelling.
Best of luck in your academic quest. If you don't mind, what are you studying for in your Doctoral quest?
Thanks so much for the kind words, Robert. I'm glad the soap is working so well for you.
I'm studying classical philology, arguably the most esoteric and useless of all disciplines

05-16-2012, 09:36 AM
(05-16-2012, 08:38 AM)OckhamsRazor Wrote:(05-16-2012, 07:59 AM)oakeshott Wrote: Mike,
I wish I'd known before you were a starving graduate student. When I was in grad school, had three jobs in order to pay the bills. Never occurred to me to actually start a business. Then again, this was pre-public internet.
Just made my first purchase. Should be enough to pay for one and half six packs of good beer.
Thank you!
(05-16-2012, 08:31 AM)redrako Wrote: Mike, I'm a huge fan of your soaps. I've ordered Barbershop about a month ago and later ordered Rose & Cedarwood and Lavendin & Eucalyptus.
I love the depth and complexity of the scents, but more importantly they do everything that a shave soap should do: cushion and protect, provide lubrication and my face feels moisturized afterwards.
I tried Mike's Natural because I really like MWF and wondered how much of what makes it special was the lanolin. When I saw that MN soap had both tallow and lanolin, I was in.
To be frank, my other primary soaps, MWF, Tabac and Palmolive are gathering dust as they get a lot less use. I look forward to your shave stick as I love sticks when travelling.
Best of luck in your academic quest. If you don't mind, what are you studying for in your Doctoral quest?
Thanks so much for the kind words, Robert. I'm glad the soap is working so well for you.
I'm studying classical philology, arguably the most esoteric and useless of all disciplines
That is not useless. If everyone felt that way then that important discipline would die and that would be beyond sad.
And, Mike, for what it's worth, I actually prefer your Orange, Cedarwood, & Black Pepper tallow/lanolin shave soap to MWF. Besides every other praise that has been mentioned, I find it easier to lather than the Fat. Keep up the great work, both at school and at soap making. All the best to you.

05-16-2012, 07:37 PM
(05-16-2012, 09:27 AM)tgutc Wrote: What does the Barbershop scent smell like?
Barber shop is a tough scent to describe. It consists of patchouli, oakmoss, basil, and bergamot. When lathered up, I find that the patchouli stands most. A streak of bergamot cuts through the middle which is both citrusy and sweet. Oakmoss and basil are in the background tying things together.
The overall scent is masculine and invigorating with a bit of sweetness.
Sorry if this is vague. No matter how many times I try, I still find it difficult to describe this one.
05-20-2012, 03:50 PM
I love Barbershop but would not be able to begin to describe it except to say that it's paradoxical. On the one hand it's a complex, masculine scent - a blend if you will that combines very well into one distinct aroma. I've never smelled anything like it.
I will reorder it when the time comes around.
Regarding classical philology, as an English major who graduated at age 40 with a BA with a strong concentration on history - I'm with you in spirit.
Best of luck in your quest!
If Philology is as you put it, "...arguably the most esoteric and useless of all disciplines". One of course must be able to argue to make such an assertion.
As I was googling Philology, I discovered that it may be a more fun subject than I had first imagined.
I will reorder it when the time comes around.
Regarding classical philology, as an English major who graduated at age 40 with a BA with a strong concentration on history - I'm with you in spirit.
Best of luck in your quest!
If Philology is as you put it, "...arguably the most esoteric and useless of all disciplines". One of course must be able to argue to make such an assertion.

As I was googling Philology, I discovered that it may be a more fun subject than I had first imagined.
05-20-2012, 04:06 PM
(05-20-2012, 03:50 PM)redrako Wrote: I love Barbershop but would not be able to begin to describe it except to say that it's paradoxical. On the one hand it's a complex, masculine scent - a blend if you will that combines very well into one distinct aroma. I've never smelled anything like it.
I will reorder it when the time comes around.
Regarding classical philology, as an English major who graduated at age 40 with a BA with a strong concentration on history - I'm with you in spirit.
Best of luck in your quest!
If Philology is as you put it, "...arguably the most esoteric and useless of all disciplines". One of course must be able to argue to make such an assertion.
As I was googling Philology, I discovered that it may be a more fun subject than I had first imagined.



Hilarious! Thanks, Robert!
06-14-2012, 12:41 PM
Hi All,
A few updates:
1. I've whipped up some bay rum shaving soap in both bar and tin form, which is now available for purchase on my site at 50% off normal price for a limited time.
2. Lily of the valley shaving soap will be available very soon.
3. I still plan on offering shave sticks, but their introduction might have to be put off until July.
4. I'm still working on my veggie shave soap formula (I'm up to the 4th prototype) and hope to have a final version within a month or so.
Thanks for reading!
A few updates:
1. I've whipped up some bay rum shaving soap in both bar and tin form, which is now available for purchase on my site at 50% off normal price for a limited time.
2. Lily of the valley shaving soap will be available very soon.
3. I still plan on offering shave sticks, but their introduction might have to be put off until July.
4. I'm still working on my veggie shave soap formula (I'm up to the 4th prototype) and hope to have a final version within a month or so.
Thanks for reading!
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