As a morale booster whilst in hospital Xylaria & Woodstock sent me a sample of their Pine Tar Soap as I'd mentioned how the soaps in hospital were quite chemicaly and that I was missing the smells of the outdoors; I mentioned in a post how the scent of their Stupidly Simple Midge Repelant was also a bit like a rather manly outdoor aftershave with its smokey aroma.
When I got home there was a fat envelope through the door, nestled amongst the will sapping bills.
Inside was a waxed paper wrapped cake of what looked like very rich dark chocolate soap roughly six inches by four by one. The pine smoke smell eminating from it as I unwrapped the crinkly paper immediately transported me outdoors and into the woods; I imagined sitting 'round a campfire with a good mate just relaxing and talking.
I realised that the bar was a little large to use as is and took out a pen knife and allowed the blade to glide through the yeilding surface. The soap cut easily without cracking or flaking.
I took one piece into the bathroom and decided to wash with it straight away to get rid of the artificial smell of the hospital.
Being in Scotland I live in a soft water area so I cant attest to how the soap will fair in a hard water area or even salt water. But here it lathered into a nice creamy lather and I proceded to wash. Much to my mothers consternation I don't really like using soap on my face as it generally makes my skin feel uncomfortably tight. But the soap smelled so good I decided that I'd use it all over. Not being able to use the shower in my house due to the operation I stood at the sink and started to wash from top down. Some soaps aren't advisable to use in your hair as they don't rinse out very easily but after the first lather in my hair rinsed out easily with a few cups of water I went for a second lathering. Hair done I preceded to wash the rest of me, the soap rinsing off easliy and leaving my skin feeling clean and unclogged by residue. After changing the water I thought I'd give it a shaving test and proceded to lather up. Though I have a beard I like to keep it fairly trim and shave my neck and part of my cheeks. Decided not to use my shaving brush as I wanted to see how creamy a lather I could atain if I were in the field without an extra pice of equipment. The soap quickly attained a fine rich lather which was again spread over my face and neck. Decided to go the whole hog and took my straight razor out of the cabinet. Tend not to use it all the time as a normal razor can be a lot lighter and easier to use. The blade glided through the bubbly film taking short stubble with it easily. Between strokes the blade cleaned quickly and after an exilaratingly clean shave with no nicks requiring a stipic pencil I was suitable shaved and shorn and ready to face the rest of the day.
I've put one third of the soap into my travel wash kit where it'll live as a non messy all purpose soap. The piece I used for that first clense has been keeping me smelling right and keeping me clean with little sign of melting away quickly like some soaps do and will be used 'till it's time to buy some more from the kind pair on BCUK.
The third I took 'round to a mate in the village who is heading off for a weeks fishing up north where they're staying in a small fishing lodge with no electricity. It's a midge ridden area and normal scented soaps have a habit of drawing them in from miles around, and as I'd noticed that the little bity blighters didn't seem attracted to it I thought he'd like some. He'd mentioned that he couldn't find his midge jacket so I took him 'round a care package of my midge jacket, some Tom o'Tick twisters and the final piece of the Pine Tar Soap. As soon as the took the paper wrapped package out of the plastic bag he enthused how it was a proper "man" soap and like me how it reminded him of being at his Grans - back when they used "proper" soap. So armed with the things I'd brought and the tin of SS mide repelant he has he's off to face the hoard of blood sucking female fiends up at Loch Damph. He's promised me a wee report on his return (along with some home smoked trout hopefully).
So in all it seems to be a well priced soap that cleans well and rinses out with ease, doesn't attract insect life with sickly sweet perfumes and lasts well. It also has a "manly" smell which the ladies who I've met like. Another bonus is that if you allow to dry for a little bit before wrapping it up or puttng in a soap box doesn't go to a slimey mush.
When I have a little cash I intend to buy a few bits of it and that way can do the old fashioned thing of letting soap age so that it lasts even longer; well I am a mean East Coast Scot after all
