Up next in our shaving soap review series is Mitchell’s Wool Fat Shaving Soap. Mitchell’s Wool Fat is a British company with a history dating back to the 1930’s. Their packaging actually says “1893 formula” on it, but all the company information I’ve found says the company was actually founded in the 1930’s.
Anyway, it was started up by Fred Mitchell who was a chemist living in Bradford, England back then. And one day he somehow connected the dots and noticed that the the lanolin in wool fat was keeping the hands of local sheep shearers extremely soft. So he decided to put that knowledge to use, bring the benefits of lanolin to the marketplace and started developing soaps.
Mitchell’s Wool Fat makes a variety of products, but they are different from most other shaving companies we look at because they only make 1 shaving product: shave soap.
What else do they make? Regular soap, shampoo, body wash, lotion, hand wash and even detergent. The common theme with all of their products are that they are made with lanolin and other organic ingredients. And because if this, their products are highly recommended for people with sensitive skin.
Pros
- Incredibly slick lubricant
- Thick, voluminous lather
- Excellent hydration
- Made with natural ingredients that are very sensitive on skin
Cons
- Learning curve to getting lather consistency just right
Product Overview
- Unscented
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Key ingredients: lanolin and other organic ingredients
- Weight: 125 grams (4.4 ounces)
- Container options: available for purchase in either a ceramic bowl with lid or as a standalone puck wrapped in wax paper
- Made in Bradford, England
Key Features
As Slick As They Get
Mitchell’s Wool Fat shaving soap is one of the slickest shaving soaps I’ve ever used. Whenever I use it, I’m always blown away with how great of a lubricant it is. The slickness does an awesome job at allowing the razor blade to glide across your skin with very minimal irritation.
I'm even impressed with the amount of residual slickness it behind after a pass. Now I would never recommend making a second pass without reapplying additional lather (better to be safe than sorry), but the fact that it leaves so much residual slickness behind shows just how great a lubricant it is. Subpar shave soaps don’t do this.
Learning Curve For Getting The Lather Right
In my opinion, Mitchell’s Wool Fat shave soap does have a slightly steeper learning curve to getting the lather just right when compared with other shave soaps. It definitely whips into a rich, awesome lather once you figure out how to do so, but it did take me a few times before I could get the lather perfect.
It is particularly sensitive to the amount of water it takes to get the lather consistency right. When I didn’t use enough water, it got too pasty. But if I used too much water, it got too liquid-y. So be patient and definitely do some experimentation on how much water to use.
Lastly, getting the lather right is also dependent on the quality of your water. Some places, like where I’m from, have really hard water and in that case you want to use more water. But if you live somewhere with softer water, you won’t need to use as much water.
Don’t be intimidated by all this though. It might be more of a learning curve to use this soap, but it’s worth it once you figure it out.
Thick, Voluminous Lather
Mitchell’s Wool Fat shaving soap generates into a really thick, creamy lather. This thick lather does an awesome job of softening the beard and hydrating the face during a shave.
Additionally, if you like making multiple passes during a shave, you should have plenty of lather leftover on your brush to reapply for a second pass.
Many Veteran Wet Shavers Favorite Soap
One of the easiest ways to figure out if a product is good is to read reviews by experienced users. After all, that’s why you’re reading this review, right?
Well Mitchell’s Wool Fat shaving soap happens to be a favorite of many experienced wet shavers, including me. It’s just such a great lubricant while being so for and gentle on the skin.
Mitchell’s Wool Fat soap might not be the right choice for every wet shaver, but it’s definitely a favorite among many.
Leaves Skin Really Well Hydrated
I can’t speak to other Mitchell’s Wool Fat products, but their shave soap leaves the skin really well hydrated.
It is a very different formula from most other shave soaps, which are typically glycerine-based. And the lanolin lives up to the hype in my opinion. In fact, I am a little surprised more shave soap companies don’t use lanolin and try replicate Mitchell’s Wool Fat shave soap.
Who Do We Recommend
Mitchell's Wool Fat Shave Soap For?
Mitchell’s Wool Fat shave soap is one of my favorites, and it is an awesome option for pretty much any wet shaver. It’s an incredibly slick lubricant, it lathers up thick and easy and it does a great job at hydrating during a shave. I think it’s a particularly great option for me with sensitive skin as it shouldn’t have any ingredients in it that will irritate the skin.
What Are Some Other Soaps & Creams To Consider?
RazoRock XXX Artisan Shaving Soap
RazoRock XXX shave soap might not be made with lanolin, but it performs very similarly to Mitchell’s Wool Fat shaving soap. It lathers up incredibly easy and is premium slickness when applied. If you’re looking for a softer soap, this is one of the best.
Colonel Conk Bay Rum Shaving Soap
Colonel Conk is another very slick shaving soap. I don’t think it is as hydrating as Mitchell’s Wool Fat (not many soaps are), but it doesn’t have any harsh ingredients that will dry out your skin.
I think one of the main reasons this soap is so popular though is the bay rum scent. It’s incredibly really masculine and unique. It is one of my favorite scents for shaving in the spring and summer.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream
Not sure you want to use a shave soap? Well if you want to stick with a shaving cream, at least upgrade to a high quality one.
Taylor of Old Bond Street is one of the most popular shaving creams among wet shavers. It’s also one of my favorites.
It does everything you need it to do. It is incredibly easy to face lather. It softens and preps the beard when applied. And it’s a really slick lubricant. Plus, they make it in over 20 different scents.
TOOBS is a great option for men that are new to wet shaving and making the switch from aerosol shaving creams/gels.
