Review (5/5): This is the standard by which all other shave soaps are measured
MWF was one of the first soaps I discovered early on when I returned to DE shaving, and after I figured out how to get it lathered - it’s been a great baseline to use as a comparison point to other vendor’s products. It is listed as unscented, and with the exception of a lanolin scent - it is.
Lather:
MWF is known to be difficult to lather. The trick seems to be dialing in the water amount (usually more than other shave soaps) that it needs to properly lather. However, once you’ve figured out how to dial it in for your specific water - it is easy to repeat your success in subsequent shaves. Hint – a good brush makes a WORLD of difference here… Do I want to take this camping, or use it in the field – No. Too much work to lather and uses too much water (a heavy resource to pack in). At home where I have a sink and running water - it’s fine.
Slickness:
When properly lathered, MWF is one of the slickest soaps I’ve ever used. For several years I have used it as the baseline when evaluating other shave soaps slickness. I don’t know if it’s the lanolin, or the extra amount of water required to get it lathered that makes it so slick, but by goodness it works. The best part is that when properly lathered, the slickness lasts and does not dry out too quickly. I can lather my entire face at the beginning of my shave, and not be rushed to complete it before the lather dissipates.