Review (5/5): Perfect for a good warm lather and no clanking the brush on the rim!
I've been using (or rather, trying to) Col Conk's shave soap pucks and their shaving soap mug. I was not getting the performance I'd heard of that makes shaving with a DE razor and warm shave soap so enjoyable. I decided to change both the mug and my soap. I've had this bowl for a few weeks now-it holds heat well and with my super badger brush and Proraso shaving cream (in a squeeze tube, not the pre-filled bowl of Proraso) I get a very fast, think 20 seconds or so, thick and warm lather built up. I've found I get best results when I add the hottest water I can get from the tap to the bowl add the brush to soak and then hop in the shower to let the brush and bowl warm up. I then dump the water out and refill it with hot water, let it sit for a minute or so then pour it out. (The initial fill of the hot water loses a bunch of heat just warming the porcelain, the second fill of hot water is the heat you'll use to make a nice warm lather. The bowl retains the heat while you apply the shave soap.). Don't forget to refill with hot tap water and let the heat build back up before you pour all but about a tablespoon of water out then add an almond sized dollop of the shave cream from the tube. The raised swirl on the bottom I'm of the bowl seems to work well and help build the lather.
One more thing-the bowl is wide enough that I no longer need to worry about clanking the brush against the rim and waking my wife up.mthat was a problem with my Col Conk mug-too narrow at the top. This bowl works very well for me, I'm quite pleased with the purchase!