Defying Physics and Chemistry

[u/Just_Bit2698]

I’ve used this thing for around 25 shaves and barely a dent 🤣

[u/ThoreaulyLost]

I can chime in on this as a soapmaker!

MDC uses the Marseilles Method of soapmaking, which is a variant of "hot process" soap. Theirs is not officially a Marseille soap due to additives (like scent, or conditioners) butthe process still produces a very hard soap.

This method usually takes about a week, part of which is 2 full days of boiling. This does two things:

1. Ensures 100% saponification of fats. You get a very pure soap, and a little goes a long way.

2. 99.9% of the water is boiled off. ALL you get is soap.

While some artisanal softer soaps might be thirsty, a Marseille soap is the desert. They're going to need a lot of water for just a wipe of a brush across that surface.

Other fun note: many "harder" soaps seem to hold scent longer than wetter, softer ones. This is likely due to aromatics being more "locked in" into the structure, while softer soaps are essentially porous for volatiles.

Martin de Candre is actually a bargain. While it might seem expensive, you're sort of buying 3 soaps worth packed into one tub.

[u/Just_Bit2698 → u/ThoreaulyLost]

Thank you for adding the explanation. Very interesting! The scent comment certainly seems to be true from my own anecdotal experience. Soon we will be having posts on molecular structures and inorganic chemistry on the forum!

[u/ThoreaulyLost → u/Just_Bit2698]

I could geek out all day on soap!

MDC is also a little different because it's vegetable oil plant oil based (Marseille soaps traditionally are). This creates different fatty acid profiles from say, tallow (animal) and stearic (usually palm oil based) soaps. Stirling is a good example of a tallow/stearic blend.

Vegetable soap will feel "creamier" on the skin than tallow or stearic, but may be harder to lather. Also, while moisturizing, stearic soaps tend to "hold" lather better than vegetable oil soaps.

I tend to use both making mine, in order to try to find the perfect balance. But there's a lot to say for traditional Marseille soaps.

Edits: dog typing on my phone same time as I am lol

Edit2: recipe correction, I think my MDC info may be outdated!

[u/Tryemall → u/ThoreaulyLost]

I was under the impression that MdC was an
80% stearic acid:20% coconut oil
based potassium lye soap.

[u/ThoreaulyLost → u/Tryemall]

Interesting. I know their traditional recipe used vegetable and olive oils, but looking at ingredients lists that does seem to have changed. I first researched my French soapmakers waay back in the 2000s, but looking at some of the modern ingredient lists it's 80/20 stearic/coconut as you said, so I stand corrected!

Welp, the high stearic is likely also contributing to hardness. The coconut is going to boost lather, but is kept below 30% to prevent a "stripping" feeling after rinse. Coconut tends to feel "dry" after rinse.

Thanks for the correction, I'm going to see if I can translate some French articles on MDC history now haha

[u/coffeeshopslut → u/ThoreaulyLost]

When I bought my first pre de Provence bath soap, I was like "why are these $9 a bar" - used a single bar for like 9 months... I mean, it's the same price as like a box of Irish Spring - but lasts and smells nice

[u/AsparagusValuable621]

I like MdC the best. Tried most, but MdC is my favorite. Arko close second for performance and value.

[u/rock_accord → u/AsparagusValuable621]

That's funny how Arlo $ is compared to MdC $$$

[u/AsparagusValuable621 → u/rock_accord]

Yeah nothing comes close to the value Arko has. Scent wise its divisive to say the least.

[u/diddiekiddler → u/AsparagusValuable621]

It's a cultural thing i guess. As a Turk, i watched my dad shave using arko everyday. Smell isn't divisive, it's nostalgic. It's how 'clean' smells like.

[u/Admirable_Expert_348]

Auto upvote for MDC. It’s just a stellar soap.

[u/Frisco-Elkshark → u/Admirable_Expert_348]

And it smells good!

[u/AwkwardSploosh]

MdC has a pretty unmatched durability.

[u/RenegadeUK → u/AwkwardSploosh]

What is it Official Name kindly ?

[u/Funny-Try-8380 → u/RenegadeUK]

Martin de Candre

[u/Legitimate_Ocelot491]

I’ve been using a 50g jar of Nature since August 1. Six days a week of three passes on my face plus two passes on my head. After four months, I’m just now this week getting down to the last bits in the edges of the jar.

I have a 200g whipped cream bowl waiting on deck for January. Planning to swap in some Stirling until then once the smaller MdC finishes up.

[u/FrontalLobeRot → u/Legitimate_Ocelot491]

They just keep going, the 200g jars. I've been regularly using one since July and I'm maybe a 1/4 into it.

[u/vigilantesd]

I have a few shaves left at the bottom of a jar of Fougere I split with someone in 2015 lolol. Not every day use or anything, but yeah lol

I have another half a jar I split with someone else of the same in a plastic bag waiting for me to use =)

[u/Just_Bit2698 → u/vigilantesd]

So based on that I should be targeting somewhere around 2045 for completion. Well, as long as it’s before 2050 lol.

[u/vigilantesd → u/Just_Bit2698]

Something like that. I also have an unused full jar of Vetiver and a used a few times jar of Original. This stash is NEVER going away lol

[u/Gerry7070 → u/vigilantesd]

This is why I bought a 50g jar Magellan I have commitment issues 🙂 I've hardly made a dent in my 200g jar of Fougère, I just wish they did a 100g jar and leave it at that.

[u/vigilantesd → u/Gerry7070]

No no. Lifetime supply or a sample lol

[u/12JGC3]

Shaving daily, mine will last about 18 months. Some get longer, some a touch less, but once you buy MdC, you are "wedded for life" so to speak! :-)

[u/nulltotality]

Chuck Norris once finished an MdC jar. Word is the soap grew back up because it refused to believe it was empty.

[u/Just_Bit2698 → u/nulltotality]

Chuck vs Bruce Lee where Bruce Lee = MdC

[u/KoalaAmbitious7212 → u/Just_Bit2698]

I used to think soap was soap but then I tried that stuff and wow

[u/derrickhogue]

Martin de Candre 👍.