Review: MacDuffs Soap Company Kananaskis Explorer Shave Soap
(2022) The weather outside was hardly inviting, but the atmosphere inside was entirely perfect for a wet shave. Outside was a sloppy mess of rain with occasional snow flakes and tink-tinks of ice. Inside the low lighting, dark corners, flannel sheets, napping shop dogs, and a warm post-shower created the perfect scene for a shave of the day. MacDuffs Soap Company, based in Alberta, Canada and featured on Stonefield Shaving Company, sells the Kananaskis Explorer. This tallow-based shave soap was new to us. Once the straight edge was stropped and the scuttle heated, we got to work.
The first feature of shave soap is always aroma. Leaving soap tubs out leads to regular unscrewing of the cap to take in the effort of the soap companies to capture experiences. MacDuffs Soap Company tries to capture the scent of Kananaskis Country, a park in the Alberta Rockies. Immediately the scents of evergreens rush out. One of our favorite aromas in the deep woods, evergreen forests notes were adding to the shave experience during the late autumnal all day soaker.
MacDuff Soap Company Kananaskis Explorer shave soap and aftershave splash from Stonefield Shaving Company, both out of Canada.
A tallow soap tends to be hard until softened with hot water from above and below. Kananaskis Explorer has the consistency more like chocolate mousse, catching us slightly off guard. With vigorous brushwork, the mousse morphed into pudding consistency before becoming a viscous cream with intoxicating deep woods aromas. The outside world began melting away, replaced with visions of Canadian Rockies capped with snow peaks and green lower slopes. For all we know, we were in a cabin with a clicking iron stove heating everything. More and more water was added as the pillowy cream stepped to the forefront. To keep the experience Canadian, we made sure to use The Copper Hat Journey shave brush made in British Columbia. The creaminess is certainly due to the four butters used: raw organic shea, kokum, cocoa, and mango. Silk and goat’s milk ingredients bonded the pillowy cloud together.
It was time to apply the soap and flash the steel. With a loaded brush, Kananaskis Explorer was worked into the beard. Working the soap around, it was clear just how clingy it was. Face prepped, the shave portion could begin. Somewhere in the Canadian wilderness a wolf howled in approval as the straight razor blade was guided down the jaw line. The swept area was slick with the utmost feeling of hydration, important for skin in cold , dry weather. Each pass released the coniferous aromas while the smoothness was marveled at. After the first pass, the brush was squeezed and the cream applied for a second prepping. Here is where the viscosity was blatantly apparent. The cream remained on the opening pass swipe lines, but more importantly, maintained its springy feel. The second pass was made easy by the elasticity of the soap combined with the first pass’s slick base. With the rain showing no signs of letting up, perhaps we could continue to shave all day, the soap was that enjoyable.
Per MacDuff Soap Company, the switch to powdered green tea is the reason for the brown coloration.
There are people who like to mix and match soaps with aftershaves. We are not one of those people. No sooner was the face splashed, slapped, fanned, and inspected, than we cracked open the MacDuffs Soap Company Kananaskis Explorer aftershave splash. This alcohol-free aftercare is loaded with agents to repair dry and damaged skin. Completing the routine with MacDuffs Soap Company aftershave splash left the skin feeling revitalized, the white willow bark astringent taking care of the tiny nicks and clips.
We have been excited to try MacDuffs Soap Company products and the Kananaskis Explorer shave soap and aftershave splash carried us away from the land of sloppy weather to an imagined Canadian backcountry where wind through the pine trees and early indications of winter are seasonal experiences. If only that iron stove wasn’t in our imagination, though.
