This blog was posted on my site, Campo Madrone, some months ago.  I just moved it to this site because this is where it really belongs.

It's probably true that most of the handmade soaps my wife sells go to women, but that's not always the case.  In fact, lots of men appreciate the wonders of using products free of all the detergents found in commercial soaps.  All you have to do is give it a shot and you'll be convinced.  Not long ago I went off on a trip without my own soap.  I'm spoiled, you see, because I get to pick from all the soaps around here, and I definitely have my favorites.  Anyway, I went on the road and had to use motel soap, and that's when I realized just how spoiled I really am.  I felt like a lizard without my soap, so I won't be making that mistake again.

And here's something else about handmade soaps that might interest you guys . . . it's not as expensive as it seems at first.  Yeah, five bucks a bar for soap sounds expensive until you take into consideration how long it lasts.  I've noticed that handmade soaps last longer because they don't disappear down the drain in a zillion bubbles.  You have to get used to the natural soap lather to appreciate this, but bubbles aren't just bubbles.  Handmade soaps aren't as quick to lather as commercial detergents, but it seems to me that the lather from them is thicker, fuller.  And you can definitely tell the difference in how you skin feels when you get out of the shower or tub.

Women aren't the only creatures on earth with sensitive skin.  I know a lot of men who have to use a lot of lotion because their skin gets chapped and raw from being outside so much of the time.  I'm one of those guys who's put over sixty years behind me into being out in the weather a lot, and it sure shows on me now.  I need a better soap now more than I ever did, and I'm lucky to have it around.

I use the lotions some too, but I'm not a cream user.  No particular reason, other than it just makes me feel weird doing it . . . and if you're a man, I think maybe you understand that.  But, I'm a devout fancy soap user . . . nothing but handmade goat's milk soap for this old boy.  And I don't listen to any teasing about it from my good old boy friends either.  I might be a fancy handmade goats milk soap user, but I just might whack a feller in the snoot, too.

D. Paz,  12/08/07