Best base I've tried.
"I haven't yet used the base that I purchased from The Flaming Candle, but I can confidently review the SFIC shaving base in general. I tried a few different bases when I first got into traditional mug and brush wet shaving. Some melted and poured well, but didn't perform. Others probably would have performed well, but the melt and pour portion of the process went sideways. I ordered 2lbs of SFIC from a different supplier and it melted and poured beautifully, it holds fragrance well and performs like a champ. It's simply the best I've tried and I plan to continue using it. I don't actually pour it. I have a ceramic apothecary mug that I use to load my brush. I just cut a 1lb block into quarters (approx. 100 grams), cut one of the quarters into roughly 1 inch cubes, toss them in my mug and heat them in the microwave. A couple of 15 second intervals, stirring in between, monitoring the temperature and it melts like a dream. I haven't had a batch overheat yet. I let it drop to 140°, add my fragrance and I have months worth of high quality custom scented shave soap for a fraction of what I would pay for soap of comparable quality. It really lasts for a glycerin soap, as well. 100 grams +/- lasts for months. I suspect a 1lb block could stretch a year or more. I see people dropping crazy money on soap that's so expensive that they have to weigh it out for fear of using too much. This stuff is super slick and lathers thick and creamy. It doesn't dry out your skin. Tallow might be more hydrating than glycerin, but I get my hydration post shave, not from my soap. Spend $40 a month on some overpriced soap with limited scent options or get this stuff that performs just as good or better. Customize your scent and spend like $10 a year including shipping. You won't regret it..unless you hate money, or value the feeling you get from owning overpriced big brand soaps. #SFICFaithful"