Smelling Correct

[Fox Creek Kid]

Probably few of us think about something so basic that we use every day: soap. As I'm sure you know they had soap in the 19th century as well. However, from what I have read pre-packaged, store bought individual soaps for the masses did not come into being until either the 1870s - 1880's. Many made their own lye soap but interestingly one form of soap was heavily used then and has disappeared today in most parts of what we term the 1st World. That being carbolic soap. I have found references to it being mentioned as early as 1874. Joseph Lister first used carbolic acid spray in 1865. Thereafter carbolic soap appears to have taken off and was usually available in large "logs" at dry goods store whereas customers bought a weighed amount to be cut off and was used to clean everything, including people.

Carbolic soap is still being used in India, Asia & somewhat still in the U.K. It's what I use to bathe with as personally I enjoy the smell. And a distinctive smell it is!!    The most famous of all carbolic soaps is Lifebuoy which was first made in England in 1895 and is still available, albeit mail order.

If anyone is interested in where they can buy carbolic soap I will be glad to post some links. Remember, you can prevent B.O. 

[St. George]

'Packer's Pine Tar Soap' has an equally long history - beginning in 1869.

This particular soap contains natural pine tar and is a natural insect repellant, so regular use may help prevent mosquito, chigger, tick and other insect bites.

May not...

At any rate, you can still locate it as well - it's wrapped with a silver foil cover, but used to come in a small silver tin.

After a shave at the local tonsorial parlor before the Church Social, you'll need a splash of Bay Rum, and maybe a touch of Macassar Oil for unruly hair.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Kentuckian]

You can also douse yourself with Murray & Lanman's Florida Water. Been around since the early 1800s and still in business. It can be found at Mexican food stores or online. You can also find period embossed glass bottles on ebay to put it in.

http://www.lanman-and-kemp.com/florida.htm

[Lone Gunman]

"Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. My personal preference was for Lux, but I found Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand... "

I have an old Packers tin that I carry my pinetar soap in when we're fortunate enough to be camped at a fancy place with showers. It's an all purpose soap, shampoo etc. Also, I haven't looked in the past few years but Walgreens used to carry Bay Rum, the Murray & Lanman's Florida Water, and Pinaud Lilac Vegetal, although they're all sold in plastic bottles.

[Fox Creek Kid]

For those that remember the distinctive smell  of carbolic soap here's a place I buy it from. Prepare your nose beforehand but clean you shall be!! 

http://stores.xnicstore.com/-strse-933/DR.-ROBERT-CARBOLIC-SOAP/Detail.bok

[Delmonico]

Sometimes smelling clean is not correct.

But good information here.

But you really have to strip down and get in a horse tank with a bar of  homemade lye soap sometime to get the real idea of the period.

Long story, it was over a 100 that day and it was hot with out the cook fire and we didn't know they locked the showers at 11 pm.

(BTW no horses were harmed in this case, the tank was there in case the cooks had an accident with their fire.)

Good lye sop is really great stuff, bad stuff not made right is what gives it a bad reputation.  I end up with some given to me now and then when someone is making it and selling it.  Always test it before I use it, just touch the bar with the tip of your tongue, if it is nasty you'll know real quick.  The good stuff is like testing a bar of Ivory that same way.  In fact Ivory is just lye soap with air whipped into so it floats, some homemade lye soap also floats.

[River City John]

"Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. My personal preference was for Lux, but I found Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand... "

I have an old Packers tin that I carry my pinetar soap in when we're fortunate enough to be camped at a fancy place with showers. It's an all purpose soap, shampoo etc. Also, I haven't looked in the past few years but Walgreens used to carry Bay Rum, the Murray & Lanman's Florida Water, and Pinaud Lilac Vegetal, although they're all sold in plastic bottles.

Remember, George, several years ago making Bay Rum out of your recipe. Didn't last long as we were running somewhat short of libations at Wight's Station and pressed it into service.

RCJ

[Texas Lawdog]

RCJ, You can use some light bread to strain Mennen's Skin Bracer to drink.  Winos call it, "Green Lizard".

[Professor Marvel]

When in the regions of the Southwestern states in which the yucca plant proliferates, one can pound the root or leaves in a basin of water to produce a cleaning lather that performs quite as well as soap. I cannot attest to the aroma ... :-)

If one is so inclined, one can save the fibers from the leaves for weaving, basketry, sewing, or as our Hopi,  Zuni and Acoma friends do, use the yucca thread as a fine paintbrush for their pottery:

http://www.voanews.com/english/images/drawing-on-pottery_tv_27aug.jpg
http://www.nativepeoples.com/site/np_jan_feb04/jf04-potters/image11.jpg
http://www.nizhoni-moses.com/indian_pottery/acoma_mini_plates.html

yhs
Prof Marvel
 

[GunClick Rick]

Well i'll be dangjiggered.now i know what this tin is for,i knew it was soap but didn't know you could still get that kind.Yep!I collect anything...





When we were little my brothers and i would lather out tiny hineys with lifebouy soap.Grampa had a shower with deep sidewall and floor of tile he built.It sure seemed big when were were tots,but we would lather up put our feet on the wall and push!Slide all over the shower while dad would try to wash us.If ya plugged the drain we could dang near swim in it,it sure shrunk after we grew up though

[GunClick Rick]

Also check out barber supplies on the net.That there Pinuad is the best and the gals love it

[Ranch 13]

  Got to agree with Del here. Unless you're taking on the persona of a dance hall girl, or shopkeeper, or other type of town folk. Soap of any kind ain't gonna enter much into the scheme of things, and most folks aren't going to enjoy the "smelll"

[Delmonico]

Got to agree with Del here. Unless you're taking on the persona of a dance hall girl, or shopkeeper, or other type of town folk. Soap of any kind ain't gonna enter much into the scheme of things, and most folks aren't going to enjoy the "smelll"

Shhh, don't tell any one who is too deep into 100% PC, but in my cook camp there is always a bottle of that hand sanitizer hidden in the cupboard, I use if often esp after trips to the privy.   Just seems like a good idea.

[Ranch 13]

  Yup, altho, if you've ever been out there in the middle of the boontooly's at a branding or trail drive, and its been a couple three days since anybody much has seen civilization, and they holler its dinner time, :-\If you're not one of the first few to get to that pan of luke warm water you sort of wonder what's the point.

[Delmonico]

Pard I've not worked a branding,,,,,,,,,yet!  Got a friend I do Living History with about has his chuckwagon done, the good tem is next.  "About my age, a bit over 50 and to beat-up to cowboy any more.  He done told me this weekend he wants to get the hoodlum wagon done and when he's ready we're both taking a vaction to Western Kansas where he's originall from and we're goning to work a branding for one of his friends, he said he'd be glad to be my hoodlum on the trip, because his back and sholder won't let him do what he wants to do, just wants to get back out on one.

But I'll still take my hand sanitizer for me after the privy bushes trip.

[Ranch 13]

Baby wipes are one of the greastest inventions to come out of the later end of the 1900's Serve many purposes

Not many outfits around any more that go out for a stretch, pickups and trailers have made things easier on us olguys.

[pony express]

Pard I've not worked a branding,,,,,,,,,yet! 

I've never done branding the old fashion way, with having to rope them and using a fire to heat the brand, but I've done a few the modern way(Catch them in a headgate, and an electric iron).

I can tell you that you'll want all kinds of soap and shampoo after, though....That smell of burnt hair stays with you for a while. I always had to wash my hair at least 2-3 times to get rid of branding smell.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Brent....

My wife Pat, still makes her own soap...Lye based mostly, but she can make any kind of soap you want, carbolic soap included. Some of the guys over on the NCOWS forum can attest to the quality of Pat's soaps.

Bill

[Ol Gabe]

Growing up on the farm in Iowa during the 1950's & 1960's we still used an outhouse for the obvious and a big boiler in the Summer Kitchen for our Saturday night bath. In the outhouse was a shelf that held a small bucket of water, a small chunk of almost used up Kirk's Castile Soap in a rusty cup nailed to the wall and an old towel or flannel shirt on a nail next to it for cleaning up. Got interesting in the Winter months as the water would freeze so we would grab a handful of snow, rub some soap in it then wipe on the semi-frozen flannel. The bucket of corn husks and an old Sear's catalog were on the seat next to you and you don't want go there!
Saturday night baths were 'sit-in' in the boiler when little and 'stand-in' when you got bigger with another piece of flannel and some Kirk's Castile Soap to wash with, you were lucky if the water was still warm when it was your turn. We also used Kirk's on the 4-H & FFA calves we showed every Summer at the County Fair. Kirk's Castile had a pleasant smell and a great lather that left your skin and hair smooth and shiny, the calves looked and smelled great too!
Ah, memories. Small town groceries and hardware stores sold Kirk's, usually next to the brooms, bridles, curry combs, hair brushes and hoof cleaners. It was originally created in 1838 and named after Castile, Spain and had a Coco base.
Google Kirk's Castile and you'll get a lot of info.
Best regards and never forget the good times!
'Ol Gabe

[Fox Creek Kid]

I use Kirk's Castile Soap sometimes in the Winter as it won't dry you out. Pleasant smell & lots of suds.