On the 18th of September, we will introduce a new original scent collection named “HABITUS” in an all-new vegetable soap base called “HALO”.
The new vegan revolution
We remain committed to research new ingredients and methodologies and fundamentally to try and improve upon previous iterations of our formulas.
The very first soaps we ever formulated were vegan, only adding Tallow, Lanolin or Goat Milk in later iterations that eventually became our first commercial soaps.
We never attempted to remove or replace these ingredients again until we were challenged with a project to develop a vegan soap for another company. And from that project sprouted the seeds that led us to work on a vegan formula again to be released for Westman.
Our approach was to simplify as much as possible without sacrificing quality. On this formula we are using fewer ingredients and all of them from natural sources.
- Saponification is done using only potassium hydroxide, no more sodium hydroxide.
- No clay or dimethicone for extra slip. It is all from glycerine and high quality oils and the glide is still amazing, if not better.
- No more gums for stability. Instead we are using the sodium salt of stearic acid – sodium stearate - for this purpose.
And this is the result…
Saponified fats:
- Kokum Butter
- Mango Butter
- Stearic Acid
- Cocoa Butter
- Castor Oil
- Avocado Oil
Unsaponified fats:
- Cupuaçu Butter
- Shea Butter
- Jojoba Oil
- Broccoli Seed Oil
Additives:
- Vitamin E
- Glycerine
- Sodium Lactate
Some people still prefer tallow, but there are also some people who either prefer or exclusively use vegan formulas. It is fair and honest to tell you that we want to cater to both.
Personal view:
I like both and I feel like many of our customers who do not fall into one of the categories above, feel the same as I do. A soap can be great or not so good regardless if it is vegan or not.
I want to continue to look for the next best thing and I am convinced this is my best base to date all things considered: density of the lather, slickness, protection, post-shave feel and its capacity to hold water.
Professional opinion:
From the macro perspective, indeed your potassium hydroxide does not care if your stearic acid is coming from the lipid tissue of an animal or the seeds of an exotic plant.
From the micro perspective: unsaponifiables, micronutrients and vitamins are very different and that is a fun part of the challenge of having a restriction to formulate a product without animal products.
And then there are some other limitations, most importantly replacing lanolin. I know some of you have heard that “Cupuaçu butter holds 200 times more water than Lanolin”, but honestly holding water is hardly the only reason that Lanolin is used for. If you ever have the chance, rub a bit of each raw material between your fingers and see the difference.
What about the Nirvana base?
We recognise that the Nirvana base was released just 1 year ago and it is really unfair for our customers to replace the formula every year. We don’t want our customers to feel as though their products just become “obsolete” overnight.
So… nothing happens to the Nirvana base and the scents currently in production using that base. Instead, we will introduce new fragrances for the vegetable HALO soap base.
Launching a second formula with its own scent collections will allow us to continue development and a new medium to present you with yet more exciting fragrances created in-house.
Habitus is the first and more will follow.
HABITUS
Bergamot, Lemon, Aldehydes, Rose, Jasmine, Peach, Cedar, Leather, Musk, Oak Moss, Sandalwood.
The world evolves, but the essence of greatness remains the same.
Habitus features a classic composition with a structure of citrus top notes, a floral heart and a woody base.
It opens with a radiant citrus burst of Bergamot and Lemon (from essential oils) with a delicate touch of Aldehydes.
The heart reveals a harmonious bouquet of Rose and Jasmine, complemented by a lactonic undertone of Peach in a refined floral symphony.
The fragrance is anchored in a rich accord of macrocyclic and polycyclic Musks on a base of Cedar, Leather, Oakmoss and Sandalwood.
It is inspired by the chypre family of fragrances and cherished musk colognes in a nostalgic tribute to vintage bangers that take me back to my childhood and remind me of some of the best examples of men I had growing up.
Habitus does not go in the “unusual” direction as I tend to do with most collections. Instead, it maintains a balance between the classic and the modern. True to my craft, I still introduced some contrasting undertones and took advantage of more modern and powerful fragrance materials.
Remember that some things are not meant to be changed. Otherwise, the good can be called evil and the evil can be called good.
When will Habitus and the new base become available?
18 September 2024
What about prices?
Same price for the Halo and Nirvana soaps.
Any changes to the aftershaves we know and love?
No.
What are you preparing for the future?
Exciting new fragrances, plus the return of Gerês, Rastilho and Mazagran.