I recently interviewed Chris from Catie’s Bubbles. During the interview he mentioned his “Waterlyptus” shaving soap and I was intrigued. So I went and got a puck to try. It turned out to be one of the very few shaving products I’ve used that strongly evoke a very specific scene.
Waterlyptus
Catie’s Bubbles calls Waterlyptus simply “A refreshing blend of watermelon, eucalyptus, and peppermint.” According to Chris, Waterlyptus started as a collaboration for a special order. It was so successful that he decided to put it in his regular product line-up.
Ingredients: stearic acid, water, coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, shea butter, fragrance, sodium hydroxide, jojoba oil, sodium lactate, and glycerin.
Looking at the ingredients I can understand if some of you have a “Meh. Another glycerine shaving soap” reaction. But that’s not the whole story here. Performance-wise, Waterlyptus lathers and performs very well, even in my “hard” water, with plenty of cushion and lubrication. It may not be confused with a triple-milled, tallow-based shaving soap like, say, DR Harris but I find it entirely acceptable (and at about half the price).
Evoking A Scene
What really sets Waterlyptus apart for me is that it strongly evokes a time and place. Every time I use it I feel like I’m at a picnic on a breezy summer day. The watermelon scent is a persistent, moderately strong scent and the eucalyptus and peppermint components provide a mild cooling effect, very much like a gentle breeze on my face. The only other products I’ve used that can generate such a strong reaction in me are Wm. Neumann’s Old Fashioned Soda and Spenser & Devon’s “Sagebrush” (both of which are sadly no longer available).
This is a big part of traditional shaving’s appeal for me–the ability to take me to a specific time and place. Waterlyptus takes me to a summer picnic.
Have you tried Waterlyptus? Do you agree with my assessment? Leave a comment below!
