Shaving soap is a hard soap that is used to produce lather with a shaving brush. The lather it produces is used to coat the face during shaving, softening the hair in preparation for shaving. While shaving soap produces plenty of dense and long-lasting lather, its use in modern times is less widespread and has been overtaken by various types of shaving cream. History Hard shaving soaps in their modern form have existed since at least the early 19th century. Williams (a common American shaving soap intended for use in a mug rather than a scuttle) has been produced since 1840, and a US patent for a shaving scuttle for use with a hard soap was granted in 1867. Shaving sticks (shaving soap formed into a cylinder) have existed at least since the mid-19th century. The 21st Century has seen a pop culture renaissance of Wet Shaving and thus, shaving soaps have become increasingly popular, with multiple brands being established to exclusively sell the product. Appearance Traditional shaving soap is often sold as a round puck, either with a rounded bottom intended for use with a shaving scuttle or a flat bottom for use in a mug. High-end soaps may be sold with their own dishes, typically made of either wood or ceramic, and be formed to fit the dish with which the puck is sold. Shaving soap may also be formed in a stick, sold either in a plastic tube or wrapped in foil or paper. Shaving soap is more rarely sold as rectangular bars (as is common with body soap). Use A hard shaving soap is used with a shaving brush to create lather for shaving. For soap in the form of a puck or bar, the brush is first soaked in water and then swirled vigorously over the surface of the soap, causing moist soap to coat the brush's bristles. The brush is then transferred either to a separate bowl or to the shaver's face to be lathered. Shaving sticks are typically used by rubbing the exposed end of the stick across the shaver's face, coating the face with soap. The soap is then lathered with a moistened brush. Owing to their compact form and ease of use, shaving sticks are popular for use while traveling. Ingredients Shaving soap is produced like a traditional soap with an ingredient selection oriented to producing a stable, slick lather. Its