Sorcery Showdown: Comparing Different Witchcraft Traditions

Which Witch is Which Witches have long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. From fairy tales and folklore to popular culture and literature, these supernatural beings have captivated audiences around the world. However, not all witches are created equal. In fact, there are several different types of witches, each with their own unique characteristics and abilities. In this article, we will explore some of the most commonly recognized types of witches and delve into the distinguishing features that set them apart. Firstly, there is the stereotypical image of the traditional witch.

SHAVING POWDER.
Shaving powder differs from the soaps just described in being pulverized, usually adding up to 5 per cent. starch to prevent caking. Any of the above soaps, dried bone dry, with or without the addition of tallow base make a satisfactory powder for shaving. --Soap Making Manual, E G Thomssen, 1922.

Soaps for shaving made in this manner are very unsatisfactory, as they do not produce a sufficiently thick or lasting lather and discolor very materially upon ageing. You might be able to do so with your shave formula, but if I tried to do something like that my shave croap formula, I m thinking it would take an eternity for it to be dry enough for me to even be able to shred it up so that it can further dry enough to take to being pulverized in my processor.

Firstly, there is the stereotypical image of the traditional witch. This witch is often depicted as an old woman, hunchbacked and wearing a pointy hat. She is usually affiliated with the practice of black magic and is thought to cast spells and curses on unsuspecting victims.

Making Shaving Powder Soap

I'm looking to make shaving powder soap, like they made in the early 1900's. It was powdered shaving soap that was sprinkled on the wet brush and brushed on the clients face and it would later up. Nobody makes this, I tried grinding up a shaving soap puck, it wasn't dry enough and would not become powder. I found some shaving powder made in Japan, but with shipping it was 40.00 for a small container. I'm looking for a high quality shaving soap that's good for the skin, has great lather, and can be ground up to fine powder. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Again I'm looking to make shaving powder soap that was made in the early 1900's for single use shaving soap, not the shaving powder sold today like magic shave that dissolves hair.

IrishLass

Unfortunately, I'm not hopeful that the kind of shave soap powder of old that you are looking for can be made at home in one's kitchen. at least not according to the directions in this excerpt from the book entitled, "The Soapmaker's Handbook of Materials, Processes and Reciepts For Every Description" (printed in 1912): https://books.google.com/books?id=UQuAAAAAMAAJ&dq=shaving%20soap%20powder&pg=PA430#v=onepage&q&f=false It all actually looks quite doable until the part about drying and grinding the soap in a mill into a fine powder (a mill is a commercial piece of soap manufacturing equipment that consists of pressurized steel rollers and extruders, etc..).

From what I was able to glean on the net, William's and also Colgate used to make such shave powders back in the day. But like you said, though- the "Magic Shave' stuff is something totally different. I'd stay away from that. It's pretty much Nair in powdered form from what I read.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

shunt2011

Moderator Emeritus

Unfortunately, I'm not hopeful that the kind of shave soap powder of old that you are looking for can be made at home in one's kitchen. at least not according to the directions in this excerpt from the book entitled, "The Soapmaker's Handbook of Materials, Processes and Reciepts For Every Description" (printed in 1912): https://books.google.com/books?id=UQuAAAAAMAAJ&dq=shaving soap powder&pg=PA430#v=onepage&q&f=false It all actually looks quite doable until the part about drying and grinding the soap in a mill into a fine powder (a mill is a commercial piece of soap manufacturing equipment that consists of pressurized steel rollers and extruders, etc..).

From what I was able to glean on the net, William's and also Colgate used to make such shave powders back in the day. But like you said, though- the "Magic Shave' stuff is something totally different. I'd stay away from that. It's pretty much Nair in powdered form from what I read.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

Just wondering, it says it is mixed with starch. Would it be possible to shred the shave soap we make, shred it and let it dry for a bit then mix with some cornstarch or arrowroot and run it through the food processer?

Like we do with laundry soap/washing soda etc.?

I'm thinking the starch would really cut the lather.

Sideshow

New Member

I seen a post where someone ground up Williams shaving soap cakes in a food processor mixed with a powder.

IrishLass

Just wondering, it says it is mixed with starch. Would it be possible to shred the shave soap we make, shred it and let it dry for a bit then mix with some cornstarch or arrowroot and run it through the food processer?

Like we do with laundry soap/washing soda etc.?

I'm thinking the starch would really cut the lather.

You might be able to do so with your shave formula, but if I tried to do something like that my shave croap formula, I'm thinking it would take an eternity for it to be dry enough for me to even be able to shred it up so that it can further dry enough to take to being pulverized in my processor. LOL

I seen a post where someone ground up Williams shaving soap cakes in a food processor mixed with a powder.

Cool beans! A Williams puck sure is pretty hard and dry, dry, dry, though. It'll take a fair bit of reformulating if I were to try something like that with my own. I wonder if any of the soap-makers mentioned on the Badger and Blade link ever attempted it. Would you happen to know?

shunt2011

Moderator Emeritus

The Efficacious Gentleman

Enough people dislike the Williams puck to make it a nonstarter! But I wonder if a decent triple milled soap could be used as the base?

Obsidian

I'd think you would need to make your shave soap with NaOH so it would be a nice hard bar like Williams is. I actually like Williams but its so hard to lather, its a really pain in the backside.

DeeAnna

Well-Known Member

Powdered Soaps.
In this form very convenient kinds of cosmetics are made and used for a variety of purposes, as a dentifrice, for shaving, etc. They are made from any pure soap, which is cut into shavings and thoroughly dried, when they are ground and sieved into the finest possible powder, perfumed and colored in any way desired. They should be put up in well-stopped bottles, or they will absorb moisture and form into lumps again. --TECHNICAL TREATISE ON SOAP AND CANDLES, Richard S Cristiani, 1888.

Shaving soap powders are made as follows: First prepare a good shaving soap in the warm way from, for instance, 500 lbs. of tallow and 100 lbs. of cocoanut oil. Boil the fats with equal parts of caustic soda lye of 25 degrees B. and caustic potash lye of 25 degrees B. to a clear paste and separate the soap with brine. The settled grain is brought into frames and when cold, is cut into bars which are converted into shavings. The latter are thoroughly dried and ground to a fine powder in a mill.

This powder is mixed with starch in the proportion of 15 to 20 lbs. of the latter to 100 lbs. of the former. By the addition of starch to the soap powder, a shaving powder is obtained which gives a fine permanent lather.

Before mixing the starch with the soap powder it is perfumed, as a rule, with a mixture of lavender oil, thyme oil, caraway oil and fennel oil, an agreeable perfume being composed as follows: Starch 30 lbs., lavender oil 2^ ozs., lemon oil and thyme oil each 1\ ozs. The starch and perfume are intimately mixed and the whole is passed through a sieve which, however, should not be too fine. If the perfume is added to the powdered soap it forms small balls which in spite of all trouble cannot be entirely got rid of and finally remain behind upon the sieve.

A very fine shaving powder with a very durable and pleasant odor is obtained by a mixture of powdered soap 50 lbs., powdered orris root 8 lbs., and almond paste 4 lbs. The whole is intimately mixed and then passed through a sieve. --Soap Maker's Handbook, C Diete, 1912

SHAVING SOAPS.
The requirements of a shaving soap are somewhat different than those of other soaps. To be a good shaving soap the lather produced therefrom must be heavy, creamy, but not gummy, and remain moist when formed on the face. The soap itself should be of a soft consistency so as to readily adhere to the face when used in stick form. It should furthermore be neutral or nearly so to prevent the alkali from smarting during shaving.

Shaving soap is made in the form of a stick, and a tablet for use in the shaving mug. Some shavers prefer to have the soap as a powder or cream, which are claimed to be more convenient methods of shaving. While a liquid shaving soap is not as well known because it has not yet become popular, some soap for shaving is made in this form.

Formerly shaving soap was extensively made from a charge of about 80 parts tallow and 20 parts cocoanut oil as a boiled settled soap, but either making the strengthening change with potash lye or using potash lye in saponifying the stock and graining with salt. [In other words, the soap was made with NaOH and KOH or the soap was a KOH soap that was partly converted to sodium soap by using salt.] Soaps for shaving made in this manner are very unsatisfactory, as they do not produce a sufficiently thick or lasting lather and discolor very materially upon ageing. Potassium stearate forms an ideal lather for shaving, but readily hardens and hence needs some of the softer oils, or glycerine incorporated with it to form a satisfactory soap for shaving.

The selection of materials for making a shaving soap is important. The tallow used should be white and of high titer. Cochin cocoanut oil is to be preferred to the other kinds, and the alkalis should be the best for technical use that can be purchased. By the use of stearic acid it is a simple matter to reach the neutral point which can be carefully approximated.

SHAVING POWDER.
Shaving powder differs from the soaps just described in being pulverized, usually adding up to 5 per cent. starch to prevent caking. Any of the above soaps, dried bone dry, with or without the addition of tallow base make a satisfactory powder for shaving. --Soap Making Manual, E G Thomssen, 1922.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

While this image may be rooted in myth and legend, it has become deeply ingrained in popular culture and has shaped our perception of witches. However, it is important to note that not all witches fit this description. Another type of witch is the Wiccan witch. Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that emerged in the mid-20th century. Wiccans believe in the worship of nature and the practice of magic. They follow a set of moral principles known as the Wiccan Rede, which encourages harm to none. Wiccan witches often engage in rituals and spellcasting to connect with the divine and harness their magical energies. They are known for their reverence of nature and their use of herbs and crystals in their practice. There are also kitchen witches, who specialize in the magical arts of cooking and home-making. These witches create magic through the preparation of food and the creation of a sacred space within the home. They believe that cooking can be a magical act, imbuing their meals with intention and energy. Kitchen witches often use herbs, spices, and other kitchen tools to enhance the magical properties of their dishes. Furthermore, hedge witches are practitioners of folk magic and herbalism. They are often found in rural areas, living close to nature and utilizing the plants and herbs around them for healing and magical purposes. Hedge witches are known for their knowledge of traditional remedies and their ability to communicate with spirits and creatures of the natural realm. Finally, we have modern witches or eclectic witches. These witches draw inspiration from various traditions and combine different magical practices to suit their individual preferences. They are often experimental and open-minded, willing to explore new techniques and ideas. Modern witches may incorporate elements from Wicca, witchcraft, and other spiritual practices into their own unique blend of witchcraft. In conclusion, witches come in many different shapes, sizes, and types. From the traditional old hag to the modern eclectic witch, each individual witch brings their own set of skills, beliefs, and practices to the table. By understanding and appreciating the diversity within witchcraft, we can gain a deeper understanding of this fascinating and misunderstood world..

Reviews for "Familiars and Familiarity: Understanding the Different Animal Companions of Witches"

1. Sarah - 1/5

I did not enjoy "Which Witch is Which" at all. The plot was confusing and I struggled to keep up with all the different characters and their relationships. The writing style felt disjointed and I found myself constantly having to go back and reread sections to understand what was happening. Overall, I found the book to be frustrating and I wouldn't recommend it.

2. John - 2/5

I was really excited to read "Which Witch is Which" as I am a fan of mystery novels, but unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. The story was convoluted and the twists and turns felt forced. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, and their actions often didn't make sense. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not read it again.

3. Emily - 2/5

I had high hopes for "Which Witch is Which" as I love supernatural themes, but I found the execution to be lacking. The story felt predictable and cliché, with no real surprises or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt unnatural. I also found the writing to be overly descriptive, which slowed down the pacing and made it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and it didn't live up to my expectations.

Finding Your Witchy Path: Identifying Which Witch is Right for You