Bensmom saddle soap - the review thread (if that's okay with Bensmom)

[ACMEeventing]

Got my soap today (citrus ginger) and since I happened to have my disgusting leather 1/2 chaps on I gave it a whirl.

A+ for scent, smells wonderful. Went on easy and wiped off easy. Seems to have done a good job of softening and cleaning the chaps. Tomorrow will be the test because I’ve found that often when I clean tack it feels good right away but then gums up or dries out overnight.

I’ll be cleaning the bridles mercilessly tomorrow and report back. But for now, I can say I think it is good stuff!

I’m also from the camp that would rather pay a little more for quality than save money on crap (I’d also rather support franchise from one of our own then give it to big business any day :yes: )

Great job, Bensmom!

[talkofthetown]

Oops, posted too soon…I put a review in the other thread.

I have used this soap a lot throughout the years and LOVE it. It smells awesome, isn’t gross and sticky, keeps leather in awesome condition! I haven’t used the newer scents, but I love the lavendar!

[blame_the_champagne]

Can’t wait for mine to arrive. :yes:

[dreamingofdressage]

Keep us informed when it will be for sale!

[rollonhighway]

I got mine today as well - citrus ginger - so far I really like it! I smells wonderful and went on really well, will report back tomorrow after I do the rest of my tack. So far so good

[pegasusmom]

Mine came today as well. “Confidence” blend. Nice aroma. Used it to clean my really ucky sweaty nasty practice reins (does that tell you what kind of a dressage and cones school I had today?) and it did a good job cutting through the crusty sweat. Reins felt well conditioned and soft in my hand. Will be interested to see what they are like tomorrow. Plan on using the soap on my competition reins this week. Like everyone else, so far so good!

[deltawave]

How do we get some?

[Bensmom]

Oh WOWOWOW!! You guys have totally made my day! :yes:

I am so very pleased to hear that y’all are happy with it so far!

What did you think of the packing slip with the “story” on it and the cards? I order my fountain pens and ink from a great small company (Goulet Pens, if anyone is ever interested in developing another obsession . . . :lol: ) and I love the fact that it is a family run business, and they pack every box with a handwritten thank you note. I just loved that, and so I stole the idea.

Did you guys like the story of the soap, or find it annoying?

I can keep using it, obviously without the review questions at the bottom, if you think it is a good thing. I had excellent help from COTH’er MissAmandaRose in editing and cleaning it up, but I welcome all other comments.

I am so doing the happy dance on the way out the door to dinner!

Libby (thank you, thank you, thank you!)

[Bensmom]

DW – I have a few small testers left – PM your address and I’ll send it! I’ll share the testers as long as they last!

Libby

[TheJenners]

Whoops, I posted in the wrong one :(. Oh well, I’ll copy it!!

"OK, got mine today! Smells soooo good, I got the Lavender Vanilla scent.

It did a great job on my strap goods, I cleaned a nice Somerset bridle that I use for parts (it’s currently missing cheek pieces and reins), a martingale, a surcingle, and a bridle of DH’s. It made everything have a wonderful luster and feel soft. The martingale was something I got a yard sale, and the price had been marked on duct tape wrapped around the leather :rolleyes:, and this stuff got what little leftover gunk right off. Also, the surcingle is one of the super cheap ones, and it molds with very little provocation. It was used on Wednesday last week, and yep, straps were moldy.

Surcingle, half done.

I also cleaned my Dev for the first in longer than I want to admit…but if you look at the before picture and think you see a butt print, you’d be right.

Before
After
"

[TheJenners]

And I liked the note about the history!!

[pegasusmom]

Lib, liked the Story of the Soap. Nice touch.

[blame_the_champagne]

Mine just arrived. Woo hoo. Who doesn’t love snail mail?

Unfortunately, I have been insanely sick for the last six days, so my sniffer ain’t workin’ (hence all the hours of boredom in bed to pour of COTH threads, lol). My husband swears that it smell great.

Is it bad that I want to rub it all over my face? Love that silky texture.

No tack to try it on at home, but will report back.

[reay6790]

Just opened my package today and I literally just doused all of my tack in leder combi I will be using it ASAP…and I need to pm you (bensmom) about adding the cleaner/conditioner to my website assuming all goes well when using it

[missamandarose]

1. Thanks BensMom for giving me props… totally not necessary… I am so happy to help you!! But of course Libby is super awesome and gracious, as if I have to tell anyone here.

2. I was blessed with some Super Saddle Soap (as I called it then) last summer when my husband and I stopped by Higher Standards Farm on our way from the beach back to Atlanta. I sadly didn’t have cause to use it at the time… my TB Alfie was recovering from a bowed tendon but now that we’re working fairly regularly the soap should get use soon!.. But I am so excited about BensMom’s adventure, I couldn’t wait to clean tack. So I cleaned boots instead!

This afternoon I cleaned my paddock boots, and my Ariat Fat Baby boots, that are loved, but very abused! And uhm… that soap did a bang up job! You can really see the difference in the before and after pics of the Fat Babies. The paddock boots weren’t as neglected, but they came nice and clean as well and with not much effort on my part!

(of course my computer is being horribly stubborn right now so I can’t upload the pictures… I’ll try again tomorrow!)

So I think the soap is incredibly effective. The citrus ginger I have still smells lovely after 9 months, and my favorite part is that my hands don’t feel … funky… after cleaning two pairs of boots. You know what I mean? Every saddle soap/leather cleaner I have ever used makes my hands feel gross and funky after I clean… like they’re stripped, and like I need to plunge them into a tub of lotion as soon as humanly possible. This soap absolutely does not make my hands feel that way.

Two tumbs up, Libby! And THANK YOU!!! xoxo

[missamandarose]

1. Thanks BensMom for giving me props… totally not necessary… I am so happy to help you!! But of course Libby is super awesome and gracious, as if I have to tell anyone here.

2. I was blessed with some Super Saddle Soap (as I called it then) last summer when my husband and I stopped by Higher Standards Farm on our way from the beach back to Atlanta. I sadly didn’t have cause to use it at the time… my TB Alfie was recovering from a bowed tendon but now that we’re working fairly regularly the soap should get use soon!.. But I am so excited about BensMom’s adventure, I couldn’t wait to clean tack. So I cleaned boots instead!

This afternoon I cleaned my paddock boots, and my Ariat Fat Baby boots, that are loved, but very abused! And uhm… that soap did a bang up job! You can really see the difference in the before and after pics of the Fat Babies. The paddock boots weren’t as neglected, but they came nice and clean as well and with not much effort on my part!

(of course my computer is being horribly stubborn right now so I can’t upload the pictures… I’ll try again tomorrow!)

So I think the soap is incredibly effective. The citrus ginger I have still smells lovely after 9 months, and my favorite part is that my hands don’t feel … funky… after cleaning two pairs of boots. You know what I mean? Every saddle soap/leather cleaner I have ever used makes my hands feel gross and funky after I clean… like they’re stripped, and like I need to plunge them into a tub of lotion as soon as humanly possible. This soap absolutely does not make my hands feel that way.

Two tumbs up, Libby! And THANK YOU!!! xoxo

[Humblepie]

got mine today too! Ben’s Rosemary Mint. Love to story insert, the scent and how well it cleaned my english leather, paddock boots, clogs and half chaps. Will give it a try on my son’s western saddle tomorrow to see how it does on hides that have been tanned a bit differently. But really doesn’t matter because I love how it worked on MY stuff!

[pegasusmom]

Just wanted to add that my ucky nasty everyday training reins feel better this morning than they did last night. Headed out today to see what else I can clean with my “Confidence” soap.

[Tux61096]

Got my sample yesterday, Citrus Ginger, love the scent and enjoyed the story very much!!

My bridle came out nicely with very little effort or soap needed, so super satisfied so far!! Also, thank you for the hand written note, that was a nice touch, especially when I feel like your doing me a favor by making, packing and sending me free soap!!

[Bensmom]

Oh, wow! You guys have really made my whole year! I’ve had 13 new requests for sample soap – I will send what I have left in the sample sizes when I get home from this trip – I’ll just have to prioritize the requests in the order received – I will do the best I can!

I am thinking I will need to be creating a storefront during my Board meeting today . . . :yes:

Wheeeee!

This is too much fun, and so exciting! I had someone ask what was so great about it over the weekend – i.e., what makes it better than other saddle soaps. I couldn’t answer that question, because I haven’t tested them all, and haven’t bought any in 10 years, because what I’ve made at home has been better than anything I could buy. But, you guys are giving me some good answers to that question!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Libby