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

[Shine]

I received my Rosemary-Mint. Love the smell, the way my hands feel after I use it and the ease which it can be applied. I tried it on “an oldie but goodie” bridle I had, um, kinda neglected. I had to do a couple apps. but there was a huge difference in the leather. Almost like new, which is good because now I don’t have to buy a new bridle for endurance riding.

I have a western saddle that I will try this on that is really nasty with mold. So I’ll give it the mold test after I clean it. Just ordered the balm and can’t wait to try it. I’ll make sure to take befores and afters of that piece of “artwork” when I clean it.

It’s been so darn hot and humid here and I hate to clean tack so the saddle might be a while (I think I got one of the defective containers because this does not make me want to magically clean every piece of leather I own:D). Did I mention I hate to clean tack?

[TimelyImpulse]

Love, love, love, love them! I ordered the Rosemary Mint a few months ago. I was concerned the scent would aggravate my lungs, but it was fine. And, Bensmom graciously had offered me an unscented replacement if it was a problem anyway, so it was a no risk deal.

Unfortunately, in our move, the movers boxed up the cleaner somewhere, and I still haven’t found it, so just got the Citrus Ginger AND the Balm. They are wonderful, and my sticky, sweaty, hair crusted nasty dress boots are pretty again.

Can’t wait to get my horse down to GA and get my boots all icky again!

[supershorty628]

I love the citrus ginger soap! Placing an order now for the vanilla lavender and the balm. Bensmom, you rock!

[Button]

I can’t believe I actually just spent two days reading though 37 pages of posts… about soap. :eek:

Just ordered van/lav and balm, fingers crossed they’ll help me get some of the black boot rubs off my brown saddle flaps and become a member of the suddenly-motivated-to-clean-tack-regularly club!

[ACMEeventing]

What the H-E-double hockey stick, I’m a frigging tack monkey now. Like, officially. A 100%, Grade A certified, support-group joining, bonafide tack monkey.

I’m cleaning spur straps for crying out loud!

Libby, the balm is the best thing since dipping a spoonful of chocolate chips into a jar of peanut butter. I don’t know how you did it, but you did it.

Unfortunately, instead of being “hmmmm, that lady’s tack is nasty but she can ride pretty good”, I’m “hmmm, tack is spotless but she could use some lessons”.

I hope you’re happy.

[pattnic]

I’m going to have to revise my earlier review of the balm. My previous favorite conditioner - Beval’s Akene - has gone up to $35!!! :eek:

Sooo… as much as I usually don’t like balm-type conditioners, I can’t really hack $35 for a preferred texture, especially when the end result is not that different.

Higher Standards Leather Balm is my new favorite conditioner. :yes:

[BAC]

[QUOTE=pattnic;7089292]
I’m going to have to revise my earlier review of the balm. My previous favorite conditioner - Beval’s Akene - has gone up to $35!!! :eek:

Sooo… as much as I usually don’t like balm-type conditioners, I can’t really hack $35 for a preferred texture, especially when the end result is not that different.

Higher Standards Leather Balm is my new favorite conditioner. :yes:[/QUOTE]

Are you serious, Akene is now $35? It has always been my favorite conditioner too.

I finally borrowed a moldy saddle and bridle to clean up and the saddle, a cheap Collegiate that I jokingly call “the cardboard saddle” because of the leather quality, came out beautifully using the Rosemary Mint soap and the balm. My only complaint is that, as with all soaps, it gets stuck in all those little crevices in laced reins, unlike my favorite liquid Effax. Most likely I will continue to switch back and forth between the products, I don’t think I could ever completely give up Effax and Akene.

[vxf111]

Have you ever thought about doing the same scents as the soap and balm? I know I’d prefer that, I like having everything in the same scent. Just an idea!

[Bensmom]

Actually, that is why I have left the balm unscented, so that it won’t interfere with any of the scents that the soap comes in. I’m afraid I’d go nuts if I tried to keep up with flavors of both – maybe someday, when I’m an official big company (see, positive thinking!) but at the moment, I’ve kept it naturally scented, so that it will go with everything.

Thanks to you all for your help and Acme – it isn’t my fault, really!

[vxf111]

The balm smells like cocoa butter to me. Yum!

[Jo]

[QUOTE=ACMEeventing;7087586]
What the H-E-double hockey stick, I’m a frigging tack monkey now. Like, officially. A 100%, Grade A certified, support-group joining, bonafide tack monkey.

I’m cleaning spur straps for crying out loud!.[/QUOTE]

The same thing happened to me! I FB’ed Libby and told her that her soap is awesome at getting the nasty jockeys off the actual SPURS.

[KateKat]

[QUOTE=BAC;7089642]
Are you serious, Akene is now $35? It has always been my favorite conditioner too.

I finally borrowed a moldy saddle and bridle to clean up and the saddle, a cheap Collegiate that I jokingly call “the cardboard saddle” because of the leather quality, came out beautifully using the Rosemary Mint soap and the balm. My only complaint is that, as with all soaps, it gets stuck in all those little crevices in laced reins, unlike my favorite liquid Effax. Most likely I will continue to switch back and forth between the products, I don’t think I could ever completely give up Effax and Akene.[/QUOTE]

All you have to do is rub a towel over the reins after soaping up!

[missamandarose]

[QUOTE=GutsNGlory;7082024]
I’m totally in favor of a future monthly special being vanilla mint or some other vanilla combo… just sayin’ :D[/QUOTE]

You have no idea how much I tell Libby to do this! I’m not saying I got special preferential treatment b/c I help her with some of the marketing and social media stuff, but I do know first hand that the vanilla mint soap is out of this world amazing!! It smells heavenly.

[GutsNGlory]

[QUOTE=missamandarose;7092288]
You have no idea how much I tell Libby to do this! I’m not saying I got special preferential treatment b/c I help her with some of the marketing and social media stuff, but I do know first hand that the vanilla mint soap is out of this world amazing!! It smells heavenly.[/QUOTE]

Way to make me jealous missamandarose! :winkgrin:

Libby can you pretty pretty pa-lease (with a cherry on top?) make a vanilla mint for the mass market?! Even if it is just a monthly special… I’ll buy several jars to tide me over if I have to! It would go perfect with the notscentedbutsmellslikecookiedough conditioner. :yes:

[Frizzle]

Count me down for vanilla-scented ANYTHING! :yes: I’ve got the vanilla lavender soap, which is lovely, but I only detect a very subtle lavender fragrance. Now, it’s entirely possible that my vanilla-sensing nerves are just totally burned out from an overload of all my vanilla candles, lotions, perfume, oil diffusers, etc., but I would LOVE a stronger vanilla-scented something (soap and/or conditioner!), and vanilla-mint sounds great. Just don’t make it too heavy on the mint!

This is probably the 255th time on this thread that I’ve rambled on about my vanilla obsession and begged for more vanilla. Somebody just stick a needle in my vein and get me hopped up on vanilla bean already! :lol:

[Bensmom]

Ok, y’all convinced me!

Flavor of the month special edition for August, Vanilla Mint?

Yeah, I’m easy! :lol:

[amastrike]

Yes! And I’m still waiting for Vanilla/Citrus!!

[Frizzle]

YAY! Mob rule!

[GutsNGlory]

[QUOTE=Bensmom;7092572]
Ok, y’all convinced me!

Flavor of the month special edition for August, Vanilla Mint?

Yeah, I’m easy! :lol:[/QUOTE]

You just made my life complete! Thank you thank you thank you Libby! I’ll be checking for the official post for when it’s on the site and then my order will be in! Woohoo

[SolarFlare]

[QUOTE=amastrike;7092574]
Yes! And I’m still waiting for Vanilla/Citrus!![/QUOTE]

This one gets my vote too!