Saponificio Varesino - how do you lather it

I bought one back in 2024, and didn’t use it many times. Maybe the 5th time today. And - I wasn’t able to build a good lather. So - what am I doing wrong, and how do you lather it?

I took a hot shower for 10+ minutes, before it I dropped some water in the tub and soaked my proraso boar brush (thought a synthetic would be too soft for the soap). Shake the brush, load for 70 seconds (usually 40-50 with croaps), face lather. Dip the brush 4 times during lathering, still not slick enough compared to my usual croaps, the process is much longer. The lather wasn’t good, and I was afraid to add more water.

I know it is a good soap, and many people like it. So this is my fault. But - what is wrong with me? Am I just bad with hard soaps? I wonder if I should give up on the soap.