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@stringy 

In my opinion, Clarity is not good rosin, from everything I have read. I checked it out earlier this week. I am dealing with issues with rosin now. I have not been able to play for over 2 weeks, and cancelled 2 lessons. I am in the process of trying two new rosins.

Fiddlershop recommended Yumba when I contacted them earlier this week and explained my problem. It is made from beeswax and is not pine based, and is less dusty. I am ordering it after Sept 7.

I just received some rosin I never used that is pine based, but is supposed to be low dust. It was recommended by the semi-local violin shop. They shipped me some. It came today. I have to clean the bow hairs before I use it. Will let you know what it is and if it does appear to be low dust, after I try it. 

The Clarity has bad reviews. You can try it, but it is manufactured, not made from pine or honeybee wax. It is said to be very brittle, hard to get on your bow and not grippy enough. There is a grippier cello mix of it, but still the other issues. If you are not allergic to the pine, I would not recommend trying it. It was made basically for those with an allergy to the pine. That is different than being bothered by the dust.

Jade is also supposed to be low dust, although, I do not find it that way. That was the first rosin I ever used. It is cello/violin/viola rosin. 

The rosin that arrived at my house today is supposed to be grippy and less dusty than my others. I told them what I was using. I should not have to use as much rosin and it is less dusty. I am hoping it solves my problem. If it turns out that I have developed an allergy, the Yumba should solve that issue.

If I have issues after trying both of the new rosins I am trying, I am simply going to wear a mask when playing. Thing is, it won't help my eye area. I don't have a throat issue. It is more a facial skin contact with the dust issue that I have developed since switching from cello to viola. My face is now closer to the dust because of the position of the viola, compared to the cello. Stopped playing two weeks ago, cancelled two lessons. It started clearing up and healing. Played two quick songs on the viola Tuesday. Issue resurfaced quickly. I have not played since, and it is clearing up. 

I will try to remember to let you know about the rosin I received today, and the Yumba when I get it after I order it. It will be a while with the Yumba because I won't be ordering it until after Sept 7.

It could be that you should be using less rosin. What kind of rosin are you using now?

You are welcome. Will let you know about the rosin I received today as soon as I try it. I will also let you know about the Yumba after I get it.

@stringy First impressions of one of the new rosins I am trying. This is the rosin I ordered from our semi-local violin shop. I have not ordered the rosin from Fiddlershop, yet. I will be ordering it Sept 6 or 7.

This is Arcos violin/viola rosin and Arcos cello rosin.

We cleaned all my bows thoroughly yesterday morning. They were rosin free this morning, and this is the first time using these rosin cakes.

First, I did not have to pre-scratch the rosin surface. They started rosining right away, both the cello rosin and the violin/viola rosin.

I did not run it across my bow a super amount of times, like you normally do with a fresh bow. I only swiped it across, maybe 10-12 times. I should have counted. It could have been 15, but I know it was not like I have had to do with other rosins.

I first tried it on my Fiddlerman Concert Deluxe violin and a Fiddlerman carbon bow. I don't think it matters whether it is a wood or carbon bow. I dusted off the top of the violin. Wow! I could tell the difference right away. The sound was great. There was absolutely no scratchy sound, just bad playing intonation. Understand, I am not taking violin lessons, nor do I play my violin as much as my viola and cello, although that may change now. 

I never noticed a difference as much with rosins, but I have loved Holstein Premium, Kaplan, Santory and Guillaume(?) and wish I could still use them. Never liked Jade. It is not that my playing has improved because I have not played my violin for a while. I have not played any of my instruments for almost 3 weeks now because of the skin issue that developed. 

The bow gripped nicely, without causing bowing issues or the scratchy sound. It was great. I played a couple slow songs and a couple faster. When I was done, there was no rosin dust on the top of my instrument. My Fiddlerman Concert Deluxe has always had great sound, but it sure had a heck of a lot more oomph this time. I moved on to my two cellos. It was the same result with my mellower violin. It was warmer and projected more. No scratchies.

I got out my very best cello bow and rosined it with the Arcos Cello Rosin the same way I did the violin bow with the violin rosin. I got out my best cello and dusted it off. Same as the violin, have not played it in over 3 weeks.

Wow, It was really full sounding. It bowed nicely across the strings, and not scratchy. I was having a really hard time with that with my cello scratchies and it was gone. I played some cello songs. When I was done, there was no rosin dust on the cello top.

I then got out my lesser quality cello. It sounded completely different than it had before. It was shallow and wimpy before. It was full and robust. I played the same songs that I played on my other cello with the same result. Easy bowing with great sound projection, albeit, not the best intonation. When I was done, no rosin dust. 

I did not do my viola yet. I don't have as many viola bows and don't want to have to clean them again if I develop skin issues later from these tests, indicting maybe I have developed pine issue, and it is not just dust contacting the skin. I will make sure I don't develop an issue with what I tested. Then I will give it a whirl on one of the viola bows. I am hoping I can get my viola lesson this week.

This is just first impressions. I will update you later.

@stringy 

Remember, that is just a review of the rosin and its dust, and playability. I do not know if you are actually allergic to the pine. But for dust issues, for me, I did not have dust issues and that difference is quite noticeable, more so with the Jade. The playability, for me, was also quite noticeable, as I described. I could still have developed an pine allergy issue. I am going to do my viola for a regular practice session period of time after lunch and see what happens.