Hi Golson22m,
Your example here can provide a good illustration about how similar materials but different versions and layering patterns can create a very different feel … even if it provides similar levels of pressure relief and support. At least we know that there is a latex mattress that you like.
I’m assuming that the Natura you are describing is the Solace Luxury even though this description (which matches the Natura description online) is different from the specs of the Solace Luxury you mentioned in post #24 of this thread.
First of all it has a thicker layer of wool which can be a positive or negative but certainly adds to the cost of a mattress because wool is not an inexpensive material. A wool layer this thick will also significantly affect how the latex underneath it feels.
The next layer is 1" of convoluted blended Dunlop. This is likely “soft” because even if the dunlop itself is firmer the convoluting makes it act as a softer layer.
The next layer is 4" of 3 zone Talalay which I am guessing would be 2" of soft and 2" of medium but the ILD of the soft and medium isn’t specified so these 2 layers could be different from someone else’s version of “soft” and “medium”. The zoning will give it different characteristics as well.
The next layer is 4" of Talalay which I am guessing would be “firm” but again there is no mention on their website of what the ILD is.
Finally below this is 2" of coconut coir which would be very firm.
So in essence you have about 3" of “soft” latex over 2" of medium latex over 4" of firm latex over 2" of very firm material. This has a quilted ticking with a thicker layer of wool. While this can provide a very general guideline for an online purchase … even small changes in the ILD or layering can change the feel or how a mattress performs. If my “guesses” about the layers are right … then the closest approximation to this would be 3" of softer latex over a 6" firm core with a wool quilting. While this may approximate the pressure relief and alignment of the Natura … there are so many unknowns that it almost certainly wouldn’t be the same.
Your mattress on the other hand is 2" of soft Talalay over 6" of medium (on your side) which is a different mattress. While this may be (and likely is) the closest approximation inside the layer thicknesses and ILD’s that are available at mattresses.net … it would certainly not be the same … there are just too many differences and unknowns in your “reference” mattress.
If you added the 3" topper to your mattress … you would certainly sink in more but it is unknown if 5" of soft latex will provide the best alignment because it is outside of anything you have tested. Replacing the top 2" with a 3" topper isn’t really a possibility as the topper is a separate wrapped latex layer and removing the 2" on top of your mattress would in effect be the same as making an entirely new 6" finished mattress and then adding the 3" topper on top. While I’m sure he could probably do it (have you send the entire mattress back and then re-use your core to make a 6" mattress and send it back to you) … this would likely be much more expensive than a layer exchange or the addition of a topper to what you have and I am guessing you would lose any possibility of a refund (you would need to ask him this but normally custom built mattresses do not have a refund as far as I know).
So I would probably try to test the Pure Latex Bliss or something similar with a thicker softer comfort layer just to make sure that it at least is close to what you need and want.
Phoenix