I have seen stropping compounds for sale in several places lately.  There seems to be a variety available.  I'm looking for some enlightenment about these - how much difference they make over stropping on bare leather, what the various colors of compounds mean and any other info that I don't know enough to ask.  Thanks

i use a compound on a leather strop, for my leather tools, after a 1000 grit water stone- then just touch up with the compound and strop as i go along- keeps the tools very very sharp- cutting 14 oz saddle leather like butter.

Go to an auto parts store and buy some valve lapping copmpound. I had a carving instructor suggest this years ago.

I use Flitz polish on my strop.   Works great.

I heard toothpaste works to.

I've used the jeweler's rouge that come with the cardboard wheel systems.

My buddy Robin "Roughcountry" Severe gave me some stuff called "Yellow stone" several years ago. It is awesome.
I made myself a paddle strop using Yellow stone on one side (1st) and plain leather on the the other (2nd).

A paste product called Semichrome is very good too. Similar to Flitz. There are several products that will work. The main thing is that stropping does add some crispness to the edge. It's the easiest thing involved in sharpening.

Bark river compound has my vote.

I agree with Charlie. I'm a wood carver & I use Yellow river on my strops. Good stuff.