Tabac Refill Shaving Soap review (New 2021 formula)

[Luc]

Background

There's a new version of the Tabac shaving soap. The reviewed version will be refered to as the "new" formulation.

New - Ingredients : Potassium Stearate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Laurate, Glycerin, Aqua, Parfum, Lauric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, CI 77891, Isoeugenol, Pentasodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citral, Eugenol

What's going on?

Glad you asked! Well, My plan is to review the new "vegan" formulation against the previous formulation (Tallow) and maybe a few other soaps. Tabac is a product that I know well. I have the Tabac shave stick as a reference (with Tallow). Since one is a shave stick and the other one is a puck, I will use both like a shave stick.

What about the water?

According to a washable diaper website(I'm not kidding), I stand at 25-50 ppm (which qualify as soft water). However, I checked with the city and they have 3 different water treatment plants. I was able to find which one was connected to my house. I pulled the 2021 report and it plays between: 115 min, 118 avg and 124 max (ppm always). I had a look at the 2020 report (identical) and the 2019 report was slightly better but around the same numbers.

So, at the end of the day, I believe that I have moderate to hard water since the city is publishing something every year.

What's am I doing?

Okay, my plan is to shave for 30 days with the new formulation and alternate with the old formulation for 1 shave only every week or so. I might switch from a boar to a badger to a synthetic brush but I will try to keep the same setup for at least a week. That way, I should be able to keep a consistent result.

How do I shave?

My usual is a 3 pass shave. I currently have a Merkur 38C with Astra Green blades. I use a finest badger. I face lather by loading the soap on my face directly and then, I build the lather.

How about an update?

okay, I will try to regroup theses. Specific updates will be posted when required but, I can already post a before.

So this is a picture of the new formula. I put the puck in an Old Spice mug, it's pretty snug in there and I can't push it any further. It's all right, since I will mostly face lather, that makes it easier.

 

[Luc]

Looks

The packaging is very similar to the previous version, the soap is wrapped like the previous version. The colour is a bit different as noted by other members. It's only a colour thing at this stage, so no big deal.

Scent

It's different. I went from one to another for a good 5 minutes. How different? Not that much. It's not the same, that I have to agree but it's in the same range of scents. It might be more soapy and less granny (@luvmysuper, I know...). It's not a bad thing IMO. This version might not be as much on the Hate/Love club. You might have more "it's all right now".

Lather

I used both the puck (first) and stick (second) and it's pretty comparable IMO.

 

[Luc]

Finally, I put some lather on my hand when the shave began and I checked on it when I was done (maybe 3-4 minutes later).

New formula

Tallow version

So, the tallow version seems more stable but to be honest, since the lather isn't staying on my skin without a shave for that long, it doesn't really affect the end-result.

I will continue posting in this thread and form a conclusion next month.

 

[Bounder]

I am using the vegan version, and as mentioned by someone else, I'm also getting great results using a synthetic brush.

 

[rockviper]

Nice job, @Luc

 

[Luc]

I am using the vegan version, and as mentioned by someone else, I'm also getting great results using a synthetic brush.

Yes, I will take the synthetic out at one point.

 

[Blade4vor]

Wooohooo! I'm looking forward to you sharing your experience with this new formulation, @Luc .

 

[ajkel64]

Thanks for doing this @Luc, I am very interested to see how you go and what conclusion you come to in the end.

 

[CJB3]

Yes, thanks for doing this, Luc. Very informative!

 

[Luc]

The subject is still hot but just to keep a link to the why this thread exists

New, non-tallow Tabac reviews go in here

Please. New stuff reviews only, not a million posts about how great the old stuff was. The "Where's the Tallow" thread has gone to 26 pages, so nobody will cruise through that looking for reviews. The one I did spot was not complimentary, but hey, it could be wonderful stuff. So-- If you have...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[VerbaVolant]

Finally, I put some lather on my hand when the shave began and I checked on it when I was done (maybe 3-4 minutes later).

New formula

Tallow version

So, the tallow version seems more stable but to be honest, since the lather isn't staying on my skin without a shave for that long, it doesn't really affect the end-result.

I will continue posting in this thread and form a conclusion next month.

Huge difference between the two. The New Tabac lather is already dry (not only less "stable") on you skin, three minutes after applying.
The Original Tabac (tallow version) looks great.

I have read enough on this forum to be able to paint, what I consider, a pretty accurate picture of the new Tabac.

Thank you for posting and reviewing this soap. And not only.

Cheers.

 

[Luc]

Next update, same test using the Tabac new vegan formula.

I put some lather on my hand when I was done face lathering and checked again after 3 passes. This time, I added more product (the good old trick!). The lather seems more stable. Next, I need to take my Synthetic brush out!

 

[FarmerTan]

Looking forward to your opinion!

 

[Luc]

I have an Omega Synthetic brush (S10005)

This is a test that I did with the vegan formula. 3 mins and the lather is surprisingly more stable. Pictures are before and then after.

 

[Bounder]

The Vegan Tabac almost seems more stable then the tallow one
The synthetic brush makes a difference I feel.

 

[Luc]

The Vegan Tabac almost seems more stable then the tallow one
The synthetic brush makes a difference I feel.

It looks like it. I must dig in my stash, I believe that I have a v1 synthetic somewhere and I also need to try a badger and horse hair to see if it's vegan vs non-synthetic hairs...

 

[Bounder]

I also need to try a badger and horse hair to see if it's vegan vs non-synthetic hairs...

I don't wish to in any way influence this experiment by making additional comments on the results of the other brushes, which I have also tried out. But it is interesting to read your results.

 

[OCDshaver]

I had one of the best shaves of my life this morning using new formula Tabac with a Simpson T3 synthetic brush, Feather AS-D2 razor loaded with a two day old Feather blade. No-one was more surprised than me. The combo resulted in a BBS shave in one pass(!) with touch-ups. I was blown away. The lather was slick and protective throughout the shave with a very comfortable post-shave feel. I can't say it was all due to the Tabac, but the stuff certainly performed well when paired with the T3!

 

[Luc]

Next update, with a boar brush. I used the oversized Omega 10098.

As mentioned above, it's either a YMMV type of situation or star-aligned(or else...). The lather is not as good as the Synthetic but, it's closer to the Synthetic than the boar brush.

The test remains the same, I lather my hand before the shave and took a picture after the shave. Still on the new formula.

I believe that I will need to re-do the badger test but I will possibly use a different badger (just to mix things up)!

 

[BigJ]

Finally, I put some lather on my hand when the shave began and I checked on it when I was done (maybe 3-4 minutes later).

New formula
View attachment 1325931View attachment 1325934

Tallow version
View attachment 1325935View attachment 1325936

So, the tallow version seems more stable but to be honest, since the lather isn't staying on my skin without a shave for that long, it doesn't really affect the end-result.

I will continue posting in this thread and form a conclusion next month.

GREAT COMPARISON!!