New York Shaving Company, The; Tonsorial Shave Cream.

I really wanted this to be my favorite shaving cream, given the ease with which it lathers, and the scent while shaving.

I have used a few shaving creams since this one and each new cream leaves this one lacking a bit in my mind.

This was my first shaving cream after using William Soap and Noxema (the face cleanser not the shaving cream). The scent in the tub can be deceiving. It smells much better lathered and while shaving. The scent easily brings to mind a barber shop when they were the center of masculine culture. However the scent is light and fades all too quickly.

Though the lather is great and builds very fast, I am always disappointed at how quickly it dries on my face. In fact I began referring to it as my Christmas shaving cream, because tiny dry flakes would begin floating around the bathroom like snow when I shaved with it.

The quality of the lather and the shave was good, but I had to paint my face with my brush at least twice each shaving pass because it would dry so quickly.

Overall I liked it, but would not be purchasing it again unless there was a major reforulation that boosted the scent a little and resolved the drying issue.

Hello again!

This time I am reviewing a great product from
The New York Shaving Company; The Tonsorial
Shave Cream.

I ordered this cream from WCS when I noticed it
in their new product line-up. Out of the five creams
available at WCS that are sold by that company,
I chose this one because it seems to be the
"Flag Ship" scent, if you will. The equivalent of
Mr. Taylor's in the Taylor of Old Bond Street line.

I felt this way because this particular cream carries the
name of the facility where it was developed;
The NYC Tonsorial Parlor. Because I had never tried any
of their products, it seemed like the "one" to get if I were
going to gauge the company's creams.

Now, Before I get into the review, I feel I must point out
something I thought was rather comical and, in fact, petty
on my part to notice and site. On the back of the box (see pictures
below) there is an elaboration on the cream itself and directions
on how to shave. In between the two paragraphs, there is the
following statement:

"Developed in our NYC Tonsorial Parlor (Barber Shop)."

Ok, I may not have known what the word Tonsorial meant
until I saw this product, having never been given cause to use it
in my daily life but, you don't have to spell it out for me. I mean,
really? What audience do they think they're catering to if they have
to print the common definitions of otherwise creatively used words,
right next to the words themselves?

That is as condescending as elaborating on the punch-line of a joke
in order to illustrate what made it funny or ironic, immediately after
telling it.

"Developed in our NYC Tonsorial Parlor!"
Pssst! Tonsorial Parlor means Barber Shop by the way.

Yes....thank you.


Any way, my noticing that The New York Shaving Company
assumes I am a simpleton did not affect my review of the
product itself; barring some unconscious inclinations toward
vindictiveness of course.

The Review:


PACKAGING:
The cream itself comes in a wonderfully sturdy black plastic
container with a bright red label. This in turn comes in a glossy
box sporting the same colour scheme. The box isn't labelled, it's
all printed on the box; which I think is better than using stickers.
The jar/tub it comes in is flush and even. The lid isn't bigger than
the actual jar like TOBS and D. R. Harris. I think that is a nice touch.

The Box.


The Jar.



PRICE: I don't think approx $18 for 113 grams is the best deal.
Especially when you consider products like TOBS are around $14 for 150
grams and perform with every bit of excellence this product does.

EFFICACY: Yes, I believe this product is excellent. It is a great performer, hands down one of the best I've used in all categories excluding
one perhaps. But that is of course highly subjective.

QUALITY: A well made product from the packaging to the cream.

SCENT: My fiancée loves it and so do I....that's pretty much all
that matters. I can't describe it with any accuracy but, I think its a rip-off
of some high profile scent. Regardless, its a very classic "New York" scent
that stays with you throughout the shave and lingers on a while after.

LATHERABILITY: Lathers like a champ, stays moist and lubricious.
Pretty slick stuff.

MOISTURISING QUALITY: Its not bad in this department actually.
I have pretty finicky skin and the cream seems to agree with it.
It does give a sort of herbaceous "burn" or tingle. Its not strong but
it is definite. I don't mind it but some may.

Here is the open jar.


I used a Muhle silver tip to lather it.

Relatively small amount of cream.

One swirl on the hand.


A little building and a little more water.


Pillow-like lather in no time.



All in all this stuff is a great buy and I would definitely recommend it.
Although you could get more value out of TOBS for it's price to quantity
ratio, The New York Shaving Company possess a uniqueness that's worth
paying for.

Here is a clip of the back of the box.