C.O. Bigelow vs Proraso Green
- Thread starter Golden_Edge
- Start date
I've used both, no difference
Omega is another one to check out if you like Bigelow. Both are a little less sharp than Proraso.
I really like both. But my favorite is Proraso.
I prefer the Bigelow. Seems like it has less menthol.
A quick update, my friends. Next summer I should, hopefully, be visiting New York City. If the project for this journey proceeds well and I'll actually be there, I'll certainly buy some C.O. Bigelow and test it myself for the very first time. Fingers crossed.
P.S. I am also very interested in buying a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes.
P.S. I am also very interested in buying a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes.
I have used C. O. Bigelow and liked it just fine. I didn't notice a lot of menthol feel or smell, but it does seem very "fresh' smelling. Lately I have been using Proraso Protective with aloe and vitamin e and I like it a LOT better. Better lather (but thinner) with both synthetic and badger brushes, and seemingly closer shaves, if that's possible.I tried the Proraso Green and the C.O. Bigelow (COB) shaving creams a first time two years ago when I gave DE shaving a go. I loved the scent but didn’t continue using either due to the menthol (which I fortunately no longer mind, to some extent). Along the way, I found out that Proraso made COB’s cream. It is often said COB is repackaged Proraso Green. Having re-discovered and liking Proraso, I bought a tube of the COB to see how they compare.
Packaging — Proraso needs no introduction. To those unaware of COB and/or outside the US, this is C.O. Bigelow (sold in full and travel size tubes):
View attachment 1694903
Ingredients — Proraso's website and product lists are identical. COB's website and product lists are not identical. COB's website states to check product for most up to date list. The tube I have doesn't list Camphor, which is odd. I've seen the reviews online where Camphor was listed. Additionally, COB has Shea butter. Full lists at end of post.
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Scent — Identical profile. COB feels a bit more concentrated out of the tube and once lathered.
Texture/Color — COB is whiter and a touch thicker than Proraso. COB is left and Proraso is right in the following picture.
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Lather — For the same quantity out the tube, COB produces a bit more denser lather. Not a day and night different but it's observable. I am not sure if the presence of Shea butter is a contributing factor.
Performance — Overall the same but somehow the shaves were a touch closer. The difference is minimal but observable. Here again, the Shea butter may be influential.
Post-shave — Overall the same.
Conclusion — Considering the minor differences in texture/color, lather and performance, the COB shaving cream is more of a Proraso Green tweaked to COB's specifications/preferences than a repackaged Proraso Green. Since COB has Shea butter, I would extrapolate that COB is Proraso Red with the scent of the Green. If you see no difference between Proraso Red and Green in terms of performance, you likely won't see a difference between COB and Proraso Green.
What are you thoughts on COB vs Proraso Green?
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A FYI, that I found out while learning about the COB shaving cream: C.O. Bigelow is one of the (or the?) oldest pharmacy in the USA while a location in still standing in NYC.
It does carry a good amount of shaving goods from different brands and their own. I haven't been yet but I intend to include it in the shaving stores 'Pilgrimage' when I visit NYC next time.
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Some good reads:
The Secrets Inside the C.O. Bigelow Apothecary (Est. 1838) (Published 2019)
Over the last 180 years, the Ginsberg family has amassed more than 10,000 pharmaceutical and beauty items.www.nytimes.com
Where I Work: Inside C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries in the Village, the oldest pharmacy in the country | 6sqft
Since 1939, three generations of Ginsberg’s have owned and operated the shop, passing down from father to son to most recently grandson, Ian Ginsberg, who 6sqft spoke with at this historic pharmacy.www.6sqft.com
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C.O. Bigelow
Website: Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Menthol, Camphor, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Metasilicate, Tetrasodium EDTA, HYdroxyehtyl-cellulose, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Geraniol, Parfum (Fragrance).
Tube: Aqua, Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Potassium Hydroxyde, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Coccyl Glycinate, Menthol, Parfum, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Metasilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Dictate, Amyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Eugenol
Proraso
Website: Aqua (Water/Eau), Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum (Fragrance), Menthol, Camphor, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Metasilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Geraniol.
Tube: Aqua (Water/Eau), Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum (Fragrance), Menthol, Camphor, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Metasilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Geraniol.
I've got a tube of this and the matching after-balm on a UPS truck in route. I've used the green and white in the past. Glad to hear you like this one. Looking forward to trying it.
Very good comparison, thank you very much for the knowledge!!
Looks like you can still order the Co Bigelow version directly from their website. $10 for 5.2 oz. I used to buy the B1G1F from Bath and Body for years.
In my work experience I never trusted in companies only copying the others.
The Bigelow cream is made for them by Proraso. The owner Mr. Ginsberg has said so much in previous interviews (google search). He also sells Proraso items on his site. Recently I ordered a few tubes of Cypress Vetiver cream on Proraso dot com and the order was shipped from Bigelow and the paypal charge was from them as well. They appear to be the US distributor for Proraso.
I ordered some product directly off the Proraso USA website and the credit card statement said “Bigelow Trading.” I thought that was an interesting connection.
Before I ever started using a DE razor, I was given a tube of Bigelow shaving cream as a groomsman's gift when I stood in my friend's wedding. It went unused for a few years. Then later, when I made the switch from carts to DE, I found that tube back in the back of the linen closet. It's all I used for a while, until I bought a stick of Arko. When it came time to buy more shaving cream, I went with Proraso blue—just because I wanted to try that scent instead. Since that time, I've never bought another tube of Proraso-made shaving cream (except for the other day, when I put together my eldest son his starter shaving kit, which includes a tube of Proraso red).
I was another who never once questioned the assertion that Bigelow and Proraso green were the exact same thing. Is it possible they used to be, but that now one of them has been reformulated in a way the other has not? Or is it possible that both have been reformulated in the same way but that they haven't hit our market at the same time?
One thing I do want to say is that I agree with @ivan_101, who said, "Differences in thickness mentioned here are mostly because of age". Be careful when comparing two shaving creams that you've had for a significantly different amount of time. Personally, whenever I've reached for a tube I haven't used in a while, I squeeze some out and immediately rinse it down the drain, because it's dried out more than what's behind it in the tube. Some creams are more susceptible to this than others, too: my tube of Arko doesn't suffer much from it, but that tube of Bigelow sure did!
I was another who never once questioned the assertion that Bigelow and Proraso green were the exact same thing. Is it possible they used to be, but that now one of them has been reformulated in a way the other has not? Or is it possible that both have been reformulated in the same way but that they haven't hit our market at the same time?
One thing I do want to say is that I agree with @ivan_101, who said, "Differences in thickness mentioned here are mostly because of age". Be careful when comparing two shaving creams that you've had for a significantly different amount of time. Personally, whenever I've reached for a tube I haven't used in a while, I squeeze some out and immediately rinse it down the drain, because it's dried out more than what's behind it in the tube. Some creams are more susceptible to this than others, too: my tube of Arko doesn't suffer much from it, but that tube of Bigelow sure did!
After trying and hoarding various high end soaps and creams for the past decade and a half including SMN, ADP, multiple tubs of Valobra and Czech and Speake, MdC, all of the British top tier brands, etc etc I'm convinced for the price and the entire shaving experience, Bigelow and Proraso cream tubes are at the very top of the heap along with the rest of the heroes. Same goes for the Omega/Proraso Boar brush. That's all anyone really needs. If forced to pick only one cream/soap it would be the Bigelow with Shea Butter in the current formulation. (I'm hoarding these now LOL)
