For those who love Tabac and have used MdC.

[mikesaidhi]

I love Tabac. I don't like having favorites, but this soap is (to me) head and shoulders above all other soaps I've tried. It consistently provides superior shaves and I've come to really appreciate its distinct scent. The fact that it's priced fairly helps but I would pay more if (God forbid) MW decided to raise its prices.

Nevertheless, MdC is piquing my interest (thanks BB enablers!!) and I have to fight the urge to hit the Paypal purchase button at work (sometimes twice!!) daily. High shipping costs are a deterrent and I need another soap like my wife needs another pair of shoes.

Tabac could be the only soap I use for the rest of my life and I'd be more than happy.

So here's my question: Aside from scent, is MdC's performance so much better than Tabac that it's worth the high shipping cost? In other words, I don't want to buy it for the sake of increasing my soap variety. I want to know if it's good enough for me to retire my beloved Tabac.

Of course YMMV etc. But your thoughts would be much appreciated and might save me time on the MdC website checkout.

Thanks.

Just for reference, I've used IK, MWF, Cella, Dr. Harris, Klar Kabinett, Proraso, La Toja, Speick, Arko, Palmolive but find Tabac's performance superior to all of these.

 

[oscar11]

MdC is a superb soap but I really dislike the scent. I sold mine and repurchased some unscented MdC. The unscented is doable for me but honestly I doubt I'll reorder as I have other soaps that I prefer and they are in the same performance category with a nicer scent.

 

[joglander]

MdC is a superb soap but I really dislike the scent. I sold mine and repurchased some unscented MdC. The unscented is doable for me but honestly I doubt I'll reorder as I have other soaps that I prefer and they are in the same performance category with a nicer scent.

+1 I don't know how, but you may have found the only two guys who don't like the scent of MdC and find that the unscented does not smell much better. It is a very good soap, slick, easy to lather, but I would much rather shave with Tabac.

 

[reyrascon]

I love MdC but I can't say there is a huge difference with tabac (performance wise). Maybe MdC has better skin care properties, but again not a huge difference. If you are looking for MdC to be so much better than Tabac (because of the price difference) I think you'll be disappointed.

 

[petr]

MdC is not superior shave in efficacy. It's not tallow for one. MdC is great stuff, but the hype should come down if anyone thinks the lather is as thick, creamy and protective as Tabac.

I used each for a year straight. I grew sick to death of both. But, that was because of tabac's scent and MdCs performance with my dry skin in the winter. We all have diff skin types and products perform differently.

Is MdC worth it? Yep. It's a special product worth having. I enjoyed the scent! That wood beech bowl lasted me for YEARS. Does it perform better than Tabac? Nope.

 

[Dusty1]

It's tough to beat the best! I love Tabac and have not tried MdC, but if we had a proper supplier here, I'm sure prices would be on a par with Tabac which would even the playing field. It's just noth worth it to me considering the extra costs. Enjoy your shave!

 

[SteveWY]

Please indulge me for a moment as I don't want to high jack the thread too bad. I love Tabac and agree it is my top soap in the lather quality category. Can any of you Tabac guy tells me if you have used Tabac aftershave and if the fragrance is the same or compliments the soap? Thanks.

 

[mistercitizen]

Please indulge me for a moment as I don't want to high jack the thread too bad. I love Tabac and agree it is my top soap in the lather quality category. Can any of you Tabac guy tells me if you have used Tabac aftershave and if the fragrance is the same or compliments the soap? Thanks.

Tabac aftershave splash and cologne (EDC) match the scent of the soap. I've never smelled Tabac EDT, but from what I understand, the EDT does NOT smell like the soap, AS splash, or the EDC.

Ben

 

[oldtrout]

MdC and Tabac are two of my favorites. I get wonderful shaves using either, so based purely on shave performance, I wouldn't say that MdC is better.

That being said, you really won't know until you try MdC and I recommend you do so.

 

[jkh]

I wouldn't bother if I was you. Based on your post, you are going to be disappointed with MdC (due to its price) unless it is much better than Tabac. I really like MdC, a lot, but I don't find it much better than Tabac.

 

[shaverjoe]

I just received my jar of MdC. I find the scent unique and the performance outstanding. HOWEVER, I would be lying if I said it performs better than Tabac. I much prefer the scent of MdC, but my guess is- if one was unable to smell either product, you couldn't tell a difference in performance.

That being said, I am thrilled I bought MdC. My curiosity was also piqued and I wouldn't have been satisfied until I owned it.

Bottom line- you only live once. If you don't like it, you could sell it on the BST quicker than you can say! "Corn on the cob."

Additionally, if you can find someone else who wants to order a jar, it reduces the overall cost. I went in with a forum member and we each ordered a jar. With the Facebook discount MdC offers, with shipping, the bill was $100. $50 a piece. You could easily get that back on the BST in a matter of minutes. It is essentially a money back guarantee. Just order it and get it over with.

 

[TallyShave]

So here's my question: Aside from scent, is MdC's performance so much better than Tabac that it's worth the high shipping cost? In other words, I don't want to buy it for the sake of increasing my soap variety. I want to know if it's good enough for me to retire my beloved Tabac.

MdC is the most overhyped product discussed on this site. That isn't saying it isn't a good product, but the over-the-top hyperbole around here is laughable. MdC's performance isn't "so much better" than almost any product discussed around here. I rank Tabac, along with several other soaps, above MdC in terms of shaving performance. MdC's mythology is quite superior though.

 

[J.K.T.]

Yeah if you have money burning a whole in your pocket then go with MdC. Thats if you like a minty lavender. I have it and will use it and really do love the scent. However if it just another good soap. I would say have one of the artisan soap makers make you up a special batch to resemble MdC and get a cheaper and probably better quality product. The only reason I dont sell mine is because its smells so nice and the package would cost a fortune to ship as its heavy as hell.

 

[mistercitizen]

MdC is not the best value.... which is what it sounds like you are looking for. I consider Tabac a great value given it's top notch performance for a moderate price. Proraso I lump in that "great value" category as well. MdC is a luxury soap. You don't buy it to replace anything else you have, you buy it to use in addition to what you already have. I think it's worth the higher shipping cost, but I also think it's worth having it in addition to Tabac in my den.

Ben

 

[miatapaul]

I would say give Garry's sample shop a try he gets it in frequently and even arranges splits if you want more than a sample. I liked the scent, kind of. I liked the performance, but I was very happy I did not buy a whole container. It has a very minty/lavender/menthol scent that is unique and very similar to Noxzema but not quite as chemical. As I said I am glad I tried it, but also glad I did not invest in a whole thing of it.

I think The Art of Shaving is better than MdC for sure as is Cella. I do love Tabac and will likely always have it on hand. So you you don't have any Art of Shaving, I suggest trying that, I find the Sandalwood intoxicating, performance and scent. It does not last long though for a soap.

 

[Niles]

you really won't know until you try MdC and I recommend you do so.

+1

 

[OkieStubble]

+1

+2 Sometimes, ya just gotta find out for yourself.

 

[takeshi]

Aside from scent, is MdC's performance so much better than Tabac that it's worth the high shipping cost?

Worth and better are always highly subjective no matter what the topic. If you really want to know then try it. Think of it this way: did you find that Tabac was your favorite by not trying it?

Scent's also highly subjective. If you want feedback on scent you need to be very clear about your scent preferences.

But your thoughts would be much appreciated and might save me time on the MdC website checkout.

Polling only indicates popularity, not your preference.

MdC is not superior shave in efficacy. It's not tallow for one.

This myth gets propagated a lot here. Tallow is not the end-all-be-all. One may prefer tallow soaps but that doesn't mean that a given soap is best for everyone just because it contains tallow. What works best wil vary form person to person.

MdC is great stuff, but the hype should come down if anyone thinks the lather is as thick, creamy and protective as Tabac.

MdC is the most overhyped product discussed on this site.

Hype (and its counterpart) is subjective. If something doesn't work or meet one's expectations despite popularity it will seem overhyped. If something works well or exceed one's expectations and isn't popular it will seem underhyped. What works best for one doesn't work best for everyone. Hype is overused in cases where people mean "I don't prefer/I don't get/Doesn't fit my budget". Hype is irrrelevant. What does or doesn't work for you needs/wants/preferences/budget/etc is what matters.

Again, it all boils down to: try it for yourself and see

MdC is not the best value....

Depends on how you're evaulating value. If you're only considering sticker price, no. On a cost per shave basis it can be competitive. If spending as little as possible is your goal then, yes, MDC probably isn't suited to you.

MdC is a luxury soap. You don't buy it to replace anything else you have, you buy it to use in addition to what you already have.

You're confusing "you" and "I". I certainly buy it to replace what I have. Never assume that your preference is universal.

I think The Art of Shaving is better than MdC for sure as is Cella.

...and I think MDC is better than AoS and Cella. Not sure why so few seem to comprehend this but, yet again, this is a subjective matter. A good rule of thumb if you don't understand is that "better" (among many other words) is always highly subjective no matter what the topic -- not just for wetshaving topics but anything out there.

 

[mistercitizen]

Worth and better are always highly subjective no matter what the topic. If you really want to know then try it. Think of it this way: did you find that Tabac was your favorite by not trying it?

Scent's also highly subjective. If you want feedback on scent you need to be very clear about your scent preferences.


Polling only indicates popularity, not your preference.


This myth gets propagated a lot here. Tallow is not the end-all-be-all. One may prefer tallow soaps but that doesn't mean that a given soap is best for everyone just because it contains tallow. What works best wil vary form person to person.



Hype (and its counterpart) is subjective. If something doesn't work or meet one's expectations despite popularity it will seem overhyped. If something works well or exceed one's expectations and isn't popular it will seem underhyped. What works best for one doesn't work best for everyone. Hype is overused in cases where people mean "I don't prefer/I don't get/Doesn't fit my budget". Hype is irrrelevant. What does or doesn't work for you needs/wants/preferences/budget/etc is what matters.

Again, it all boils down to: try it for yourself and see


Depends on how you're evaulating value. If you're only considering sticker price, no. On a cost per shave basis it can be competitive. If spending as little as possible is your goal then, yes, MDC probably isn't suited to you.


You're confusing "you" and "I". I certainly buy it to replace what I have. Never assume that your preference is universal.


...and I think MDC is better than AoS and Cella. Not sure why so few seem to comprehend this but, yet again, this is a subjective matter. A good rule of thumb if you don't understand is that "better" (among many other words) is always highly subjective no matter what the topic -- not just for wetshaving topics but anything out there.

Never have I seen someone pick apart so many others' comments. We know.... "YMMV/Subjective"..... WE GET IT. I'm sorry, I mean I GET IT. I will not assume that everyone else here gets it too because, afterall..... YMMV.

Ben

 

[mikesaidhi]

Takeshi - Something tells me you only shave ATG....

Everyone - Thanks for your common sense advice and opinions. I just shaved with Tabac tonight and, as usual, was very satisfied. Why mess with a good thing? I'll pass on MdC for now...