I strongly disliked you after the first shave some two years ago, Tabac, throwing you into the far reaches of the shave den cabinet to never see the light of day again. Dare I say—I hated you, Tabac. One and done.
I am here to repent and praise you publicly, though, as I am starting to warm up to you.
I willingly choose you as the soap de jour for the last five shaves. I've learned a lot about whipping up a decent lather in the two years since I first started wet shaving. Being a rookie, perhaps I didn't do you justice the first time around. Perhaps it was the smoky, ash-tray overtones you first emitted; since then, however, perhaps as a result of the 'Rona', I don't smell any offensive tobacco scent (I smoked for 25+ years, so once 10+ years removed, I found the smell nauseating). You now smell...intriguing.
Honestly, you're not the best smelling soap in the den, definitely not one I would gravitate toward when selecting my 'final four' rotation. I don't even know how to describe your scent (dark feminine fougere?), but that's neither here nor there.
The performance as of late is impressive and more than makes up for what you lack in the scent department.
While doing some due diligence (on B&B, of course) on another soap I am considering, I now realize it's your tallow that has me rubbing my face, appreciating the post-shave feel some 5-6 hours since we last met. I'm actually looking forward to meeting you again tomorrow morning, perhaps.
The same can't be said of Arko (even COVID-nose can't change the hints of urinal cake or, as one member so aptly described it—the smell of an old lady's purse during bingo night in the basement of the Methodist Church).
...but I am digging the Tabac now. The post-shave feel does remind me of MWF (dare I say it almost one-ups the Fat?!?!) and now have learned it's the tallow-base formulation of old.
I've learned a lot during my two short years wet shaving, but this was an important lesson learned—if a soap is a staple in the shave community and has stood the test of time, consider doubling back when you have more experience and take it for another test drive if you didn't get it the first time...might be surprised with the performance on the next go 'round.
I'm not ready to use the "L" word just yet, but I think my now two-year old Tabac and I are in the early stages of bromance. Sure, it won't supplant my SV, MWF, and MdC just yet; but as I continue to test sample after sample (searching for my fourth and final soap in the rotation) and work on the disgusting amount of product I bought when I first started (another lesson learned), Tabac is turning into a strong contender that can go toe-to-toe with some of the heavyweights.
Tabac mach frei.
I am here to repent and praise you publicly, though, as I am starting to warm up to you.
I willingly choose you as the soap de jour for the last five shaves. I've learned a lot about whipping up a decent lather in the two years since I first started wet shaving. Being a rookie, perhaps I didn't do you justice the first time around. Perhaps it was the smoky, ash-tray overtones you first emitted; since then, however, perhaps as a result of the 'Rona', I don't smell any offensive tobacco scent (I smoked for 25+ years, so once 10+ years removed, I found the smell nauseating). You now smell...intriguing.
Honestly, you're not the best smelling soap in the den, definitely not one I would gravitate toward when selecting my 'final four' rotation. I don't even know how to describe your scent (dark feminine fougere?), but that's neither here nor there.
The performance as of late is impressive and more than makes up for what you lack in the scent department.
While doing some due diligence (on B&B, of course) on another soap I am considering, I now realize it's your tallow that has me rubbing my face, appreciating the post-shave feel some 5-6 hours since we last met. I'm actually looking forward to meeting you again tomorrow morning, perhaps.
The same can't be said of Arko (even COVID-nose can't change the hints of urinal cake or, as one member so aptly described it—the smell of an old lady's purse during bingo night in the basement of the Methodist Church).
...but I am digging the Tabac now. The post-shave feel does remind me of MWF (dare I say it almost one-ups the Fat?!?!) and now have learned it's the tallow-base formulation of old.
I've learned a lot during my two short years wet shaving, but this was an important lesson learned—if a soap is a staple in the shave community and has stood the test of time, consider doubling back when you have more experience and take it for another test drive if you didn't get it the first time...might be surprised with the performance on the next go 'round.
I'm not ready to use the "L" word just yet, but I think my now two-year old Tabac and I are in the early stages of bromance. Sure, it won't supplant my SV, MWF, and MdC just yet; but as I continue to test sample after sample (searching for my fourth and final soap in the rotation) and work on the disgusting amount of product I bought when I first started (another lesson learned), Tabac is turning into a strong contender that can go toe-to-toe with some of the heavyweights.
Tabac mach frei.