Question(s) about TOBS

[verdict]

Hi there, I've finally decided to pick up a tub of TOBS (I'm inclined to say "Tob of tobs") and I have some questions -

What is the difference between the black Jermyn tub and the other ones? I know it's for sensitive skin, but I've never had a problem with irritation from creams or soaps so I don't think this would affect me.

Are there big differences between the scents? I've heard citrus-like, clean, fresh, pleasant for a lot of them, so I'm wondering if they smell anything alike.

Are they any different performance wise? Do TOBS work well with boar brushes? Specifically for medium loft Omegas? I face lather.

 

[Loric]

I have had TOBS Jermyn, Avocado, and Almond. While I'm not a cream expert I did not notice much difference in performance between the regular and sensitive variety's. The Jermyn has a very nice but mild ocianic/ivory soap smell. Its light, clean, and slightly sweet. I actually quite enjoy it. Almond has a very sweet candy Amaretto scent. Avacodo sounds weird, but it has a very nice sweet (but not super candy sweet) cucumber scent.

I never had any problem using them with my Omega 31064. Though I cant say I liked the brush for face lathering

 

[cnnc97]

I have Mr Taylor's and Lavender. They both lather great for me, in a bowl, never tried to face lather either one. I also bought Rose for the SWMBO and tried it once. It lathered as well as the other two, scent was a nice rose scent, but just not for me in terms of shaving.

I am terrible with describing scents, but I love Mr Taylor's.

 

[Gruder]

I've tried them all, with the exception of the more recent sensitive skin version. The scents are all quite different. Let us know what you like and we'll make some suggestions. As for performance, avocado is a cut above. The others all performed equally well in my book.

 

[verdict]

I've tried them all, with the exception of the more recent sensitive skin version. The scents are all quite different. Let us know what you like and we'll make some suggestions. As for performance, avocado is a cut above. The others all performed equally well in my book.

I looked at the TOBS line and I shied away from scents like Lemon, Rose, Lavender. Maybe I don't really like sweet scents, but maybe the ones from TOBS are different. I guess you could say I like "darker" scents, as opposed to lighter ones, which is what something like Lemon is to me. I haven't used a whole lot of shaving products, but I am absolutely addicted to the smell of Proraso. I sniff it quite often.

I'm fine with clean, soapy smelling products, but after Proraso I'm not sure if I could go back. The last scentless product I used was a tube of Kiehl's sensitive, and while the product performed well I didn't like the scent. It wasn't totally scentless, but there was this paste-like smell to it.

However, I'm up to try anything, because everything I've heard related to TOBS was positive. I can't wait to order a tub.

 

[Gruder]

St. James is on the darker side, I'd say (at least compared to lemon lime, rose, etc.) -- it's one of my favorites. You might find Eton too light. Avocado has that clean/soapy scent you describe and, again, outstanding performance. Nothing really close to proraso in that line, I'm afraid.

 

[verdict]

St. James is on the darker side, I'd say (at least compared to lemon lime, rose, etc.) -- it's one of my favorites. You might find Eton too light. Avocado has that clean/soapy scent you describe and, again, outstanding performance. Nothing really close to proraso in that line, I'm afraid.

I read through the reviews again, and I decided that St. James should be the darker scent. Thanks for the suggestion, I just bought a tub off WCS

 

[Drubbing]

I face lather with boars al the time. Favourite TOBs are Avo and Mr T. Shave shop is good too, but has a strange oozy and lumpy consistency.

They all smell different. And descriptions often don't communicate well. See any Tabac thread to see why.

Mr T is musky and cologne-like though, where Avo is like fresh cut cucumber.

 

[cnnc97]

I read through the reviews again, and I decided that St. James should be the darker scent. Thanks for the suggestion, I just bought a tub off WCS

Let us know what you think of it. I'm interested to know what the scent is like on St James.

 

[njpaddy]

I've tried them all, with the exception of the more recent sensitive skin version.

I like ToBS creams, but did not like Sensitive Skin. Someone gave me a tub that was about 80% full. I used it a few times and tossed the rest. I did not like the lather and it was the only ToBS cream that left me with irritation and weepers. It also had little or no scent. I currently use Mr Taylor, Sandalwood and Eton College. Mr Taylor and Sandalwood I would definitely buy again, but probably not Eton (lather good, but scent too light). Next on my try/buy list is ToBS Lavender.

 

[verdict]

I got the tub in the mail today, wasn't expecting it so soon. (Thanks WSC!)

Anyway, here are my impressions on my first TOBS product:

At a first glance from the top, it's not too good. The label is out of place, there are airbubbles underneath, and there is some blue...thing in one of the bubbles.

Then I examine the tub...looks "industrial" or it looks like you'd find marketed to barbershops only - not a problem. The bottom of the tub makes sense, for an easy grip, and the lid is easy to open with the little studs. The tub is a darker vanilla color, and oddly I like it. Maybe it's because it reminds me of vanilla.

The scent - it smells nice, but it also smells like the tube of Real Shaving Co. cream I bought not too long ago, except this one isn't as "cheap". It's nice, but I probably won't buy it again. I think cologne creams are not for me.

Regardless, I have no doubt that I am holding a quality product so there will be no real gripes from me, and I look forward to using it in my next shave.

 

[verdict]

Wow...I just tried it today, this is the BEST shaving product I've tried, hands down! (Sorry Proraso)

Maybe I scooped a little too much on my brush, but it was so easy making lather with this. Forget the scent, this thing is good.

 

[rsaltonstall]

The scents are all quite different. Let us know what you like and we'll make some suggestions. As for performance, avocado is a cut above. The others all performed equally well in my book.

+1

Avocado, in my experience, out performs all the others. It produces the thickest, slickest, most moisturizing, and most cushioning of all TOBS creams; it's in contention with Trumper's Coconut SC. (I have not tried Jermyn, but I have tried its predecessor, Hypo-allergenic Sensitive, which had no scent.) The downside for Avocado is that the scent, for me at least, is not great, but its performance far out weighs the scent.

What I find surprising is that all the other TOBS creams, though good in their own right, do not perform as well as the Avocado. Why isn't there consistency throughout the line? (The same question holds true for Trumper and their Coconut.)

 

[DaveNJ74]

I love my TOBS lavender and I am on my second tub of Jermyn St now. Jermyn St is nice but I dont see it being good for sensitive skin. Its still a good cream.

 

[Groat]

Wow...I just tried it today, this is the BEST shaving product I've tried, hands down! (Sorry Proraso)

Maybe I scooped a little too much on my brush, but it was so easy making lather with this. Forget the scent, this thing is good.

TOBS is a perennial performer for me. I just dab the tips of my brush into the tub and after there's a good amount of cream on the ends I start building my lather. I do enjoy the St. James scent, but find it a little overpowering. I don't believe I'll pick up that same scent once the current tub is finished.