This morning I received an email from Bullgoose regarding a new formula Tabac. Here’s what it said:
“Tabac reformulated their shaving soap in 2021 and it was an utter disaster. They saw the error of their ways and reformulated it again in 2024 and by God...this time they got it right. Among the tweaks to the formula, Tabac added palm oil to make the lather creamier and more stable. The performance of the new Tabac in on par with stellar non-tallow soaps such as Arran Aromatics and Floris. Pick up a bowl today; it will be like catching up with an old friend.”
I really enjoyed the new veg Tabac but never tried the tallow version. I’ll try this new new 2024 version. Any thoughts from Tabac lovers? Interested or is Tabac dead to you forever?
I ordered a puck of tabac thinking it was the tallow formula, and received one of the new formulas. Today I decided to lather the new puck and promised to be unbiased about the trial run.
I have been using tabac regularly since 1999.
The first indication was that the lather was different in a veggie base soap kind of way. The scent was more pronounced. Once worked up the lather on my face I noticed my skin burning, which is rare for me. I continued with the shave. The new formula is perhaps more slick. The proof is in the Speick splash application - burned like the fires of hell. I wasn't the worst - thin lather with little blade protection - veggie soap I have used, however this is not something I can use before an important meeting risking irritation. I'll need a day to rest my face before shaving again.
Things change in the shave world, but losing tabac tallow hurts more than most.