After it was founded on the 1st of September in the year 1854 by Jeremiah Taylor, Taylor of Old Bond Street, then a hairdressing salon, took very little time to gain a reputation amongst the British gentry for its superior hair and scalp treatments, extracted from herbal and natural ingredients. Three generations and a hundred and sixty-three years later, the "Taylor Tradition" of balancing high-quality natural ingredients with refined sophistication remains as popular amongst wet shavers as ever. A few of their products may not perform as excellently as you expect, but the respect that the name "Taylor of Old Bond Street" commands in the shaving community is undeniable, and their Sandalwood shaving cream is, perhaps, the ultimate testament to their immense continued popularity over the decades, as it is not only unarguably the most well-known and popular TOBS product today, but also one of the highest-rated shaving creams in the world.
So, what must a shaving cream do to adequately fit the above bill? For a person like myself, whose primary intentions with buying a few of the TOBS creams were to experience some regal shaves and to see what the fuss is all about, it must, first and foremost, perform superbly (we will come to that shortly), and, if possible, provide some relaxation to the olfactory nerve. Regarding the latter, the general verdict is a bit confusing. While some say that it is one of the most wonderful aromas to have graced their nostrils, some argue that it is as deplorable as stinky feet. Make of that what you will. I also read a few people saying that it smells like old people, which is something beyond my comprehension, I suppose. Personally, I belong to neither of the two extremes, but quite like the scent, which smells to me a lot like a slightly enhanced version of natural sandalwood, coupled with floral notes. The scent could feel a bit overpowering at first, but it is not cloying, and gradually subsides.
We now arrive at the main event, viz. the performance. I had heard from most reviewers that it is a rich and slick cream, and I believe it will suffice to say that I was not disappointed. Some people have reported a burning sensation on their face after application of the lather, but I faced no such problem. The cream feels like a soft fluffy cloud on your face, and, while it is not the slickest cream I own, it is amply slick and protective. But, the highlight of the cream was, for me, the post-shave feel, which is truly wonderful. My face felt supple and moisturized for more than an hour after the shave, and without the use of an aftershave.
Overall, this is my favourite cream in the TOBS range so far in terms of performance, and I do believe that every new wet-shaver owes it to himself/herself to be a part of the "Taylor Tradition". Whether you like them or not is a different story; you must give them a fair chance first. And there is no better place to start than this wonderful 5.2 ounce tub of happiness.
Overall ratings (on a scale of 1-10):
Protection and cushion- 8.5
Slickness- 8.5
Ease of lathering- 8
Scent- 8
Value for money- 8.5
MEAN SCORE- 8.3/10
So, what must a shaving cream do to adequately fit the above bill? For a person like myself, whose primary intentions with buying a few of the TOBS creams were to experience some regal shaves and to see what the fuss is all about, it must, first and foremost, perform superbly (we will come to that shortly), and, if possible, provide some relaxation to the olfactory nerve. Regarding the latter, the general verdict is a bit confusing. While some say that it is one of the most wonderful aromas to have graced their nostrils, some argue that it is as deplorable as stinky feet. Make of that what you will. I also read a few people saying that it smells like old people, which is something beyond my comprehension, I suppose. Personally, I belong to neither of the two extremes, but quite like the scent, which smells to me a lot like a slightly enhanced version of natural sandalwood, coupled with floral notes. The scent could feel a bit overpowering at first, but it is not cloying, and gradually subsides.
We now arrive at the main event, viz. the performance. I had heard from most reviewers that it is a rich and slick cream, and I believe it will suffice to say that I was not disappointed. Some people have reported a burning sensation on their face after application of the lather, but I faced no such problem. The cream feels like a soft fluffy cloud on your face, and, while it is not the slickest cream I own, it is amply slick and protective. But, the highlight of the cream was, for me, the post-shave feel, which is truly wonderful. My face felt supple and moisturized for more than an hour after the shave, and without the use of an aftershave.
Overall, this is my favourite cream in the TOBS range so far in terms of performance, and I do believe that every new wet-shaver owes it to himself/herself to be a part of the "Taylor Tradition". Whether you like them or not is a different story; you must give them a fair chance first. And there is no better place to start than this wonderful 5.2 ounce tub of happiness.
Overall ratings (on a scale of 1-10):
Protection and cushion- 8.5
Slickness- 8.5
Ease of lathering- 8
Scent- 8
Value for money- 8.5
MEAN SCORE- 8.3/10
Well written.
