Trouble with Trafalgar

[travo36]

Working my way through the sampler pack,

First- Limes: Smelled too fruity for my taste, lathered and shaved well

Second- Grafton: Sweet Jesus! Perfect scent and a perfect, irritation free BBS shave.

Third- Trafalgar: Smelled like a food ingredient, spicy! The lather was dry and my face is on FIRE!

I followed each shave with the same ASB fragrance. New derby blade(thanks TEXBILLY!), but the Trafalgar was skipping and nicking all over my face! Gonna give it one more try tomorrow I guess. Please tell me the 1805 is worth it! (kinda why I saved their original cream for last)

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

Grafton was by far my favorite. 1805 was definitely my least favorite scent of the lot. But it does have many ardent supporters. Perhaps you will be one ...

 

[SRock]

I enjoy Grafton as well. If the Trafalgar is irritating for you simply skip it. Perhaps there is an ingredient(s) that just don't agree with your skin.

 

[Barbash]

I use Trafalgar at least once per week and have never found the lather dry...

When you say dry do you mean the lather was flaking off your face or do you mean it dryed out your skin?
If the lather was flaking off your face try next time mixing some more water into your lather and try wetting your face before you apply the lather.
If you meant it dryed out your face than like Slagle said it could be an ingredient in the cream and just skip it.

For the record I didn't care for the Lime either and I love 1805.

Good luck.

 

[spoondude]

I am more of a soap user, but I went through that awesome sampler pack, and learned to use creams. I found all of them to be roughly equally excellent. The Grafton smells to me like the TOBS Mr. Taylor - which to me is a "barber shop scent".

If I use a cream, my favorite is T+H Ultimate comfort, and use a balm and cologne. In this case, I would use the trafalgar balm, and a sprit of Trafalgar cologne on my neck.

as they say, YMMV

 

[Dpflaum]

I loved the Trafalgar with the 1805 being a close second (but way too much fragrance) I thought the limes were chemically. For what it is worth, I got about 3 shaves out of each sample which allowed me to alter technique a little.

 

[travo36]

I pretty sure I used the same amount of water that I normally use. By the end of the shave the soap was dry on my face. No slickness, razor skipping like crazy! I am gonna give it a go again tonight, but if the same results occur, its getting tossed!

 

[kingfisher]

I like 1805 better than Grafton, which I like better than Trafalgar. With scents, especially, YMMV. 1805 smells heavenly to me.

 

[HoratioCaine]

When you say your face was "on fire," do you mean you were having a reaction to the cream, or were you experiencing discomfort due to a sub-par shave? If you're having a reaction to one of the cream's scenting ingredients, how well the cream functions is probably a moot point. Personally, I get great results from Trafalgar cream, so I'm not sure why it would be performing worse for you than the others you've tried. It is a heavily scented cream, though, so its potential for irritation on that front is significant.

FYI, 1805 isn't their original cream. It is a relatively recent scent, introduced in 1998. It was named in honor of their founding year.

 

[travo36]

Couldve been both, I was in a hurry. The technique was probably more to blame. Do they have a "signature" cream? I just assumed and that usually leads to mistakes.

 

[Sterling Cooper]

I have a tub of Grafton and Trafalgar and love 'em both. There must be some particular scent oil in the Trafalgar (since soap/cream composition is identical) that you're reacting to.

Jasmine is a particularly dominant note in Trafalgar. Could that be it?

 

[HoratioCaine]

Do they have a "signature" cream?

Well, I've heard that Almond was the original, and that for years it was the only cream scent T&H offered. (I'm vaguely remembering Gordon on SMF, who is pretty knowledgeable on such matters, as having said that. I'll stand corrected if I'm misremembering, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.) So, if they do have a siganture cream, it would proably be that. Having said that, I can't think of one that really stands out as definitive of the brand more than any other. Individuals can no doubt point to their favorites, but all their creams have claims to being excellent.

 

[travo36]

Could be the oil? Im gonna wait to shave until tomorrow night. I really think it was technique the more I think about it, the GF was rushing me so we wouldnt be late!

 

[travo36]

I haven got to the almond yet but I am looking forward to it!

 

[bald1]

I haven got to the almond yet but I am looking forward to it!

I'm also working my way through the samplers from T&H along with two other manufacturers.

I had an allergic reaction to the almond which put me off being able to shave for several days. I tried the lime and found the scent somewhat artificial and disagreeable. Hopefully one of the others will strike a positive chord.

 

[Zenas]

Limes, 1805, and Trafalgar are my favorites...

 

[travo36]

After shaving with trafalgar for the past week, I must say it has grown on me. Still not my favorite, but definitely not the *** I thought it was

 

[Verderer]

I use both 1805 and Trafalgar shave cream, and for me they work about the same, no problems. And the fragrances are . I also have the T&H luxury shaving soap, but have used it only once. No doubt will give it another go, once I have tried out some other brands.

By the way, speaking of T&H scents, I bought some Olivia's (from Germany) shaving cream and body soap the other day. The scent is called Caddy, and it's a very nice match with T&H Freshman scent. As T&H only make the after shave and cologne, I thought this is a good complement. Olivia make Caddy shaving soap too.

Apparently Caddy goes well with Green Irish Tweed by Creed, if you're so inclined.

I will try out the Caddy soon, and report how it went.

 

[travo36]

thank you kind sir!

 

[DESkydiver]

I use both 1805 and Trafalgar shave cream, and for me they work about the same, no problems. And the fragrances are . I also have the T&H luxury shaving soap, but have used it only once. No doubt will give it another go, once I have tried out some other brands.

I have the T&H Luxury soap and use it alone or to make a mixed lather with my Grafton and Trafalgar

As to OP, I've not had any issue with the T&H creams and prefer Grafton over Trafalgar, but both are quality product.