Taylor Of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Review
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream
The Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream, like other TOBS creams, lathers up easily and gives the required protection and lubrication while shaving. The scent is strong enough but not overpowering, but the lather does get thirsty quickly.
Pros
It lathers up quickly and provides a slick lather when using a small amount
TOBS is a trusted brand that many of us wet shavers recommend
The Sandalwood scent was a nice floral, woodsy, spicy treat and lingered gently
Good value for money or price point
Cons
I guess TOBS does get thirsty and can dry out quite quickly, although it is easily overcome when adding a drop of after on the brush
TOBS (Taylor Of Old Bond Street) is right up there with the best shaving creams on the market, and Sandalwood must definitely be one of their best sellers.
The Sandalwood must be popular as it’s one of the very few TOBS pre-shaves that can be paired with their creams and shaving soaps (Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Pre-Shave Oil).
I am planning on trying other Sandalwood shaving creams and recently used and reviewed a tub of Simpsons Sandalwood. The plan is to find what’s best!
The last TOBS cream I used was the Taylor of Old Bond Street Oud Shaving Cream. That is a shockingly great scent!
In the review, I will run through what the cream features and tell you all about what I think of the scent, texture, and the during and after the shave experience.
Description and Features
The shaving cream comes in the standard 150g (5.3fl.oz) tub with notches around the top cap to help us unscrew the cap.
Once the top cap is opened, you should get a hardish-looking top cream layer and get a gentle whiff of the scent.
Ingredients
TOBS Sandalwood is not one of those creams that ticks the free-from, organic, vegan, or other boxes that some people require. So, if you are skin sensitive, then check out the ingredients list for any potential irritants.
Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients in this shaving cream, with explanations of what each does and any potential skin concerns.
- Stearic Acid: A fatty acid that helps thicken the cream and create a smooth, stable lather for easier shaving.
- Myristic Acid: Another fatty acid that contributes to creating a foamy lather; also acts as a cleanser.
- Potassium Hydroxide & Sodium Hydroxide: Used as pH adjusters and help to saponify (turn fats into soap) the fatty acids, creating a creamy texture. In high amounts, they can be irritating.
- Coconut Fatty Acid: Derived from coconut oil, it helps provide moisture and conditioning, making shaving smoother.
- Glycerin: A humectant that draws moisture to the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft.
- Triethanolamine: pH balancer and stabilizer that helps maintain a creamy consistency. Can cause irritation in sensitive skin with prolonged use.
- Benzyl Alcohol: Preservative and fragrance component. While it prevents bacterial growth, it can be drying and irritating for some.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone & Methylisothiazolinone: Preservatives that protect against bacteria and mold. Known allergens that can cause skin irritation or sensitization with repeated exposure.
- Triethylene Glycol & Propylene Glycol: Moisturizing agents and humectants that help retain moisture in the skin. They can occasionally cause irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Magnesium Nitrate & Magnesium Chloride: Stabilizers that help maintain the product’s consistency.
- Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Evernia Furfuracea Extract, Evernia Prunastri Extract, Limonene, Coumarin: These are all naturally derived fragrance components. Many of them (like Limonene, Linalool, and Citronellol) are known allergens that can cause skin irritation, especially in sensitive or allergy-prone individuals.
That’s a common list of ingredients we find in many traditional shaving creams that help us whip up a good lubricant to lather.
Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Coconut Fatty Acid, Glycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Triethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, (Parfum Contains: Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Evernia Furfuracea Extract, Evernia Prunastri Extract, Limonene, Coumarin).
Scent
I like Sandalwood, but it has now become somewhat vanilla to me, and I look for something more, or maybe just different. However, Sandalwood is a popular option and usually has a good, musky, masculine scent that I would call barbershop style.
I recently tried Simpson Sandalwood, and I know Proraso RED Sandalwood very well (they are both very good). However, I prefer this one from TOBS, it has more scent.
There is a decent scent that hits my nostrils as soon as I take off the tub lid, but not aggressively, and it’s enough to know it’s Sandalwood.
I definitely get some light and fresh floral top notes and something spicy (likely the Euegnol) and woodsy in the middle. The base notes remain floral, woodsy, and kind of warm. That’s what my nostrils tell me anyway!
The scent did linger for a couple of hours which I like. The lingering is not overpowering, though, just present.
Overall, it’s a great Sandalwood scent.
Lather and Shaving Experience
I am already a user of TOBS shaving creams, so I know what to expect.
I stuck with a tub of this for a fair few shaves and with the latest safety razor YouTube videos.
It is very easy to lather, and I use about the size of a large almond, which is usually enough. I did face lather and bowl lather, and both were suitable with this cream.
When applied, it can get quite thirsty, which could be due to glycerin. The thirstyness required me to add a bit of extra water to the brush to keep what lather I had on my face hydrated. This thirstyness happens with many creams and soaps, and it’s no drama.
I got the protection I need and plenty of lubrication that helped the razor glide.
I also used it with TOBS Sandalwood Pre-Shave after I tried it out without pre-shave first, and that was a real treat. If you like scent while shaving, particularly Sandalwood, then that combo is a treat.
Post Shave
As always, I leave my skin naked when testing out a new shaving cream or soap to see how my skin is after.
I was left with a nice soft feeling on my face after shaving, and while my skin was mildly dry, it soon came back to life after an hour or so without applying balm or anything else.
It was even softer and less dry when using it with the pre-shave oil.
Value For Money
TOBS creams get close to top marks in terms of price point. When I go cheaper than this price range, I usually find the quality reduces somewhat.
In the US, you are going to pick a tub up for a little under $20, and in the UK around £16 – £18.
A 75ml (2.5fl.oz) travel tube is also available and costs around $10 – $13 or £9 – £12.
Final Thoughts – Who Should Try It?
If you are a Sandalwood or fresh woodsy floral scent type of gentleman, then the TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Cream ticks that box. It’s a quality lubricant at a decent price, which ticks another box for me.
The only issue I could see is someone being sensitive to some of the ingredients as it is not a free-from style of cream.
I am definitely more of a fan of the Taylor of Old Bond Street Oud Shaving Cream–purely on the scent, as that stuff is just an absolute delight to my nostrils (scent is always subjective, of course).
