Taylor of Old Bond Street Oud Shaving Cream Review
Taylor of Old Bond Street Oud Shaving Cream
The Taylor of Old Bond Street Oud Shaving Cream in a tub–I picked up–was just as good at lubricating and as latherable as other TOBS creams I have used. It’s also nicely comforting after the shave. The Oud scent was a terrific, fresh kind of fruity and earthy scent delight
Pros
Lathers up very well when using a small amount
TOBS is a trusted brand that many of us wet shavers recommend
The scent was a hit and lingered gently for many hours
Good value for money or price point
Cons
If the Oud scent is not for you, then it is a con
If you are anything like me, you would have been thinking, ‘What the heck is OUD?’ (yes, I did have to Google it!).
I didn’t purchase a tub of (TOBS) ‘Taylor of Old Bond Street Oud Shaving Cream because of the peculiar name–It, like many other TOBS creams, gained some attention in the wet shaving community, so it was time to get a tub to use and review.
It’s hard to go wrong with TOBS shaving supplies. The last product I used and reviewed was the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Pre-Shave Oil. That worked a treat, and the scent was lively for a sandalwood 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 experience during and after shaving.
Description and Features
Interesting facts: after Googling, I found Oud, a tree known as Agarwood, among other names. It is a fragrant, dark, and resinous wood used for incense and perfume. Interestingly, the scent is only secreted when the tree defends itself against fungal infestation, so without the threat of fungal, we would never know the scent of Oud.
The tub, like other TOBS shaving cream tubs, is opened with a screw cap that features small lines around the lid, making it easier to remove the top cap. A new tub provides a plastic cap cover over the fresh shaving cream.
The cream had a hardish layer appearance (it’s not hard, though) over the top, and looks uneven in appearance.
Ingredients
The cream contains the humectant Glycerin, which helps to lock in moisture and is used in many shaving creams. Other fatty acids and ingredients are included to make the soap lather, clean, and soften, among other factors that make a shaving cream function as it does.
Check the list below to ensure you are not sensitive to any of these ingredients if you have allergies or sensitivities. The most likely sensitivity would be what is in the parfum!
Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Coconut Fatty Acid, Glycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, (Parfum Contains: Geraniol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone)
Scent
If you have used TOBS cream in the past, you’ll just want to know all about this Oud scent and already know you are a fan of the cream.
TOBS States — An uplifting scent with bright quince and a spicy heart of rose and saffron. Leaves a rich and lingering scent of rich oud and dry amber.
As soon as I opened the tub of Oud and took a whiff–the gentle but fresh kind of fruity, and earthy scent was a delight. I knew I was happy with it!
The earthy aspect is the Oud, which is the base note, and the clean/fresh part of the scent is at the top notes, while I would aim at the fruity and flowery aspect in the middle to top. That’s what my nostrils tell me!
An absolute delight!
The scent is very apparent while shaving and lasts for several hours when no other layer of scent is added.
Lather and Shaving Experience
There were not going to be any surprises for me, lathering up and using the TOBS Oud Shaving Cream. I am well acquainted with TOBS creams. However, it had been a while since I had used any, so I was looking forward to experiencing some TOBS again.
Before this review, I had used Oud cream a good few times. I needed to use it a few times while testing out a new shaving bowl (Muhle Porcelain) and a new brush (Simpson Trafalgar T3 Synthetic). A change of brush can change a lot!
As expected, the lather was thick and creamy and was best bowl-lathered while using the Simpson T3 Synthetic I was testing. Synthetics can at times be too dry or leak out too much water when face-lathering, and it was the dryness I experienced with the Oud (not the cream’s fault).
A finger scoop is plenty enough with this cream, and the 150g (5.3 fl. oz) is going to last a long time.
My skin felt soft and moisturized after the shave, and of course (as mentioned), that scent lingered nicely for a few hours.
I do find it can dry out quickly, but this is more about me getting the right mix of water and lather. However, we usually have to keep moving with the razor while shaving to stop any soaps or creams from drying out.
I can’t fault TOBS, especially when considering its price point!
Value for Money
When it comes to value for money, the TOBS Oud is a bargain. You can buy cheaper creams and some that are much more expensive; however, at this price point for the quality–leaves me with no complaints.
Cost: Approx. $22 USD (£15 GBP – €20 EU)
The tub is going to last. You’ll only need to use a small amount each time you shave.
Final Thoughts – Should You Try It?
It was a pleasure to use some TOBS cream again, and it was good to revisit what it was like and the value-for-money I get with a tub of TOBS.
You can see the scent (Oud) was a definite winner for me.
If you’re new to using TOBS products, this is a good choice. If you already use other TOBS shaving creams, you might want to give this one a try and let me know how you get on.
