Taconic Pre-Shave Oil Unscented Review
Taconic Pre-Shave Oil Unscented
The Unscented Pre-Shave Oil from Taconic ticks the right boxes in terms of natural and organic ingredients. And, while it is unscented it gives off a slight citrus aroma, but it did not match the TOBS I recently used and reviewed.
Pros
Unscented without parfum prevents other scent classes from soaps, creams, or after-shave balms
Large bottle and good price point
Organic and natural ingredients list
It contains oils that improve skin health
Cons
I did not feel it protects as well as other pre-shaves used
Post-shave did not seem to offer any added moisturizing, but I could be missing that
The next pre-shave on the list to test out and review was Taconic Pre-Shave Oil–Unscented. I bought a tub of Taconic Bay Rum Shaving Cream to go with it (that shall be reviewed very soon).
The last pre-shave reviewed was the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood. It was class, worked well, and the aroma was scentiful!
Taconic is well known in the wet shaving community for its quality shaving soaps and creams. They also sell Parker products like razors and have a wide range of grooming supplies for us guys to delve into.
I have to say, this pre-shave after using the TOBS (Taylor of Old Bond Street), theTaconic Pre-Shave was not quite as good. I have to use a lot more than the TOBS, but we do get a larger bottle, and it’s good to have an unscented oil that won’t clash with other scents.
Description and Features
We get a lot of oil in the bottle. A 2oz (59ml)bottle is larger than most, so we are off to a good start!
I like the pump top design that makes it easy enough to apply to the hand, and when the oil runs low in the bottle, the cap can be taken off to get the last dribbles out.
Ingredients
If it’s a product with natural and organic ingredients you need, then the Taconic Pre-Shave definitely covers that. Castor and grapeseed oil are the usual suspects you’ll find in a pre-shave oil.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the main actors:
- Castor oil is an emollient (type of moisturizer) that also forms a film of water-binding properties on the skin.
- Grapeseed oil is usually a carrier oil that helps vitamin E to be more efficient. It also contains an antioxidant.
- Safflower oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, which contribute to preventing dryness and loss of moisture.
- The lime oil is most likely the cause or part of the reason why the oil is quite yellowish. It is said to be refreshing and cleansing and is used in massage oils. The lime oil is why I get a hint of zest scent when using it!
Carthamus Tinctorius (*Safflower) Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis (*Castor) Seed Oil, Vitas Vinifera (Grape Seed) Oil, Citrus Latifolia Tanaka (Lime) Oil, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E). *organic ingredient
Check the ingredient list for yourself if you have sensitivities. While they are natural and some are organic, it does not mean they are fine for everyone’s skin.
Scent
It’s unscented, so there is not much to write home about here. However, I do get some notes of citrus and wondered why.
After looking at the ingredients list properly, I found it was the lime oil that must be producing the citrus notes that are actually very pleasant.
The citrusy smell won’t get in the way of any other scents used in your shaving soap, cream, or after-shave balms. I think this should be mentioned, though, on the sales page, although it is not a parfum–so, in a way, it’s not a scent.
Don’t let it put you off–it’s pleasant!
Using Taconic Pre-Shave Oil
I used the pre-shave oil on four occasions before having enough experience to give you guys feedback.
I got to test it out with a tub of Taconic Bay Rum Shave Cream and the Parker Adjustable Injector Razor I was testing out (a class Parker and Taconic set-up). I also tried out a tube of Proraso Red Shaving Cream with the pre-shave oil.
Texture
As we would expect, it was oily. However, it was not very thick and much more watery than the bottle of TOBS I recently used.
It being thinner meant I had to use more than the amount I used of TOBS.
Applying and Shave
The oil was easy enough to massage into the stubble whiskers, and that slight citrus smell was refreshing. As mentioned, I had to use more oil than I previously did with the TOBS, and it just did not feel that it gave a layer of protection as the TOBS did.
I tested out using pre-shave on one side and just water and then lather on the other without the pre-shave to see if anything was notable for me during and after the shave. Unfortunately, I did not notice much difference at all, and nothing I can say wowed me like the TOBS pre-shave.
The post-shave with the Taconic Bay Rum Cream was much the same as the post-shave without the pre-shave. I’m not complaining, as the Bay Rum Shaving Cream from Taconic had a nice post-shave moisturized effect, but I am not sure the pre-shave had much to do with it (I’m guessing it did, but not noticeable).
The pump-top design makes it easy to pump out a couple of squirts or so on the hand before applying.
Value for Money
The Taconic Pre-Shave costs around $15 (USD), which is a good price for a bottle that is 2 fl oz (59ml).
I paid about the same price for the TOBS, which is half the size at 1 fl oz (30ml), but I am happy to pay more or have less in a bottle for a better-performing product.
Final Thoughts – Who Should Buy Taconic Uncented Pre-Shave Oil?
I was more than happy with the price of the large bottle, its pump top design, and even that mild citrus aroma. However, after using the TOBS Sandalwood Pre-Shave, I found it just did not provide as much protection and post-shave improvement.
If you need a mild type of pre-shave without added ingredients above what’s natural in the Taconic Pre-Shave–then it could be worth a try.
Other reviews I read were quite mixed, with some being really happy with it. It might be a matter of each experience to their own (I did notice a couple of others did not notice any improvement with the oil, though).
The ingredients contained in the oil will offer some benefits to the skin, without a doubt–even if I did not notice them in a short space of time. Using it frequently over some time may help some guys who are prone to skin dryness or other sensitivities.
