Observations Upon Recent Novelties
Tabac Shaving Soap
A German formulation of surprising merit.
My assistant placed a bowl of Tabac shaving soap on the dressing table and waited for an objection.
Mäurer & Wirtz introduced Tabac in 1959. The company itself dates to 1845 in Stolberg. I do not recall seeing its wares in London, though I was then, and remain, partial to Truefitt & Hill.
Under a damp brush, the soap produces a dense lather without much effort. It is better than the hard, chalky soaps once sold by provincial apothecaries, a comparison which Tabac wins without strain.
The cushion is good and the blade moves cleanly. The soap also tolerates a little variation in water, which helps when the user is awake but not yet competent.
The published scent list is long. In use, I notice bergamot and lavender first, followed by sandalwood, dry tobacco, and a persistent floral note.
It is a strong, old-fashioned scent. Anyone who prefers an unscented product or shares a small bathroom with an unwilling audience should take that seriously. The fragrance remains after the shave.
The floral character would have been classified differently in my own period. That is a fact about the period, not the soap. Tabac smells clean, floral, woody, and unmistakable. I commend its performance and advise smelling it before buying a large bowl.