I have never used Tabac Shaving Soap. Good review, I might just try some. When I run out of my shaving soaps that I have in my stash, maybe after inauguration day in 2021?
Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap is much maligned because people don't know how to use it. MWF must be properly hydrated before use. What this means is a puck must be soaked (as in submerged) in water for at least 24 hours before use. Once it has been hydrated (remember to pour off the excess water) it will lather in seconds. Daily use will keep it performing at high levels. If you quit using it for a while, just rehydrate it before use. The ceramic MWF dish is specially sized to hold a hydrated puck. The puck will swell to fill the dish. Otherwise, there's almost a half inch gap around the puck. A puck of MWF will easily last a year, so the cost drops down to about $1 a month.
Maybe it's because I did some homework first but MWF wasn't that hard to lather. My first attempt wasn't great but it was good enough to shave. My next attempt worked really well as I adjusted the amount of water. I think its reputation is somewhat deserved but all it takes is a little practice and determination. The lather is awesome!
I agree with this whole heartedly! I'm late to the party but I'd give the edge to MWF over tabac due to the lather. MWF is finicky but once it's been dialed in it's hard to beat for the price. Plus the post shave is amazing. I have hard water so I do load more than some need to but yield fantastic results. Plus the subtle scent can b paired with pretty much any aftershave. Tabac on the other hand is much easier to dial in the lather. I generally follow up tabac with something powdery in scent. Good pairings have been clubman, rr blue or floid blue for me. For cheaper options av blue and musk or old spice original. I do grate both soaps into a hocking bowl which helps in loading to me.
Both are outstanding and i feel everyone should own both but the face feel of mwf is out of this world.
Tabac is vastly superior to Mitchell's in every single category and a far better value. IMO Mitchell's is one of the most overrated soaps out there and the scent is underwhelming.
What's wrong with chamomile and lavender? (At least, that's the fragrance I get out of MWF, it's almost a dryer sheet fragrance). Just sniffed the puck. Definitely lavender and chamomile.
Over on B&B, grating and mixing MWF and Tabac is considered to create a soap greater than each individually.
Fat. But that's just today. Really for me that can changet tomorrow with these 2 soaps. Both fantastic.
Today I would prefer tabac. It is really is like that with these two soaps for me but note I have no problem lathering mwf.
MWF, by a small margin. PLANofMAN is right though, you do need to keep MWF hydrated. It stays hydrated with regular use and a closed container. Tabac is excellent also though.
I have found this to be true as well. MWF definitely likes to be hydrated but using a well shook out boar brush on the wet puck will give you all the lather you want, and the slickness is amazing.
