Can someone please suggest an alternative to TOBS creams which give a good range of scents that are of similar price? While I've always had fairly good results from TOBS I haven't had such great customer service. Their brushes have been beyond poor shedding more than a frightened cat and it took me a month to get a replacement which ended up with the same issues in less than 6 months. Most of the creams are good but have had a few poor ones and I feel ready to try a different manufacturer but I don't really want to shed out money on really expensive artisan creams. Can you maybe give me a few suggestions please? I usually go for Cologne, fresh, woody or grassy scents such as cedarwood, avacado or Old Mr Taylors or the Jermyn Street. Don't like fruity or really soapy scents. Thanks!
Just put a tub down on an order. I'm concerned about the glycerin content. I hope it's not too much as I don't like it when it comes out like melted marshmallow. I had a tub of TOBS Eton College that was very heavy on the glycerin and was too gooey and sticky for my liking. Fingers crossed.
I enjoy stirling soaps and mama bear. Both artisans, both dirt cheap. Sturling also has phenomenal brushes and razors. Truefitt and Hill soaps are great, tabac, caties bubbles, and dr harris. Thete are plenty of good ones. If you dont like the taylor of old bond street, feel free to send them my way. I love them!
Unfortunately most of those aren't available in the UK without paying silly money to have them shipped over here although there is a supplier that stocks Stirling soaps so will definitely give that a try. I have my eye on a rather tempting Gin & Tonic scented tub.
Try the Trumpers - more expensive than TOBS, less than Truefitt and Hill. Overall, I think it provides more cushion than TOBS, and it's just a great cream at a reasonable price.
Gin and tonic is one of my favorites. Rod (the owner of the company) told me that they are also coming out with a "gin and tonic on the rocks," which is a mentholated version.
I didnt realize you were in England...What about italian or german soaps? Proraso, cella, saponificio varesino, Tabac, Klar, haslinger? Although pricey, martin de candre (of france) is considered to be one of the best soaps in the world.
The italians put out croaps (half cream/half soaps). They whip up a quick lather like creams but last much longer, which tends to make them great values. Martin de candre is a soap (but near to a croap). It is considered by many to be the easiest/best lathering soap in the world. Tabac makes a cream. To my knowledge, haslinger and klar do not make creams. Fow what its worth, soaps are known to last much, much longer, thus making them far greater values for the user...and far cheaper. Many of them require much more water than creams (there are many videos on this). Some actually become cream-like when the proper amount of water is added. I cannot imagine any reason to not use soaps besides having difficulties building a lather...but you can easily learn that. Only using creams will severely limit your choices, brands, and experience as a wet-shaving enthusiast. I highly suggest trying out soaps and croaps. I own some of all three. The soaps are easily the best (especially on the wallet).
If you are looking for a good cream for a decent price I would go with Godrej. Has lanolin and good ingredients, whips up a great lather, the menthol one has a nice fresh scent as well.
You may want to try http://www.retroshaveshop.com/. I have all of @Salty Belle products as do many other members of TSD. Everyone raves about their quality and performance.
Wizard, Tchoen Fung Sing, a 50 year old, 3rd generation shaving soap company, located in Torino, Italy is a spectacular "croap" producer. It is a artisan company that produces soaps for several companies, including "RazoRock" soaps for the Italian Barber Shaving Supply Company here in the U. S. and Canada. Excellent soaps. Some of my favorite. And produced in the UK. Prices are quite reasonable indeed. Semper-fi, Mike
While I like the smell of TOBS, it doesn't seem to me to be a top performer -- good, but not great. Of the British shaving creams, my personal favorite is Geo F Trumper Russian Leather.
That's a neat trick, considering 1805 actually came out in 1998. Per the OP, the standard English creams are of comparable quality, and provide good alternatives to TOBS: Trumper, T&H, and DRH. (Salter may be another, but I've not tried the brand.) Since you're in the UK, perhaps you can find your way to London and check them out in person, since all the brands have their stores there. How did you end up liking 1805?
