Tabac Original Beard and Shaving Oil - 50ml

The scent is definitely there. You notice as soon as you open the jar (small but not tiny - a decent size for an oil that is supposed to be used sparingly) that the traditional Tabac scent is present. That isn’t the case with all Tabac products (their travel soap, for example) but in this case there’s no mistaking the familiar smell. It comes with a convenient dropper which helps cut back on wasting any of the oil but you might require a few draws to get the amount you want.

The oil itself has a nice consistency. It's not particularly thick and heavy so it does spread easily. However, it's not so watery that it just slides off your hand or face. That means when you place it on your beard it offers good coverage but without feeling heavy or sticky. And the Tabac smell is there, but not in an overpowering fashion. It does fade after a short time but there’s still a subtle hint of it lingering on the hair.

As I no-longer have a beard I’m using the Tabac oil as a pre-shave. On its own it certainly adds a little bit of glide to the shaving experience and softness the hair a touch. However, I’m also experimenting with it as a blend with Jojoba oil as a way of bumping up the performance of both. Jojoba oil is great on the face and doesn’t carry any noticeable scent but I find it a bit too dense which can interfere with my shaving creams and soaps. Tabac oil, on the other hand, is a bit ‘thinner’ in consistency and can be washed away by the shaving products unless you apply it quite liberally. However, in combination with the Jojoba you get a blend that fixes both issues. You still retain the Tabac scent but get a bit more hold via the Jojoba. That means you end up using less of each which is a good saving. As a bonus, I’ve been able to use the blend as a post-shave to moisturise my face. Jojoba is wonderful in that regard but it can feel a bit too much at times (too thick and greasy) and then there’s a need to apply a scent. Blended with the Tabac you kill two birds with one stone.

Will I buy it again? Yes, absolutely. It works for me as a pre and post shave. It isn’t overly expensive (especially when I can blend it with Jojoba) and it has the smell I clearly enjoy. I think it’s definitely worth others trying, especially for those with a beard.