Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Soap Review: Worth the British Premium?

I still remember the first time I opened a tin of Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving soap. It arrived in a small cardboard box, the bowl itself wrapped in tissue paper like a piece of fine china. When I lifted the lid, the scent of sandalwood hit me — not the synthetic, cloying sweetness you get from drugstore products, but something warmer, more refined. That was fifteen years ago, early in my wet shaving journey, and it was the moment I understood what “classic British shaving” actually meant.

Since then, I’ve tested over three hundred different razors, soaps, and creams. I’ve used everything from $3 Arko sticks to $40 artisan tubs. And through it all, Taylor of Old Bond Street has remained a benchmark — not because it’s the absolute best, but because it represents something specific: traditional British quality at a price that straddles the line between accessible and premium.

The question I keep getting asked: is TOBS worth the British premium? Let’s find out.

The Heritage Behind the Bowl

Taylor of Old Bond Street was founded in 1854, which means they’ve been making grooming products for over 170 years. The original shop on Jermyn Street in London served British aristocracy and international gentlemen, earning royal warrants along the way. While the company has modernized and expanded globally, they’ve maintained that connection to traditional British barbering.

The actual shop on Bond Street is worth visiting if you’re ever in London. Walking in feels like stepping back in time — mahogany fixtures, glass display cases, the kind of attention to detail that defined pre-war retail. They still mix custom fragrances and offer straight razor shaves. It’s not just marketing; there’s real heritage here.

Does that heritage make the soap lather better? Not directly. But it does explain the formulation philosophy: classic, proven, refined over decades rather than chasing trends or reinventing the wheel every season.

Product Lineup: Bowls, Tubs, and Creams

TOBS makes both soaps and creams, and understanding the difference is important. The shaving creams come in tubes or tubs and are softer, faster to lather, and generally easier for beginners. The hard soaps come in ceramic bowls or plastic tubs, require more loading time, but produce denser, slicker lather.

I prefer the hard soaps. They last longer, give you more control over lather density, and — honestly — the ceramic bowls look better in my shave den.

The signature scents include:

• Sandalwood — the classic, their best-seller
• Jermyn Street Collection — fougère-style fragrances for different preferences
• Avocado — milder scent with skin-conditioning properties
• St. James Collection — their luxury line with more complex scents
• Eton College — traditional cologne-style fragrance

I’ve used five of their scents extensively. Let me walk you through the three I reach for most often.

Sandalwood: The Benchmark

This is the TOBS soap most people try first, and for good reason. The sandalwood scent is warm, slightly sweet, unmistakably classic. It’s not challenging or polarizing — it’s the scent profile that defined British shaving for generations.

Lather quality: I load for about 30 seconds with a damp badger brush (slightly longer with synthetic). The soap takes water well, which is crucial. I start with a barely-damp brush, load until I see paste forming on the tips, then add water gradually while building lather in a bowl. The sweet spot is when the lather has a yogurt-like consistency — thick enough to provide cushion, but not so dry it breaks apart.

When dialed in properly, Sandalwood produces lather that’s creamy, dense, and incredibly slick. The glide is excellent. I can do a full three-pass shave (with the grain, across, against) without relathering between passes if I’m careful about water content.

Scent profile: The sandalwood opens bright and slightly citrusy, then settles into that warm, woody core. It’s not intensely strong — maybe a 5 out of 10 — and it fades to background level within 20 minutes of your shave. That makes it office-safe and versatile, but if you want maximum scent throw, this isn’t it.

Post-shave feel: My skin feels clean but not tight. There’s some moisturizing effect from the tallow and glycerin, but not as much as modern artisan soaps with heavy post-shave additives. I still use an aftershave balm, but I don’t need it urgently the way I do after using some stripped-down formulations.

Mr. Taylor: The Sophisticated Alternative

Mr. Taylor (from the Jermyn Street Collection) is what I use when I want something a bit more refined than Sandalwood. The scent is a classic fougère — lavender, geranium, and oakmoss with a slightly powdery finish.

The lather performance is virtually identical to Sandalwood. Same loading time, same water tolerance, same slickness. TOBS clearly uses a consistent base across their hard soap line, which I appreciate. When you find the technique that works, it works for all their soaps.

What sets Mr. Taylor apart is the scent experience. It’s more complex, more adult, more “I’ve been wet shaving for years and know what I like.” If Sandalwood is the safe choice, Mr. Taylor is the choice that signals you’ve moved beyond the basics.

Avocado: The Dark Horse

Avocado doesn’t get as much attention, but it’s become my daily driver for a specific reason: I have combination skin that can get irritated easily, and Avocado consistently gives me the smoothest, most comfortable shaves.

The scent is mild — almost neutral with just a hint of green, fresh notes. If you’re sensitive to fragrances or prefer to let your aftershave do the scent work, this is perfect.

The lather feels slightly creamier than Sandalwood, possibly due to the avocado oil in the formulation. The post-shave is noticeably better — my skin feels softer, more conditioned. It’s not artisan-soap level (we’ll get to that comparison), but it’s a step up from standard TOBS.

How TOBS Stacks Up: The Comparison Test

Here’s where we get real. TOBS costs £15-18 GBP (roughly $20-24 USD depending on exchange rates and where you buy). Is that justified compared to alternatives?

vs. Proraso (Green/Red/White)

Proraso costs about $10-12 for a tub. It’s the Italian benchmark — eucalyptus-menthol shaving that works, period. I’ve used gallons of Proraso over the years.

The verdict: Proraso lathers faster and has more cooling sensation (if you get the green). TOBS lathers slicker and has more refined scents. For raw performance, they’re closer than the price gap suggests. TOBS wins on elegance and scent complexity; Proraso wins on value and simplicity. If you’re shaving every day and want something that just works, Proraso is hard to beat. If you want your shave to feel like a ritual, TOBS pulls ahead.

vs. Arko Shaving Stick

Arko costs $2-3 per stick and lathers like a champion. It also smells like urinal cakes (some people say “fresh,” I say “aggressive”). Performance-wise, Arko is shockingly good for the price.

The verdict: TOBS is absolutely worth the extra money over Arko. The scent alone justifies it. But here’s what Arko proves: you don’t need to spend $20 to get a great shave. TOBS is a luxury, not a necessity. If you’re on a budget, buy Arko and spend the savings on a better razor or brush.

vs. Mitchell’s Wool Fat

Mitchell’s Wool Fat (MWF) is another British classic, often cited as one of the best performing soaps ever made. It’s also notoriously hard to lather for beginners — it requires soft water and specific technique.

The verdict: MWF outperforms TOBS on slickness and post-shave feel when you dial it in correctly. But that’s a big “when.” TOBS is far more forgiving, far easier to get consistent results, and has much better scent options. If you’re an experienced wet shaver with soft water, try MWF. If you want reliable, excellent shaves without fuss, stick with TOBS.

vs. Barrister and Mann (Reserve/Soft Heart)

Now we’re comparing TOBS to modern American artisan soaps. Barrister and Mann’s Reserve line costs $20-24, similar to TOBS. The Soft Heart base is widely considered one of the best performing bases on the market.

The verdict: Barrister and Mann wins on post-shave feel, residual slickness, and scent complexity. The artisan revolution has produced soaps that outperform traditional British formulations, full stop. But TOBS has two things going for it: (1) heritage and tradition, if that matters to you, and (2) scents that are classic rather than adventurous. If you want your shave to smell like tobacco-vanilla-leather-spice, go artisan. If you want your shave to smell like sandalwood, TOBS does it perfectly.

The Value Question: Is £15-18 Justified?

Here’s my honest assessment: Taylor of Old Bond Street sits in an awkward middle ground. It’s too expensive to be a budget choice, but not quite premium enough to compete with top-tier artisan soaps on pure performance.

What you’re paying for:

• Reliable, proven performance that works for most people
• Classic British scents done authentically
• Heritage and presentation (those ceramic bowls)
• Wide availability — you can find TOBS almost anywhere

What you’re not getting:

• Cutting-edge formulation with exotic butters and post-shave additives
• The absolute best performance possible at this price point
• Adventurous or complex scent profiles

Is it worth it? If you value tradition, aesthetics, and the ritual of using a product with 170 years of history, yes. If you’re purely chasing performance-per-dollar, modern artisans edge it out.

Where to Buy in the US

TOBS is widely available, which is one of its strengths. You can find it at:

• Amazon: Usually $18-22 with Prime shipping. Search Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving soap on Amazon
• Specialty retailers: Maggard Razors, West Coast Shaving, The Shave Shed
• Directly from TOBS: If you’re ordering multiple items, their website offers UK pricing (though you’ll pay international shipping)

I usually buy from Amazon when they run sales. At $16-17, it’s a no-brainer. At $24, I’d rather buy Barrister and Mann.

Who Should Buy Taylor of Old Bond Street?

TOBS is perfect for:

• Intermediate wet shavers who want to step up from drugstore products without diving into artisan deep-end
• People who prefer classic, traditional scents over modern complex profiles
• Shavers who value heritage and aesthetics as part of the ritual
• Anyone who wants reliable, proven performance without a learning curve

TOBS might not be right if:

• You’re on a tight budget (Proraso or Arko make more sense)
• You want absolute maximum performance (modern artisans are better)
• You prefer adventurous scents (try Stirling or Noble Otter)
• You have hard water (TOBS can struggle; consider a cream instead)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a bowl of TOBS last?

With daily use, a 150g bowl lasts me about 4-5 months. That’s loading heavily with a large badger brush for 30-40 seconds per shave. If you’re more conservative or use a smaller brush, you could stretch it to 6 months easily.

Do I need a ceramic bowl or can I get the plastic tub?

Performance is identical. The ceramic bowl looks nicer on a shelf and feels more premium, but it’s heavier and more breakable. I prefer ceramic for home use, plastic for travel. The plastic tub usually costs $2-3 less.

Can I use TOBS with hard water?

It works, but not ideally. TOBS is a tallow-based soap that prefers soft water. With hard water, you’ll need to load longer and add more product to get good lather. If you have very hard water, consider their shaving cream instead — it’s more forgiving.

Which scent should I try first?

Sandalwood is the classic for a reason. It’s universally liked, performs great, and gives you the quintessential TOBS experience. If you don’t like warm, woody scents, try Mr. Taylor (fougère) or Eton College (fresh cologne).

Is the St. James Collection worth the extra cost?

The St. James line costs about $5-7 more and uses the same soap base with more complex fragrances. If scent is your priority, yes. If performance is your priority, no — you’re paying for perfume, not better lather.

Final Verdict: Worth the British Premium?

After fifteen years and hundreds of shaves with Taylor of Old Bond Street, my answer is: mostly yes, with caveats.

TOBS delivers exactly what it promises — traditional British shaving soap with reliable performance, classic scents, and a touch of heritage. It’s not the best performing soap at this price point (modern artisans have surpassed it), and it’s not the best value (Proraso costs half as much). But it occupies a unique space: accessible luxury that connects you to wet shaving tradition.

If you’re the kind of shaver who appreciates ritual, history, and the feeling of using a product that gentlemen have trusted for generations, TOBS is absolutely worth $20. If you purely want the slickest, most skin-nourishing lather possible, spend that $20 on Barrister and Mann or Declaration Grooming instead.

Me? I keep Sandalwood in rotation. Not because it’s the best soap I own — it isn’t. But because some mornings, I want my shave to feel like walking into that shop on Bond Street in 1920. TOBS delivers that.

And sometimes, that’s worth the British premium.

Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I’ve personally used and believe in. All opinions are my own based on 23 years of wet shaving experience.