The granddaddy of barbershop scents, Tabac by Maurer & Wirtz is just about as old school and vintage as you can get. Not only does this fragrance go back to the late 1950's, but the Maurer & Wirtz company also makes a companion luxury shaving soap and aftershave lotion that also carry the Tabac brand name.
The whole concept of a "luxury shave" seems to be slowly gathering steam and building a strong community of enthusiasts, and there is obviously a lot of crossover with the fragrance-loving crowd. If you enjoy using fragrances, you enjoy smelling good, and if you enjoy smelling good, then it might be fun to extend that opportunity all the way back to the beginning of your day: the morning shave.
The shaving soap, aftershave lotion, and fragrance (an eau de cologne, by the way, not the usual eau de toilette) all share the same core notes of strong lavender, earthy vetiver, rich sandalwood, and spicy pepper, with a smooth amber base. As you might expect, these notes are much more pronounced in the fragrance than in the soap or lotion, but even in the fragrance these notes are far from harsh or invasive.
The entire bouquet is a living Normal Rockwell painting of a man in a crisp white button-up shirt and tie, hair slicked back (using Brylcreem, no doubt), and a freshly shaven face with a mouth that holds a lit pipe. It is not a loud fragrance, but it also has a certain confident presence. It smells like clean face.
Tabac is a snapshot in history, and I'm glad that it still exists to be enjoyed. Their products are incredibly affordable (I think I got a 50ml bottle of the eau de cologne for about $10), so there's really no reason not to have a bottle on hand.
9/10 stars.
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