Thread: Castle Forbes creams reformulated

Given the popularity of these creams here at SRP, I thought you'd all appreciate hearing about a recent shopping experience of mine.

Whilst out shopping recently here in London, I noticed a different type of box laid out on the Castle Forbes table at Fortnum & Mason. Upon closer inspection it appears that not only the box has changed (I know they recently changed their packaging, but this appears to be a second change to packaging), but a key ingredient has been removed from the famous shaving creams. The new box is clearly labelled "PARABEN FREE" and it would appear from the ingredients list on the reverse side that there are indeed no parabens in the product. I understand that this ingredient tends to be off-putting to many (myself included), as this is a common ingredient in "canned-goo".

I was able to compare the ingredients of the new pack (the 200ml version) with an older travel sized pack (50ml?). The ingredients varied quite a bit, so it looks like they've definitely changed. Unfortunately, I was unable to take any photos or to note all the ingredients down...

Nonetheless, the salesman at the store had no idea they had reformulated, neither did he notice the additional writing on the box, so I presume this is fairly new. I do know that this particular store is one of very few "brick" stores (i.e. non-internet based stores) that stock more or less the entire CF range. They had no samples to give out, as usual.

As I said, perhaps this has already been posted here; if it has, apologies.

Say it ain't so!! Not another, not this one. Woe, oh woe.

How interesting. I wonder what the end difference is

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

How interesting. I wonder what the end difference is

It now performs exactly like the economy version of Williams.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It now performs exactly like the economy version of Williams.

Well, who knows, maybe the dude who thought of this one is already having second thoughts....

On the surface this seems to be one of those "why mess with a good thing" scenarios. I'm now very curious to to hear from someone who has used the new formula, as well as the new look. If it performs exactly the same, sans paraben, then perhaps this is a good thing.

rum, since you started this thread you might have to be the person who takes one for the team.....

Since I doubt there is any way Castle Forbes could be improved, this will probably be bad news for CF lovers. Having said that, I have to admit I don't really know anything about parabens, other than hearing vaguely that they are somehow bad. What function do they serve in shaving products, and what is lost if they are removed? Anyone?

Parabens are part of the ingredients in the preservatives that cream soaps have in them. It shouldn't effect the quality of the cream at all.

Just one guy's opinion, I love the cedar & sandalwood CF but AFAIC it ain't a cream it is a soap. I generate lather with it like I would with soap. Once whipped up it can't be beat but it ain't a cream I say.

When they took the tallow base out of the Trumper's, DR Harris it was like they took the bop out of the bop shoe bop and ram out of the rama rama ding dong.... if you know what I mean. I don't know what the parabens is but maybe the stuff will be even better now than it was. Hope so.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

On the surface this seems to be one of those "why mess with a good thing" scenarios. I'm now very curious to to hear from someone who has used the new formula, as well as the new look. If it performs exactly the same, sans paraben, then perhaps this is a good thing.

Quite right - that's pretty much what I was getting at. Obviously I couldn't have put it as well as you did Ryan , so thanks for posting it in such simple terms.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

rum, since you started this thread you might have to be the person who takes one for the team.....

To be entirely honest, I have never been able to use the CF creams to my satisfaction 100%. They smell great and work well for gentlemen's faces the world over, but I just can't seem to get enough moisture out of them for my own liking. Either way, I am more of a soap guy than anything else (I have no creams at home), so I would be the last person that tries this out...