Tabac bowl Vs stick?

Tabac AS is something I remember from boyhood as one of my dad's AS of choice, and I must admit that while it's not my day to day AS, it's more like my special occasions choice. That being said, I have never tried the Tabac soap. if the smell is similar I assume I'll like it, and sort of made up my mind to make it my venture into the better soaps (up till now I've used Nivea cream,Proraso Green soap and 2 kinds of Israeli MEM).
Now considering I lather in a bowl anyway and that countertop is at a super-premium, is there a noticeable difference between the Tabac stick and the bowl - aside from the "you get another lathering bowl, stu@!d" answer, which I know - meaning differences in brush loading ease, soap quality, storage or anything else. the stick is half the price, 3/4 the content, travel ready and will better survive a newborn baby trying to take over the non existent counter top (my straight and DE relocated to the top of my wall mounted gun safe, my AS and creams to a drawer). any downsides I should be aware of?

cheers
Grizli

Soap is soap, whether it comes as a puck or in stick form. The thing about Tabac is you either love it or hate it, nothing in between. If you're like me and love it you'll want a full sized puck so it will last longer :) ! On the other hand you've brought up some valid practicality issues. A shave stick makes some sense with the criteria you've set forth, though they are most useful for face lathering so if that doesn't bother you then go for it. If you like bowl lathering some guys will grate a stick into a bowl, but then you might as well just buy the puck. I know, decisions, decisions.....

So basically the short answer is there is no real down side, unless you don't like the smell of Tabac. FYI I'd say the soap smells a bit dryer than the aftershave, so it might be more to your liking. But I do think that, performance wise, you'll be very impressed by it compared to what you're used to using.

You need to get both the bowl and the stick! Many worship at the church of Tabac....me included. Seriously though, I face lather and I own Tabac in the bowl. The bowl it comes in is the coolest, retro soap container there is. It smells like a musty thrift store and I can't get enough of it for some reason. Oh....performance wise, I'm not sure it can be beat...

The only downside is you will find yourself slithering into the shave den too frequently to take whiffs of it and you will be racking your brain trying to put your finger on the fragrance!

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Originally Posted by Fbones24

The only downside is you will find yourself slithering into the shave den too frequently to take whiffs of it

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haha I take whiffs of my brushes because all I have ever used is the Tabac puck. I am also one of the lovers of that soap.

Hehe! I liked every post of the fellows who love Tabac soap. I will never be without a puck, in a mug, that lives at my sink!

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Originally Posted by grizli

Tabac AS is something I remember from boyhood as one of my dad's AS of choice, and I must admit that while it's not my day to day AS, it's more like my special occasions choice. That being said, I have never tried the Tabac soap. if the smell is similar I assume I'll like it, and sort of made up my mind to make it my venture into the better soaps (up till now I've used Nivea cream,Proraso Green soap and 2 kinds of Israeli MEM).
Now considering I lather in a bowl anyway and that countertop is at a super-premium, is there a noticeable difference between the Tabac stick and the bowl - aside from the "you get another lathering bowl, stu@!d" answer, which I know - meaning differences in brush loading ease, soap quality, storage or anything else. the stick is half the price, 3/4 the content, travel ready and will better survive a newborn baby trying to take over the non existent counter top (my straight and DE relocated to the top of my wall mounted gun safe, my AS and creams to a drawer). any downsides I should be aware of?

cheers
Grizli

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The bowl for Tabac has three ridges that mesh up with
channels in their puck to keep it from spinning. The bowl
is still a good one.

When in doubt about a soap get the refill puck. Keep
it in a cleaned out plastic butter tub or such. The
fancy bowl can cost as much or more than the soap.
If you like the shave soap get the bowl + soap and use
the plastic tub to keep the next refill in.


Shave sticks are an almost lost art but I very much like them. Especially with
a decent brush. After wetting your face or just out of the shower the
stubble will scrape off more than enough soap to face lather with a well
used boar brush or a top of the line badger. Since you also lather
in a bowl do not despair. I find that I use a lathering bowl to adjust
the water content. I often go face, bowl adjust, face, bowl adjust...
the result for me is a well scrubbed and lathered face and more than
enough lather on the brush and in the bowl for a number of additional
passes.

Shave sticks do not take up a lot of room and make for good travel soaps.

Tabac is a good enough shave soap -- whatever you select
I think you will be a happy shaver.

My most important advice is that if the shave stick is wrapped in
foil only expose the top inch and then more as it wears down.

I am sure that you’ll love it. Tabac is one of the best soaps in the market.

Mmm, Tabac! I love this stuff! One thing to keep in mind is the bowl is heavy glass and prone to damaging little toes and surfaces if knocked over, if you're unsure of little ones getting into it I'd rather a shave stick was dropped!

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Originally Posted by Sasquatch

One thing to keep in mind is the bowl is heavy glass and prone to damaging little toes and surfaces if knocked over, if you're unsure of little ones getting into it I'd rather a shave stick was dropped!

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Or you could buy the refill puck and put it into a container of your choice. Cheaper that way, too!

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Or you could buy the refill puck and put it into a container of your choice. Cheaper that way, too!

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Too true Ryan! I didn't even think of that...der der der!

I have the Tabac soap that comes in its own ceramic bowl; I have been using it for years and it is in my permanent soap rotation with other soaps like MWF, Cella and Valobra Mentholated. The scent is addictive so much so that I went out and bought the cologne. HOG

OK, so a Tabac stick and a Semogue 1305 are in the mail from Traditional Shaving. the "little toes" friendly and counter top friendly views, combined with the assurance that it's the same soap only in a different package, decided the issue. I'm certain i'll one day buy me the ceramic bowl version to sit proudly on my counter, but it should probably wait a year or 2...

thank you all for your advice
Grizli

I bought Tabac and I wish I hadn't!!

Now let me explain......I bought the stick and I wish I had bought the tub! Ever time I use it I think is there no end to this. But I have put my foot down. No tub until this is finished.

There is only one thing I can guarantee you. You will either love it or hate it! There is no middle ground.

I say buy it. If you don't like it there are plenty who do and it wouldn't sit too long on the BST.

Oscar.