Razor: Karve Overlander G-Tech Stainless
Blade: Tiger Platinum
Brush: Ritual Shaving 26mm G5C Synthetic
Soap: Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood
Other: Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood Cologne
I have to admit, I’ve been on quite a shave cream kick lately. I’ve been revisiting many of the traditional British brands that first got me into the hobby. One of the earliest products I discovered—and thoroughly enjoyed—was Taylor of Old Bond Street. Something recently drew me back to it, and that nostalgic spark sent me tumbling down the rabbit hole once again.
My shave den has since expanded to include several products from Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo F. Trumper, D.R. Harris & Co., St. James of London, and the high-end brand Truefitt & Hill.
Truefitt & Hill, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest barbershop in the world, dates back to 1805. It felt like the perfect brand to explore further. I managed to get samples of their scent lineup, and Sandalwood immediately stood out as a great starting point. All of their fragrances carry that refined, gentlemanly vibe, but Sandalwood is easily the most versatile. Though labeled as sandalwood, it’s much more nuanced—featuring notes of lime, bergamot, lemon, sandalwood, cedar, tonka bean, and musk. It opens with a bright citrus burst and settles into a clean, woody dry-down. To my nose, it feels like a more mature take on scents like Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce or Montblanc Legend. The cologne mirrors the cream’s fragrance well and, for a cologne-strength formula, performs quite decently.
As for the cream itself, it performs exactly as I’d expect from a traditional British shaving cream. The scent strength leans toward the stronger side of medium. It’s very easy to lather, with good density and slickness. Just be cautious with water—too much, too fast, and it’ll turn into a bubbly mess. A slightly damp brush builds a rich lather quickly and effortlessly by adding just small amounts. While traditional creams may not match the performance of modern artisan soap bases, they’re hard to beat for portability / ease of use and the scents are very much refined masterpieces. With solid hardware and good technique, you’ll get excellent shaves from products like this from Truefitt & Hill.
The only downside is the price point. While I’ve enjoyed every product I’ve tried so far, Truefitt & Hill sits at the higher end of the price spectrum for shave software. If you’re just starting out, I might recommend one of the other British brands as a more accessible entry point. But if you’re looking to build a complete den and want to dip your toes into the world of traditional British shave products, I highly recommend giving them a try.
All for now – J
