Taylor of Old Bond Street – why this brand must be part of our Artisan focus

When you talk about classic wet shaving today, you quickly end up with modern artisan brands.

New soap bases.
Exceptional fragrance ideas.
Limited editions.

And then there is Taylor of Old Bond Street.

A brand whose history dates back to 1854 and which is still represented in the heart of London today. 

Essentially a completely different world.

And that is exactly why Taylor remains a firm part of a good shaving range for me.

Not everything has to be complicated

What I like about Taylor:

The products do not give the impression that they have to prove to you how special they are.

The shaving creams, in particular, are straightforward.

Brush, a little water, lather briefly – done.

No fumbling around with an extremely thirsty soap base. No product that only works if you have read twenty forum posts beforehand.

And that is exactly why I think Taylor is particularly good for beginners.

But experienced wet shavers also reach for it again and again.

You know pretty well what you are getting.

Taylor is the antithesis of many artisan brands for me

And I mean that in a purely positive way.

With HAGS or Ariana & Evans, fragrance ideas can be deliberately unusual, loud, or experimental.

Taylor works differently.

Many fragrance lines are more classic, more accessible, and more suitable for everyday use.

Mr Taylor.

Sandalwood.

Jermyn Street.

Royal Forest.

Oud.

None of these lines necessarily tries to reinvent the wheel.

But each has a clear character.

That is exactly what makes the brand interesting to me.

Sandalwood is well-known for a reason

If someone knows Taylor of Old Bond Street, it is often because of Sandalwood.

The manufacturer describes Sandalwood itself as its best-known and best-selling fragrance line. The composition combines geranium, lavender, and rosemary with sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, and other warm base notes. 

For me, this is a good example of why Taylor still works today:

classic, clearly recognizable, and easy to use.

Jermyn Street shows another side of the brand

Jermyn Street is more modern in its formulation and is particularly aimed at users with sensitive skin.

The range is alcohol-free according to the manufacturer and combines fresh citrus notes with a more modern fougère character, as well as musk and patchouli accents. 

I find this exciting because Taylor is not just selling “old British tradition” with it.

The brand continues to develop its range without completely changing its character.

And then there is Oud, Royal Forest, and the like.

These lines in particular show that Taylor is now significantly broader than one might expect.

Royal Forest is fresher and more modern, with bergamot, apple, blackcurrants, berries, and pineapple, among other things.

Oud goes in a significantly warmer, more distinctive direction with quince, rose, saffron, oud, and amber. 

This allows you to move quite well through different fragrance worlds with Taylor without immediately going into the highly experimental artisan corner.

Why we have Taylor in our range

Quite simply:

Because not every customer wants to start directly with an unusual artisan soap.

Some want something that works reliably first.

A good shaving cream.

A classic fragrance.

A brand that you can categorize.

And for that, Taylor of Old Bond Street is still one of the strongest entry brands into classic wet shaving for me.

At the same time, there is enough variety that the brand does not become boring after the first purchase.

But tradition alone is not enough for me

I do not include a brand in the range just because it is old.

History is nice.

But a product has to work today.

And that is exactly the reason why Taylor is still relevant after more than 170 years.

Not because of nostalgia.

But because the brand manages to make traditional wet shaving very accessible.

My conclusion

If someone asks:

“Which brand can I use to get into classic wet shaving without any hassle?”

then Taylor of Old Bond Street is quite high up on the list for me.

Not the craziest brand.

Not the most experimental.

But reliable, versatile, and with enough character that you can quickly settle on one:

Sandalwood, Jermyn Street, Royal Forest, Oud – or perhaps something completely different in the end.

And that is exactly why Taylor is allowed to bring a little British composure into The Gentleman’s Shave among all the modern artisan brands.