One of the most popular pre-shave treatments available today is the Taconic Shave Pre-Shave Oil. By relying on a blend of only natural and organic ingredients, this pre-shave oil works hard in providing you with a considerably more comfortable and pleasant shaving experience.
Today, we will go over all the key components of this oil and provide you with a detailed look at how this oil feels and performs.
Let’s start:
Important Review Notes: We paid for this pre-shave oil out-of-pocket. This is not a paid review. This post contains affiliate links. Tools of Men is independently owned and operated. Taconic Shave is not aware of this post prior to publication.
Ingredients
As evident on the ingredient label, this pre-shave oil by Taconic relies on a blend of five oils which include the following:
- Safflower Seed Oil
- Castor Seed Oil
- Grape Seed Oil
- Lime Oil
- Vitamin E Oil
There are a few important notes here:
First, as we touched on previously in our comparison of pre-shave oil and shave cream, castor seed oil has a significantly lower viscosity. Unlike other oils such as jojoba oil, a common ingredient in conditioners such as beard oil, castor seed oil will be less likely to clog a multi-blade cartridge razor.
Regarding the skin and health benefits of these oils, there is little scientific research on their efficacy.
For example, Vitamin E oil, a common ingredient claiming to carry many skincare benefits, has not been evaluated by the FDA (source). Therefore, when reviewing this pre-shave oil, we are only evaluating it based on shaving performance rather than perceived and unproven benefits.
Related: What is Pre-Shave Oil
Using the Taconic Shave Pre-Shave Oil
Here’s how things looked when using this oil:
Application
Using this oil is fairly easy. Thanks to the pump top, you are able to get a measured amount from the bottle quickly:
For starters, you will want to pump out about a dime-sized amount into the palm of your hand – about this much to start:
Then simply rub your hands together and massage it into the area that is to be shaved.
Related: How to Use Pre-Shave Oil
Scent
While Taconic Shave labels this pre-shave oil as unscented, there is a notable light nutty aroma to the oil (i.e. it is not fragrance-free). However, once you lather on your favorite shaving cream on top of this pre-shave oil, the scent is indistinguishable.
This is in stark contrast to the highly invigorating Proraso Pre-Shave Cream (reviewed here). That has a bright menthol and eucalyptus oil scent that really wakes you up in the morning.
Application Results
When working the pre-shave oil onto your face, you should notice that it goes on quite light and will provide a soft, subtle sheen to your skin:
Application is evident around the mustache area and chin where the light is bouncing off the surface. Again, it’s fairly light and subtle.
Once applied, you can simply add your favorite shaving cream as you normally would:
When shaving with this oil applied, it provided moderate comfort. The slickness from the oil helped to allow the razor blade to glide along the surface of the skin with very little irritation.
But the proof is in the pictures so to speak; here are how things looked post-shave:
As you can see above, there is no redness or discomfort.
Note: Additional pictures of this pre-shave oil in action are available in the Bevel Review where it was used.
Related: What is a Double Edge Razor
Now admittedly, there are a lot of components in play when shaving including technique, shave cream, the sharpness of the blade, etc. Therefore, saying that all the benefits were a result of the pre-shave oil would be falsely assumed.
With that being said, here’s some notes on how this pre-shave oil performed:
Overall Rating
| Feature | Notes | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Scent | While labeled unscented, it does provide a nice, neutral aroma that isn’t overpowering. | 8 |
| Viscosity | When used with a safety and cartridge razor, there were no issues with clogging. | 10 |
| Post-Shave Comfort | Pretty good here. No noticeable stinging. | 8 |
| Value | At 2oz in size, it does provide better value than most (currently priced at $15). The container is plastic which makes it feel a bit cheaper. | 7 |
| Versatility | Given that it is unscented, it can be used elsewhere on your body besides just facial hair including head, chest, groin, etc. | 10 |
| Overall | This is a fine introductory pre-shave oil. Its versatile application allows you to use it anywhere for total shave comfort. | 8.6 |
Compatible Razor Types
This pre-shave oil can be used with the following razor types:
- Straight Razor / Shavette
- Safety Razor
- Cartridge Razor
- Disposable Razor
- Electric Shaver (Wet Shave capable only)
Where to Buy
Taconic Shave Pre-Shave Oil is available at large online retailers such as Amazon or directly from the Taconic Shave website.
Who Makes Taconic Shave & Where is it Made?
Despite the difference in name, Taconic Shave is actually made from another popular wet shaving company, Parker Safety Razor (source).
This pre-shave oil was made in the USA:
Closing Thoughts
This pre-shave oil hits all the right notes that a lot of men are looking for in a pre-shave treatment. It won’t clog your favorite razor while also providing a bit of comfort.
We hope that this short and quick review gave you just the information you were looking for in determining if it is the right product to work into your grooming routine.
Be sure to come back for more trusted grooming and style guides.