Customer reviews
Pros and Cons
✅ Small amount needed per shave, so the tub lasts a long time
✅ Lathers up quickly with minimal effort
✅ Mild scent suits those who prefer subtle fragrance
✅ Solid slickness and lubrication protect the skin while shaving
❌ Scent may be too faint for guys who want a bolder fragrance
❌ Contains some potential irritants worth checking beforehand
❌ Lather can dry out faster than expected during longer shaves
A Surprising Find From a Brush-First Brand
Most people know Simpsons for their shaving brushes, not their creams. That’s exactly why I was caught off guard when I discovered the brand actually makes three shaving creams.
I ended up buying all three in one go — Sandalwood, Lime, and Bay Rum — since Simpsons had wisely kept the lineup small and focused on scents that already have a loyal following.
Compared to heavyweights like Taylor of Old Bond Street or Geo. F. Trumper, Simpson’s pricing is genuinely competitive. That said, after testing it against creams like the Trumper Spanish Leather, I’m not entirely convinced Sandalwood quite reaches that same level of polish.
Packaging and First Impressions
The cream ships in a 180ml tub with a standard twist cap, though it lacks the grip notches that make some competitor caps easier to open.
It also arrives boxed, which is a nice touch.
Popping the lid for a first sniff, I didn’t get an especially strong hit of fragrance right away, which set the tone for what turned out to be a fairly restrained scent overall.
Breaking Down the Ingredients
This is a glycerin-based cream, which helps the lather stay hydrated and contributes directly to slip and glide during the shave.
Stearic and Myristic Acid work together to build the thick, creamy base that gives the product its body.
Potassium hydroxide handles pH balancing, keeping the formula stable and skin-friendly.
Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil adds both a woody, earthy character and potential skin benefits.
The full ingredient list includes several fragrance oils, so anyone with known sensitivities should scan it carefully before buying.
How the Scent Actually Performs
Simpsons describes the fragrance as a rich sandalwood accord layered with geranium, patchouli, musk, and tonka bean.
I had to look up tonka bean myself, and it turns out it likely reinforces that woody backbone running through the scent.
On the skin, the musky and woody base comes through clearly, with citrus and geranium sitting on top as lighter middle notes.
It’s mild throughout the shave, and it fades fast once you’re done.
That quick fade makes it a solid pick if you’re planning to layer on a splash or aftershave afterward, since there’s no scent clash to worry about.
Lathering and Shave Performance
I tested this cream across multiple sessions, using both a Merkur 23C and an Edwin Jagger DE89 for the actual shaves.
Only a small amount is needed per shave, roughly the size of a large almond, which means a single tub stretches quite far over time.
I tried both bowl lathering and face lathering with my Simpson Trafalgar T3 Synthetic brush to compare results directly.
Bowl lathering won out for me. Getting the water-to-cream ratio right felt far more manageable in a bowl.
Face lathering was trickier. The lather often came out too thin or dried out unevenly before I could finish applying it.
Whipping up lather happened quickly regardless of method, and the overall feel reminded me quite a bit of Proraso’s creams in texture and behavior.
One thing worth flagging: this cream drinks water fast, and it can dry out sooner than you’d expect mid-shave if you’re not topping it up.
Pairing With Pre-Shave Oil
I also tested the cream both with and without Simpson’s matching Sandalwood pre-shave oil.
Without the oil, skin felt a touch dry afterward, though that’s fairly typical and it evened out within an hour.
With the pre-shave oil added into the routine, the moisturizing effect improved noticeably, and I felt an extra layer of protection during the shave itself.
Feature-by-Feature Overview
Lather Speed: Builds up fast with minimal brush work required.
Texture: Thick and creamy once whipped, though it can thin out or dry quickly depending on method.
Scent Strength: Mild and understated, ideal for guys who don’t want fragrance competing with cologne or aftershave.
Ingredient Base: Glycerin, stearic acid, and myristic acid combine for a stable, hydrating formula.
Brand Heritage: A well-established British shaving brand best known for handcrafted brushes.
Tub Size: 180ml, boxed, with a standard twist-cap design.
Value for Money
In the UK, a trio of three tubs came in around £20 total, working out to roughly £10–£15 per tub individually — a genuinely fair price for this category.
In the US, expect to pay somewhere between $19 and $25 per tub, which lines up with typical pricing for English-made creams of this style.
Final Verdict — Who Should Buy This?
Simpson Sandalwood Shaving Cream is a pleasant, mild, quick-lathering option that gets the job done without any major complaints.
It didn’t blow me away, but it didn’t disappoint either — a dependable middle-ground cream.
If you enjoy sandalwood scents but prefer them understated rather than bold, this is worth adding to your rotation, especially when paired with the matching pre-shave oil for extra moisture and glide.
