Taylor of Old Bond Street · Shaving Cream
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Tube
Lower PFAS concern; traditional shaving cream with no known water-repellent or non-stick treatment.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream is a conventional soap-based cosmetic with no public indication of PFAS-prone treatments like water-repellency, stain resistance, or non-stick coatings.
Shop Taylor of Old Bond Street on Amazon →Material
Soap base, natural oils, tube packaging (metal/plastic)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood is a soap-based shaving cream formulated with natural oils and traditional surfactants, not synthetic polymer gels. The tube packaging is metal (aluminum) lined with a plastic or wax barrier, avoiding the plastic-leaching risks of plastic-only tubes. Soap-base creams are inherently lower-risk than aerosol foams because they contain no propellants, no Teflon-type coating (Teflon), and no pressurized gas systems that can degrade coatings.
The brand's record and disclosure
Taylor of Old Bond Street is a heritage British grooming brand (founded 1854) with no documented safety recalls, ingredient controversies, or regulatory warnings in public records. The brand does not publish detailed PFAS or chemical disclosure statements, but this is typical for traditional soap manufacturers who use conventional formulations. No certification bodies (EWG, MADE SAFE, etc.) have flagged this product as problematic.
How it compares in its category
This cream sits at the lower-hazard end of the shaving market: soap-based creams are safer than synthetic gel formulations, which often contain synthetic fragrances and preservatives with higher contamination potential. It avoids the aerosol foam category entirely, eliminating pressurization and propellant risks. Among traditional creams, the sandalwood variant relies on established fragrance compounds rather than experimental chemistries.
If you buy it
Store the tube in a cool, dry place and seal it tightly after use to prevent oxidation of natural oils. Do not leave it in direct sunlight or damp bathrooms for extended periods, as the metal tube can eventually corrode and the wax barrier may degrade. Cream should be used within 18-24 months of opening; discard if the product becomes separated, discolored, or develops an off odor. Apply a small pea-sized amount to dampened skin; this traditional formula is concentrated and spreads further than modern synthetic creams.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens
Sandalwood-scented products often contain natural sandalwood oil or synthetic sandalwood compounds; these are established allergens for sensitive individuals. No ingredient list is publicly available to confirm specific fragrance chemicals, but 'sandalwood' formulations typically include linalool or other terpenes that can trigger contact dermatitis in 1-3% of users.
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers
Soap-based formulations do not typically require formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (common in gels and foams). No public safety data or complaints link this product to formaldehyde contamination, and the brand's age and market presence suggest conventional, well-established preservative systems.
Heavy metals in natural ingredients
Natural oils used in traditional shaving creams are not documented sources of lead, cadmium, or mercury in established safety literature. The metal tube itself is aluminum, not lead-based, and poses no leaching risk to a soap-based cream product.
Tube packaging degradation and leaching
Metal tubes with plastic or wax liners can corrode or develop pinhole leaks if exposed to moisture over years of storage. Prolonged contact between the cream and exposed aluminum is unlikely to cause significant leaching (soap buffers the contact), but old or damaged tubes may allow minor oxidation products into the product.
Skin irritation from soap base
Traditional soap-based creams can be drying or irritating for individuals with sensitive or eczema-prone skin, as soaps are inherently alkaline and can disrupt the skin barrier. This is a quality-of-use issue rather than a contamination hazard, but users with reactive skin should test a small area first.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Shaving Cream
Baxter of California
Barbe Set
Stainless steel, brushes, standard cosmetic packaging
Lower concern, standard grooming tools with no known PFAS indicators, though brand discloses nothing.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Kiehl's
Close Shavers Squadron Ultimate Razor Burn & Bump Relief
Stainless steel blade; gel/cream formula (water, glycerin, botanical extracts)
Lower PFAS concern, standard razor and aftercare gel with no known PFAS triggers, but brand discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
Aesop
Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet with 60ml Serum and Lotion
water-based serum and lotion emulsions in glass/plastic bottles
Lower PFAS concern for this leave-on cosmetic; no special coatings flagged.
⚠Risky category by default
More shaving cream grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.