Has any of your shaving creams ever gone bad?

**cegadede** · 06-01-2010, 11:45 AM

Hello fellow shaving maniacs!

I went trough a shaving cream/soap aquisition disorder and ended with 4 kinds of soap (CADE, AOS, TABAC and TGQ) and 4 kinds of creams(proraso, SMN, TOBS and Fiori i Fruti).

I've noticed that all of them have expiration dates (12 months after opening) so I've just opened the proraso and TOBS (and all of the soaps, that, AFAIK, don't go bad), because I know that there's no way I'll use up all of them in just 12 months.

Now I'm afraid to open the SMN and Fiori i Fruti, as I don't to trow them away without geting even close to their respective ends...

So, there's the question: should I really worry about expiration dates on shaving creams? Or should I open them all and enjoy a big rotation worry-free?

**Desdinova** · 06-01-2010, 12:49 PM

Soaps and creams no.

Balms no.

But I have had colognes go bad.

**WinstonSmith** · 06-01-2010, 01:15 PM

I had a tube of Erasmic that started hitting the bottle, lost it's job, and finally ended up in the clink on B-and-E and weapons charges.

Kind of sad, but the neighborhood was glad to see the last of that down the drain.

**rm71** · 06-01-2010, 04:49 PM

I've had a tub of Taylors St James now for almost 3 years. The scent and performance are as good as ever.

**malocchio** · 06-01-2010, 05:52 PM

as a general rule.2 years for creams,but some are still good at 5 years...the creams with lanolin,an animal oil,less time before rancidity hits,always let your nose be the judge

**wilsonent** · 06-01-2010, 05:54 PM

I have a puck of Cade that has lost its entire scent, but still works fine. I usually store it in an open bowl, don't know if keeping it covered may have prevented this from happening. I have had it about 6 months now.

**WastedResources** · 06-01-2010, 06:46 PM

I bought a tube of Erasmic, and I thought it had gone bad. Turns out it's actually supposed to smell like a urinal cake.

**ackvil** · 06-01-2010, 08:13 PM

I have had some TOBS and Trumpers that are more than two years old and they still rock.

**royalshave** · 06-02-2010, 12:07 AM

The general rule we've gotten from most manufacturers is that the shelf life of creams is 6 months from production date, so you must have gotten a real old one.

**BladeRunner001** · 06-02-2010, 01:33 AM

Nice post...I have a few cremes too.

I am thinking about storing the ones that are not in rotation or use for >4 weeks in 4 degrees C (refrigerator). Based on the composition, I do not think this will impact the cremes at all and in fact, should dramatically improve shelf life.

Note: But of course, take it our of hibernation and let it sit at RT (Room Temp) for 24 hrs before use.

The only thing I would worry about is cold precipitation of some of the "fatty" an Oily ingredients...But even at that, a quick mix with your finger should fix the problem after temp equilibration has been reached.

I feel like it's time for some experimentation

.

Food for thought.

-Robert

**Luc** · 06-02-2010, 02:52 AM

Can it go bad? There's always Cella: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1397971

I think if you keep it in a controled temperature (no big variations) and with the cap or lid on, then, it can be all right for a while, more than 12 months!

**Maher** · 06-02-2010, 12:37 PM

IMHO, if you keep your cream surface clean, ie. not to touch it by hand or brush, always use a clean spoon, it will stay for a long time. my 2 cents

hathela · 06-02-2010, 02:43 PM

i tend to use little more than the normal required for my daily shaving
its better to use a little more every day than throwing away the half used tub at a later date