Tabac Original (1959)
by Mäurer & Wirtz

This is some kind of a joke here in Finland. You know, Tabac Original is a sort of synonym for the cologne in general, if you know what I mean….
It has been very popular here through all the years, and it has become famous particularly in use of older men plus some very tacky guys who drench their selves into the juice when going out to some barn dance or activities of that kind.


This status here is a bit of a shame in a way, because you what…This is actually a great scent.


Fresh balsamic scent with prominent carnation-lavender note. Very masculine floral and to me not dated as a scent in a slightest bit. This one is a timeless creation.

Smooth but also complex scent especially for the part of wonderfully blended basenotes.

In my opinion this basically could be released today by some quality niche house. I’m not kidding at all.

If you forget about the price and all the (reputation ruining) history and focus completely to the smell, you can probably see it is a unique scent with flawless balance to it and natural ingredient feel.
It really does smell like a high quality scent with just a right amount of edge.

Just use it very moderately.

And hey, this would work on a woman, too.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. I associate this cologne with the image projected by Liam Neeson in the Schindler´s list. Subtle and classic. Smells like a refined barber shop.

My father used to use TABAC, back in the days it was considered lux to have a "western product" in communistic countries. I bought it for the sake of following my father's steps in style. The smell does invoke memories of that manliness.

The scent at first is of a strong barber shop, shave disinfectant, and soap. After 30 minutes it descents into a clean classic manly smell. Read classic as that 1920's kind of classic, when style was simple, and simple was considered Good. Think of classical minimalistic dial watches, two button suit black suit, white shirt, tie, and TABAC original.

In today's complex world, however, this scent is too minimalistic and even foolishly simple.

From the back of the bottle's box: "TABAC ORIGNAL After Shave Lotion gives a bracing finish for a demanding shave. Stimulates, cools and refreshes razor-burned normal skin. The TABAC ORIGNAL fragrance underlines your personal style well-groomed elegance."

So, it goes well with a certain original, classical style that dates back to the 20's of the earlier century. A true smell for being out during the day, caring about nothing, no worries on your shoulder and a twinkle in the eye.

That concludes my review.

I rather enjoy this one... It starts off with lavender, geranium and carnation; then it softens and a leather note comes through [at least to my nose] a soft powdery leather. And that's it! The whole time wearing this fragrance, all I detect is a powdery leather, with soft floral notes but by the dry-down, the florals soften and the powdery aspect [now more like baby powder] is dominant which is nice. The sillage is moderate to strong (some have reviewed that this is a cloying scent, I am one of the rare few that really like cloying fragrances but this one to me is just a little not like heavy florals like Fracas and to wear a cloying fragrance takes a light hand). The longevity is moderate to strong as well.

This is an every occasion type of fragrance, for work, weekends, day or night and worn casually or with a suit. I recommend this one

This is the perfect fragrance to wear to a family reunion - if you despise your relatives. This stuff is cloying, outdated and has an intoxicatingly sickly scent. I tried to use it as car deodorant and bathroom spray, but I couldn't stand it. I threw it away. It makes me shudder.

Got this for a gift over over 20 years ago and then picked up it (the cologne) in 2006. There is a Japanese after shave that is a direct ripoff of this scent.

For me, too much of this isn't clean at all but cloying. Put it on kind of light and this is really nice stuff, beyond simply "inoffensive" but a classic.

I have to say though, that while initially a clean scent the overall effect for me can sometimes push the sense of calming/nostalgia into a kind of sadness. I do not wear it myself anymore but recommend it. Maybe like others have said it is better for cooler weather, and I do notice that it is the after shave that gets most frequent mention.... not only on this forum but on on others.