Barrister & Mann Fans, Line Me Out On Their Scents

[Phog Allen]

Good evening gents. Thanks to a very generous member here I was gifted a sample of Barrister & Mann Vetiver, Heather, & Clary Sage shave soap. I have been closely watching the movement in the artisan ranks and have wanted to try a few. Well this Barrister & Mann hit a certain chord in me. I used up the sample and decided the lather was very good. Like any good shave soap you need to feed it the way it wants. Cooperate with it and it will cooperate with you. What really struck me was the scent. A superbly put together light floral which made me think nearly out loud; Why can't the larger commercial soaps make stuff like this? More pointedly, why can't they go back to making scent like this. Though I do not really get the earthy note of Vetiver I am certain it is slightly muting the sweetness of the floral notes in the Heather and Clary Sage. Whoever does the blending at Barrister & Mann has a nose for it. This blend is quality.

So based on this, would someone care to elabourate on the scents of Cheshire, Seville, and possibly Solstice? Cheshire sounds good with its Early Grey connotations. Seville? Sounds barber shop-ish but who knows? Solstice. It is hard to put a mental picture to this one. Given the profiles of the others most of this brand is quite British in nature. At least it seems so. This is s a GOOD thing to me when it comes to scents. Solstice has an interesting lot of components to it. I am not a huge lemon fan. When it comes to citrus I angle more toward lime. For lack of better descriptor, does it have that super astringent lemon quality to it or is it softer? The rose and black pepper are a likely combo but what really throws me is the peppermint. I know it is there for cooling the face feel. However, I have the worst love/hate relationship with menthol you have ever seen. When it is right it is great. And when it is what I feel is bad, well lets not go there. I admit to liking the mint oils for the effect over menthol but even that can get too crazy. Is the peppermint an adjunct in the background or is it front and center? Thanks lads.

Cheers, Todd

 

[golddie59]

Soltice is one of my favorites

 

[PomfretSteve]

One of the greatest things of the recent rise of the artisan soap makers is that the best of them have found unique ways to pair both familiar and unfamiliar scents in new ways. There are a ton of soaps out there that have very ubiquitous scents or try oddball "flavors" just for the sake of it. A few soap makers have put together blends that are completely different. Barrister and Mann's seasonal soaps fall into the latter category, both Ferox (Spring) and Solstice fall into the latter category, they are fantastic because they don't smell like anything else out there. I like Bay Rum, Fern and Citrus, and Fougere scents as much as the next guy, but it is refreshing to come across something slightly off center and classic at the same time. I have no idea how to describe Solstice, lemon, rose, pepper, mint, yup they're all in there but the combination is hard to quantify. I would imagine that this would be described 10 different ways by 10 different people and is probably a love it or hate it scent just like Ferox was. In my opinion the mint is quite present in the tub but transforms into something else while lathering, this is not a "menthol kick". I certainly recommend it, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea. One thing I am sure of is the performance, it is every bit as good if not better than anything out there. Of course this is only my opinion...

 

[tailoredfamcam]

I like their Bay Rum scent. I also have the Vetiver, Heather, and Clary Sage which I haven't used or even lathered. They sent me a sample of Cheshire with my order. To me, it smells a lot like Clubman Mustache wax. It certainly has the bergamot in it.

 

[Phog Allen]

Thank you gents. Steve, this is precisely the kind of information I was looking for. Solstice interests me because it sounds different. For all the reasons you list above.

Tailorredfamcam, thank you for responding. I like Bergamot so it will be likely be on the "try" list.

Cheers ,Todd

 

[dushea]

They are definitely different than most of what's out there. Solstice and Cheshire are probably my two favorites, but I'd strongly recommend just picking up a sampler. Their samples are quite generous and worth the 10 or 12 bucks.

 

[FaceScraper]

Hi I just worked my way through the B&M samples and here is my verdict. Remember YMMV etc etc etc
First of all the soaps do their job really well. Great lather, slick and moisturizing. Now for the scents

I think ive written these in another post.

Cheshire: Like drinking earl grey tea on a summer afternoon in England. Absolutely classy scent. I will be ordering a puck of this.

Solstice: The summer lemony (albeit quite light scent) scent that is quite refreshing. I will try and buy this if it is still available by the time i place my order (its their seasonal scent so might not be available by then)

Seville: The barbershop scent. I wasnt particularly impressed with the scent during the sniff scent and my wife really didnt like it. However, when using it i actually thought it was pretty good. So if you like barbershop you will probably love this one.

Lime, Lavender & Cedarwood: I really like this one. The cedarwood gives it a forest like smell but the lime freshens it up a little so summer/woodsy smell. Will be buying this one.

Vetiver, Heather & Clary Sage: I LOVED THIS ONE. Smells like a mountain forest after a heavy spring rain. Cant get enough of this.

Bay Rum: Im on the fence with this one. I had never smelled bay rum before this so didnt really know what to expect. It doesnt use Cloves like some other Bay Rum secnts. The sniff test evoked a warm winter scent. When using it however, it didnt smell as good for some reason. Maybe it will be better if i actually use it in cold weather rather than August.

I started on Mikes Naturals Soaps this week. His Bay Rum which is a little more spicy than B&M. I still prefer B&M bay rum when compared to Mikes.

Definitely worth getting their sample pack!

 

[Kotton]

The cedarwood smells good, but definitely a winter scent. I haven't shaved with it, but a sniff test smells exactly like a cedar smells after you cut one down. Couldn't smell the lime or lavender though, maybe after a shave I'll be able to.

 

[FaceScraper]

The cedarwood smells good, but definitely a winter scent. I haven't shaved with it, but a sniff test smells exactly like a cedar smells after you cut one down. Couldn't smell the lime or lavender though, maybe after a shave I'll be able to.

I was able to smell the lime slightly. For me the lime/lavender/cedarwood felt like a spring (into summer) scent. Also to be used in fall. Didnt really feel the warmth in it to consider it as a winter scent. but of course YMMV

 

[Kotton]

I was able to smell the lime slightly. For me the lime/lavender/cedarwood felt like a spring (into summer) scent. Also to be used in fall. Didnt really feel the warmth in it to consider it as a winter scent. but of course YMMV

It could be because when I was younger, ny grandpa used old cedar posts as fire wood in the winter, and you could smell the cedar when he was cutting it.

I also think it might be too deep to use as a summer scent. I guess that explains it to the best of my ability.

 

[VT_Hokie]

The Vetiver, Heather and Clary Sage was my favorite as well. Wonderful scent.

 

[FaceScraper]

It could be because when I was younger, ny grandpa used old cedar posts as fire wood in the winter, and you could smell the cedar when he was cutting it.

I also think it might be too deep to use as a summer scent. I guess that explains it to the best of my ability.

That would definitely explain it. Scents and memories have very very strong connections. When i smell my palmolive stick, images of my father come very strongly to mind. He used Palmolive sticks exclusively.

 

[Big_OC]

Big fan of B&M soaps. I currently have Ferox and Cheshire in my rotation and Seville and Lime, Lavender Cedarwood are in reserve. I liked PomFret description of Ferox and FaceScraper hits it right on the head with Cheshire. Very unique scents that are very well done. The only one I'm one the fence about is Bay Rum. The sample I have smells too much of cinammon. I'm a big fan of Captain's Choice Bay Rum and that's the standard I was measuring it up to. Might have to revisit this one but you can't go wrong.

 

[wsteineker]

+1 on the Solistice and Cheshire. Both brilliant scents, and absolutely natural. To my nose, Solstice hits with a nice combination of lemon and rose with an overtone of mint and develops into a bright, peppery citrus/floral scent once lathered. It's absolutely beautiful. Cheshire has a BIG bergamot note up front, with the lavender and patchouli becoming more prominent while lathering. Again, a stunning scent that's unlike anything else in the market. You can't go wrong here, really. The only thing better than the scents on these soaps is their performance. I'm as sold as can be.

 

[jb74]

Just sent them a message, for some reason Ireland isn't listed on their shipping destination list. Was hoping to try some.

 

[bassopotamus]

Solstice is amazing. Very clean and summery.

 

[mctmatt]

I am a huge fan of Barrister and Mann as they are my preferred choice of soap in my little shave den. I enjoy all the fragrances , vetiver is a little to earthy for me. I enjoy Solstice as I catch a hint of peppermint, but not sure if there is any peppermint even in the fragrance make up. I cannot encourage others enough to try this wonderful shave soap.

 

[wagstaff]

I bought a sampler. I've started with the Bay Rum because that was the only direct comparison with Mike's scents. (It's not my favorite of Mike's, either, though I like it). It really is a lot of cinnamon, in the B&M bay rum. I get some bay, maybe some benzoin (vanilla)? A lot of cinnamon. Did I say cinnamon?

The soap performs very well, the samples are generous enough that I'm impatient to get through the first so I can try the next!
I also bought a full puck of the Cheshire, blind. Sort of defeats the purpose of the sampler, I know. Only sort of.

 

[Havok305]

B&M is fantastic. In my top 3 for sure, lathers as easily and is as protective as Tabac. I loved the Bay Rum sample. I have been rotating so many different samples, I have not been able to try the others yet. I am working on Stirling Soap's, which is also very good. +1 on the sample route for B&M. Try them all and see what you prefer.

 

[bassopotamus]

Is there any word on when a fall scent might be coming?