Help me with "Barbershop" (long read)

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Can somebody please explain to me what barbershops some of you are visiting? I read all over the place on the B&B that particular items have a "barbershop" scent to them, however, the very term is ill-defined and nondescript, leaving it open for people to project whatever scent they want on the term. Honestly, I find it fundamentally useless for all intents and purposes, so I'd like a little clarification.

My biggest... I won't say peeve... source of incredulity, occurs when people say that Proraso (full disclosure: I've only actually smelled Omega and Bigelow) has a barbershop scent. . Basically it smells like a 39 cent white beauty bar from Walgreens or something, and I can't say that I would ever associate the scent with a barbershop-- maybe a women's salon, but that's pushing it as well. I find the scent simple, cold, completely asexual, that is to say "non-gender-oriented," and overtly uninspiring.

Perhaps my conception of "barbershop" is different than most, but in my mind's eye, I imagine a wafting, complex, warm and masculine aroma of some combination of amber, spice, musk, talc, leather, moss, all on top of the various sterile sort of scents that accompany them like hair tonics (or creams or gels), shampoo, cleaning supplies and/or perhaps cheap cologne. Basically I just imagine, perhaps a little romantically, what my grandfather (who would have been in his late 70's) would have smelled while getting a trim when he was my age.

The only other time I describe something as "barbershop" is when I think something smells like what I would like to smell like coming out of a barbershop, which for me would quintessentially be Barbus aftershave splash . Oh, the manliness of it.

Can someone please help me get in line with what some of you are thinking?

 

[California Cajun]

Can somebody please explain to me what barbershops some of you are visiting? I read all over the place on the B&B that particular items have a "barbershop" scent to them, however, the very term is ill-defined and nondescript, leaving it open for people to project whatever scent they want on the term. Honestly, I find it fundamentally useless for all intents and purposes, so I'd like a little clarification.

My biggest... I won't say peeve... source of incredulity, occurs when people say that Proraso (full disclosure: I've only actually smelled Omega and Bigelow) has a barbershop scent. . Basically it smells like a 39 cent white beauty bar from Walgreens or something, and I can't say that I would ever associate the scent with a barbershop-- maybe a women's salon, but that's pushing it as well. I find the scent simple, cold, completely asexual, that is to say "non-gender-oriented," and overtly uninspiring.

Perhaps my conception of "barbershop" is different than most, but in my mind's eye, I imagine a wafting, complex, warm and masculine aroma of some combination of amber, spice, musk, talc, leather, moss, all on top of the various sterile sort of scents that accompany them like hair tonics (or creams or gels), shampoo, cleaning supplies and/or perhaps cheap cologne. Basically I just imagine, perhaps a little romantically, what my grandfather (who would have been in his late 70's) would have smelled while getting a trim when he was my age.

The only other time I describe something as "barbershop" is when I think something smells like what I would like to smell like coming out of a barbershop, which for me would quintessentially be Barbus aftershave splash . Oh, the manliness of it.

Can someone please help me get in line with what some of you are thinking?

When you get down to brass tacks, the predominant "barbershop" smell to me is talcum powder. I also smell the machine scent of electric razors used for trim work and non-aerosol hair spray. The electric hair dryers and the large brush that gets rid of cut hair spread these scents. I don't know what Barbacide smells like but it may be contributing.

When I was a kid in the 60s there were no hair dryers or hair spray in a men's barber shop and they shaved around your ears and back of the neck with hot lather and a straight razor. There was talcum powder. I also saw Jeris brand hair tonics that looked greasy in red and green. The name Tiger Eye also comes to mind. There were combs soaked in Barbacide.

Despite the difference in products behind the barber's chair, as I recall barber shops smelled pretty much the same then as they do now with talcum powder the predominant smell.

"Barbershop smell" at home is the scent of the lather and aftershave. It's different than a barbershop but still has an "old time" feel.

 

[Luc]

I think I read "strangers wet hair" in a previous thread!

Try Musgo.

Barbershop would be soapy and manly. I would qualify Proraso to be "Barbershop". Musgo is another one, even if I didn't like it.

 

[Barber-Eile]

It depends on the shop but to me Bay Rum is that wonderful smell. Bay Rum mixed with talc, barbercide, wet hair and a hint of soap smell from the various lathers or shampoos.
Hair tonic seems to have a fairly universally "warm" scent too unless it's a menthol type of one.

I adore the smell of barbershops.

 

[JCee]

I would suppose that what a person considers "Barber Shop Smell" would depend on the persons personal barber shop of reference. Variables like region and year would probably make a huge difference.

For me, it's the smell of Clubman talc. I had all but forgoten the fragrance until I landed here at B&B and read the reviews of Clubman a/s. I bought a bottle from the local Walgreens. As soon as I opened it, it took me back to the late 60's and our neighborhood barbershop. It was the same smell, exactly. It was something I had not smelled for 30+ years, but as soon as I smelled I was transported back to that neighborhood barbershop.

 

[Crawford Montizano]

Art of Manliness did an article about this.

http://artofmanliness.com/2010/10/13/how-to-smell-like-a-barbershop/

 

[wimbouman]

Some notes of talc, soap, a bit of musk, maybe vanilla and leather.
The scent of eau de cologne.

 

[Pkrankow]

I would suppose that what a person considers "Barber Shop Smell" would depend on the persons personal barber shop of reference. Variables like region and year would probably make a huge difference.

For me, it's the smell of Clubman talc. I had all but forgoten the fragrance until I landed here at B&B and read the reviews of Clubman a/s. I bought a bottle from the local Walgreens. As soon as I opened it, it took me back to the late 60's and our neighborhood barbershop. It was the same smell, exactly. It was something I had not smelled for 30+ years, but as soon as I smelled I was transported back to that neighborhood barbershop.

Clubman takes me back to middle school, riding my bike 2 miles each way for a haircut at the barber.

Phil

 

[Snargle]

Barbershop Smell = Pinaud Clubman Aftershave and Talc!

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

For myself...the 'barber shop' scent always takes me back when I was a little young 'whipper-snapper' back in the days of 'ol'e time' Barber Shops (which our family had 'credit' because I never paid for my haircuts), with;

1. Leather strops attached to the Barber Chairs.

2. The numerous tall canisters of blue Barbicide (with it's distinctive faint smell of ammonium), w/ combs, small brushes, clippers attachments, razors, scissors and other implements.

3. Talcum powder 'duster' brushes.

4. The built-up shoe-shine stand w/ 2 chairs and the scent of tins of Kiwi shoe polish, glass bottles of liquid edge dressing and leather mingling in the shop.

5. The slightly 'musty' scent of cut hair in the air (including the 'tufts' of hair on the floor), after the Barbers ceremoniously 'snap' the capes (that was around many necks), in the air to remove cut hair signifying the end of the haircut 'ballet'.

6. The faint aroma of Cigars, Cigarettes and full ashtrays.

7. The 'manly' scent of the many plastic bottles of Clubman (which always seemed to get 'splashed' on the floor besides on your head).

Now that I'm a 'Big Boy' & all 'grown-up'....the young Korean Ladies (whose speciality is straight shaves...you should see the 'wait' lines), and Afro-American male Barbers I weekly visit remain true to the old days of haircuts, shoe-shines and straight razor shaves as one of the true 'Arts of Manliness'

Christopher

 

[ItsMrBrooks]

Barbershop Smell = Pinaud Clubman Aftershave and Talc!

Huge +1

 

[xillion]

For me "barbershop" scent is a combination of Clubman talc, clipper oil, Campbell's soap, and bay rum aftershave. They use those products at my barbershop so that it what I associate with the barbershop scent.

 

[gearchow]

To me barbershops aren't just about smell. Just thinking about it brings to memory my dad taking me to the base barbershop. I had to sit on a board to bring me up the the right height. And that barbershop was always busy when we went. Multiple electric cutters going, men talking and laughing over the cutter noise. They would rub some tonic into my fresh crew cut and once we got back home, my mom would make a big deal out of smelling my fresh cut.

My experience in civilian barbershops was less then interesting, especially as I got older. I've been cutting my own hair for years now. Paying some guy to buzz cut my hair seems hardly worth the trip...

-jim

 

[zameus]

Another vote for Clubman Talc or Aftershave. I thought Proraso reminded me of a barbershop until I got some Clubman talc.

 

[Blue Raccoon]

Barbershop Smell = Pinaud Clubman Aftershave and Talc!

Yep..

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Hmm, I think I can jive with clubman a bit. I actually though Mama Bears Barbershoppe scent wasn't too bad either, but I'm still not getting how in the world some people can think Omega has a barbershop scent. If you can call that "barbershop" you can call anything "barbershop."

 

[Pkrankow]

I think "barbershop" scents are popular with barbers because they are decent quality and inexpensive. Not bad ideas for the rest of us.

Phil

 

[BCatl]

The first thing I ever smelled in a barbershop was hair pomade because as kid I had a crewcut!

As far as AS/cologne, it would be Pinaud Clubman (and talc).

I think a lot of it depends on the first thing a person gets a whiff of as a kid. It's not a well defined term.

 

[Austin]

Scents that come to mind from barber shop visits with dad include talcum powder, brilliantine, three roses hair dressing and Bay Rum tonic.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Scents that come to mind from barber shop visits with dad include talcum powder, brilliantine, three roses hair dressing and Bay Rum tonic.

That all fits in my experience too. Add to that Clubman and Osage Rub, Barbicide, leather and vinyl. There were a couple of bottles of brightly colored Stephen's around too, but I can't really remember how they smell--just how they looked.