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Question about Barbershop Soaps

I have used many soaps and creams over the years, but I've never tried a barbershop scented soap. One thing that's kept me away is that they always mention patchouli in the scent profile, and I really do not care for the scent of patchouli. Which barbershop scents (if any) do not have a pronounced note of patchouli?
 
Barrister and Mann’s Seville is more citrusy to my nose - I don’t notice the patchouli at all in that one. But as always YMMV.
I love Fine American Blend but that one is pretty patchouli-y.
 
Barbiere Sofisicato by Ariana and Evans does not list patchouli as a note, and it's a great soap. Another good one is CaD by Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements, and I don't see patchouli listed as a note.
 
Barbershop is not really a scent category, more of a description. Most barbershop soaps fall into the fougere category with some powdery scent notes. Usually there are scent notes like lavender, oak moss and tonka bean. There may be other notes like geranium, patchouli, sandalwood, citrus, etc.

Note that barbershops in different parts of the world have their own signature scents.
 
I have used many soaps and creams over the years, but I've never tried a barbershop scented soap. One thing that's kept me away is that they always mention patchouli in the scent profile, and I really do not care for the scent of patchouli. Which barbershop scents (if any) do not have a pronounced note of patchouli?


Sir Steve_in_CT, methinks that you've likely used several 'barbershop' soaps over your years!

Tell us several (4-5) of the soaps that you've most enjoyed!!
 
Barrister & Mann Seville and Stirling Barbershop are two of my favorites. Patchouli scent ? I have no idea, but I love both soaps.
 
Razorock American Barber, which smells similar to YSL’s Rive Gauche pour homme could be worth a try if you haven’t. Patchouli is a note of Rive Gauche pour homme but I wouldn’t say it was particularly dominating. I find the citrus, lavender, rosemary and woody notes with a touch of star anise more prominent when I wear it, and to be honest Razorock’s cream isn’t an overpowering scent of Rive Gauche either, it‘s “inspired by” it.
 
Mike's Natural Soaps Barbershop is my favorite. It lists bergamot, basil, oakmoss, and patchouli and I don't care for patchuouli on it's own but this mix is wonderful!
 
"Barbershop" as a scent category is sort of like that funny old definition of porn. People might not be able to tell you exactly what it is, and everybody seems to have a different definition of it, but they can tell you when they smell it.

The only commonality in barbershop smells seem to be "Powdery" and/or "Smells kind of like Barbasol" though sometimes people mention musk as being part of it and some mention citrus being part of it.

To me, the drydown of Pinaud Clubman aftershave is Barbershop. It has the powder, the sweetness, and some musky oak-mossy elements with an understated "Your Grandpas talcum powder" vibe. It's a scent that says: "Grandpa" in as much as Coty face powder says: "Grandma"

You remember Coty face powder, right? It was the orange and gold cardboard box Sitting on Grandma's dresser between the rack of earings and the tray with the mirror and brush on it ;-)
 

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Sir Steve_in_CT, methinks that you've likely used several 'barbershop' soaps over your years!

Tell us several (4-5) of the soaps that you've most enjoyed!!
In no particular order, off the top of my head:
Shannon's Haymarket Vetiver
Mike's Orange, Cedarwood and Pepper
Lisa's Gentleman's Lavender
Barrister and Mann Nordost
Wet Shaving Products Olympus
 
I've narrowed it down (if 4 choices counts as narrowing it down) to Mike's, Shannon's, WSP and Stirling. I understand that Barbershop is a broad category, but if you had to pick the one that best represents "Barbershop", which would it be?
 
Stirling. I don’t know how anyone could dislike the soap especially the performance. It literally smells to me like walking into a barbershop.


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