What Does A Barber Shop Smell Like To You?

[briznian]

I hear people describe various creams, soaps and aftershaves as smelling exactly like a barber shop. They can't all smell like a barber shop if they all smell differently, can they?

I go back to the shop I went to when I was younger. It always had a fresh powdery scent.

So, what does a barber shop smell like to you?

 

[KiltedShaver]

Well, when I was growing up my mom cut our hair a lot. But what I do remember of the one we went to, was the smell of Clubman Pinaud talc. The fresh, light powdery scent is always what I think of when I think barbershop. Good topic!

Cheers,
KS

 

[Antique Hoosier]

Well, when I was growing up my mom cut our hair a lot. But what I do remember of the one we went to, was the smell of Clubman Pinaud talc. The fresh, light powdery scent is always what I think of when I think barbershop. Good topic!

Cheers,
KS

Precisely. Pinaud Clubman Talc and maybe a bit of Jeris Hair Tonic.

 

[matato]

Bay Rum and Barbicide! With just a hint of the 3 in 1 oil as it overheats in the electric hair clippers.

 

[Prince]

Funny post, but very accurate.

The barber shop I grew up with, never really had a smell to it.

It was a real barbershop with disposable straight shaves and everything.

If I think real hard about it, the smell was sorta powdery, but not enough to be described as a barbershop smell.

The other two "real" barbershops I've been in, didn't have much of a scent either.

Interesting now that I think about it.

 

[Walt Whitman]

Buy a can of Gillette Foamy Barbershop Clean.

THAT is what a barbershop smells like.

 

[Thebigspendur]

Old time barbershops had scents that were just a combination of the cheap products they used on their customers.

 

[Isaac]

Pinaud clubman talc and the aftershave.

everytime i smell the talc i think about the barbershop.

 

[Slivovitz]

Cheap hair tonic, aftershave, and bay rum.

Mind you, for quite some time now, I haven't been to a proper barbershop. In fact, I just went to our local Cost Cutters this morning.

Growing up, though, those are the smells I associate with our local barbershops. As a teenager, I had to start mentioning to the barber at the start of the haircut that I didn't want any "stuff" in my hair. If he gave a razor trim I was sure to mention that I didn't want aftershave.

There are things I miss about an old-fashioned shave and haircut, but the smells aren't among them.

 

[sodajerk]

Except for the Bay Rum, I remember all that have been mentioned so far. Mostly the Clubman Talc because they always brushed your neck and shoulders with it. I don't know if it was my younger nose ) or what, but the smell was really strong and would last forever, it seemed!

 

[drburt]

As I was growing up, my barbershop smelled of talc, bay rum, hair lotion and tobacco smoke. Today it is mainly talc and barbicide. Some how I miss the mixture.

Burt

 

[Barcochris]

Clubman Talc for sure...

 

[wakefieldma]

As I was growing up, my barbershop smelled of talc, bay rum, hair lotion and tobacco smoke. Today it is mainly talc and barbicide. Some how I miss the mixture.

Burt

+1-That is exactly my experience as well-Through highschool and college (during visits home) my barber was a crazy, half-deaf mean old Russian man who smoked like a stack, but he gave the best haircuts (he didn't even ask you what you wanted, he just gave everyone the same haircut, I think they call it the "Ivy League" haircut)-I think that is why today I love scents that have a combination of citrus/florals and tobacco-

 

[southernscribbler]

I will have to say the Clubman talc first and foremost, but need to throw in the smells of Vitalis, Brylcreem, Butch sticks, not to mention the smell of cigarette and cigar smoke and the sounds of men being men with conversation. The tinkling of the coins in the bottled Pepsi machine and that distinct sound of the top being opened and then the bottle cap falling into the catch tray. And last but not least, the smell of fresh newspaper. Holy smokes! Did I go overboard here?

 

[knlgskr]

I have been fortunate to visit many barber shops; and they have had various smells but all of them smelled like good.

 

[dod.e.ratherwell]

Clipper oil, brylcream and various clubman products. Mostly the oil on the clippers though I love that smell.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I remember going to the barbershop from the time I was very little, right up until about the mid 1970's, when many of the barbers got out of the business because of the long hair styles.

The barbershop I used to go to, and I went to the same one all those years, had such a great smell. I really didn't know just what smelled so good, but I'm sure it was the combination of the talcum powder's, the different hair tonic's and so many of the things that those shops all seemed to have on their shelves.

They were really special places because women hardly ever went in them. You could read, (ha. ha.), a mans' magazines, talk about anything you wanted, even tell dirty jokes and swear. Off color jokes were O.K., and you didn't have to worry about being politically correct.

That was yesterday however, I'm sure they might have changed a bit since back then. I don't know, when my longtime barber got out of the business I started going to a friend of mine who was at a hair salon. I've been going to him ever since, some 36 years now.

My God, have that many years gone by?

 

[Walt Whitman]

They were really special places because women hardly ever went in them. You could read, (ha. ha.), a mans' magazines, talk about anything you wanted, even tell dirty jokes and swear. Off color jokes were O.K., and you didn't have to worry about being politically correct.

Truly, the other Massachusetts!

Oh, but for the days of yore.

 

[flabajaba2213]

Truly, the other Massachusetts!

Oh, but for the days of yore.

My barber shop in Plymouth is still like this. Hooray for the few, the proud, the Massachusetts Conservatives!

 

[Walt Whitman]

My barber shop in Plymouth is still like this. Hooray for the few, the proud, the Massachusetts Conservatives!

There are many around the country that are proud of you (plural), too.

And, to those that aren't -