Barrister and Mann

Roam is indeed discontinued. I wonder if any amount of pestering could result in another batch being made for those of us who really want one. Hint, wink, nudge.


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It is, but we're considering a limited batch sometime in the new year. If we follow through with that, it will be limited to one-per-person.

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Will, I notice that you no longer make Petrichor - any particular reason?  I find that things I like often get discontinued.  Petrichor has a wonderful wet dirt scent that I really like.  Now I have to go and lay face down in the garden when it rains to get my fix.  Until your soap I didn't know there was a word for that smell - soap is a teacher too.
Mark

People stopped buying it, so we stopped making it. It was one of those soaps that we only made until interest waned. That said, we're kind of reorganizing our scent catalogue over the course of the next few months, so it might make a comeback as a tallow soap. We'll see?

A lot of people wanted it to smell like their specific regional form of Petrichor, which would be impossible (after all, it can only smell like one thing at a time). They got upset when it didn't. o.o

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I, for one, can testify to the great service Will provides for repeat customers.
He can and indeed, does go above and beyond to try and satisfy genuine repeat customers and for that I am most appreciative.

Will, perhaps a simple caveat, stating something along the lines, that orders deemed to be of a commercial nature will be cancelled upon limited editions.
This provides you the legal grounds to cancel order that you suspect, or know are not in the spirit of the greater community and your personal values and also carries the benefit of encouraging an element of constraint.
Perhaps even going as far as either requiring a purchase prior or along side the limited edition would further alleviate issues ?
I hope you're able to identify the order from the 'bot' that caused you grief and blanket ban them for good!
Publicly setting an example also will discourage other opportunistic types.

Cologne Russe, I hope the formulation changes does not change the scent profile, it's wonderful and everyone that I've shared it with agrees!

As for last years and this years Hallows, I will be interested to see what those that own both think of the scent profile.
I noted a slight difference between your last release and prior releases of both fougeres.
So much so, that I sought out confirmation and thus far all have agreed absolutely, bar one, who is indecisive, yet believes there is something.
So there is scent profile changes between batches and to me, that makes these products that much more interesting

That's a good thought; I'll give it some consideration as we move forward, though such a thing would likely make it very difficult for us because we'd have to start sorting through orders and refunding things. Better to do it in such a way that we can limit the purchases before the soap is even ordered.

As for Cologne Russe, I will make quite certain that the reformulation will not damage the scent profile. As for the fougères, I used a different cultivar of oakmoss, this one from India. It has a very pleasant cucumber character, and affected the fougère profile a bit more than I had expected, though I don't think the difference is detrimental.

It is, but we're considering a limited batch sometime in the new year. If we follow through with that, it will be limited to one-per-person.

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Great news... Counselor Congrats on the Bar and very much look forward to Cowboy'n up if you decide to revisit.

It is, but we're considering a limited batch sometime in the new year. If we follow through with that, it will be limited to one-per-person.

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Great news... Counselor Congrats on the Bar and very much look forward to Cowboy'n up if you decide to revisit.

Thank you very much!

I have ordered the Latha original. I am looking forward to try it!

Some shavers describe the scent as strong anise, but the description on your site says that it's a barbeshop scent. Frankly, I don't know what to expect about the scent but the performance must be great according to many reviews I've read.

I have ordered the Latha original. I am looking forward to try it!

Some shavers describe the scent as strong anise, but the description on your site says that it's a barbeshop scent. Frankly, I don't know what to expect about the scent but the performance must be great according to many reviews I've read.

Those who find that Latha has a strong anise character are generally sensitive to anisic aldehyde. People tend to be of the view that all smells are interpreted in the same way by every person, which is not the case. This is not to say that the smells or different or that people's noses are different; theoretically, everyone's nose is the same, not accounting for age or potential physiological damage.

The difference is in how people INTERPRET what they smell. Some people notice the anisic aldehyde more. Some people notice the heliotropin. Some the lavender, some the oakmoss, etc. That's what accounts for the tremendous differences in whether people like or dislike various scents, be they perfumes, soaps, aftershaves, laundry detergents, foods, etc.

I have ordered the Latha original. I am looking forward to try it!

Some shavers describe the scent as strong anise, but the description on your site says that it's a barbeshop scent. Frankly, I don't know what to expect about the scent but the performance must be great according to many reviews I've read.

Those who find that Latha has a strong anise character are generally sensitive to anisic aldehyde. People tend to be of the view that all smells are interpreted in the same way by every person, which is not the case. This is not to say that the smells or different or that people's noses are different; theoretically, everyone's nose is the same, not accounting for age or potential physiological damage.

The difference is in how people INTERPRET what they smell. Some people notice the anisic aldehyde more. Some people notice the heliotropin. Some the lavender, some the oakmoss, etc. That's what accounts for the tremendous differences in whether people like or dislike various scents, be they perfumes, soaps, aftershaves, laundry detergents, foods, etc.

I appreciate the answer, thanks. You're right.

Hi Will, I find that interesting as I was thinking about how people seem to describe products that I've used and they describe the scent much differently than I would. Partly its having the vocabulary to accurately describe what you're smelling - fragrance in perfumes etc have their own unique vocabulary as does the wine business and the coffee business (my favourite coffee descriptor I've heard is "poopy diaper" which believe it or not is a good thing in ethiopian coffees). Other than the words part I figured that the sense of smell must have some genetic components to it much like the sense of taste that allows you to taste/not taste certain flavours or taste them differently. Some people can't stand cilantro because to them it tastes like soap and thats a genetic trait. So what you describe makes sense to me and what I take from it is that I need to experience a scent in order to decide if I like it and I can't base my opinion on someone else's opinion. This doesn't mean that I have to buy everything (I just want to) as I can usually tell from the artisan's description whether the scent is something I might enjoy. I do like the scientific approach however.
Mark

I think the differences in scent perception can be attributed, at least in part, to variances in the expression profiles of olfactory receptors in the cell membranes of olfactory sensor neutrons. Two people might express the same set of receptors but the membrane concentration of the various receptors in the set may vary among individuals leading to higher/lower sensitivity for certain odor molecules and thus different perceptions.


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I think the differences in scent perception can be attributed, at least in part, to variances in the expression profiles of olfactory receptors in the cell membranes of olfactory sensor neutrons. Two people might express the same set of receptors but the membrane concentration of the various receptors in the set may vary among individuals leading to higher/lower sensitivity  for certain odor molecules and thus different perceptions.


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That's possible, but it kind of necessitates complete acceptance of the shape-dependent theory of olfaction. Not sure if you've read his paper (though you probably have), but Dr. Luca Turin proposed an alternative theory that the nose contains a tiny TEM capable of interpreting the molecular resonance of aroma chemicals. The actual mechanism is probably a combination of the two, but I think there's an argument to be made that the receptors may or may not be relevant to sensitivities.

I think its magic. Or at least magical. Life was so dull, olfactory-wise back in the canned shaving foam years. The dark ages. Now I can have a pleasant olfactory experience every morning. The more you use it the more you discover the richness of the world of scent. I don't know who the people were in the lab that came up with scents for canned shaving foam. Their criteria were, masculine, but not too masculine, make it fuzzy so it doesn't offend anybody. Nobody has to actually like it as long as nobody actually hates it. Like fast food franchises - the food may not be great but you know you can depend on it being mediocre every time. You're taking a risk when you walk into an independent restaurant. Maybe fantastic or not. Its the same with artisan soap makers - you try one and you love it or you don't but someone else might. Scent can be so personal

I'm still surprised that as many people seem to like Hallows as claim to. I like it but I like offbeat scents. I put Hallows in with Roam, Leviathan and Petrichor. I really like all of those but I've read lots of posts by people who don't - "its an acquired taste" is code for "some people claim to like this but I don't". When I first tried Leviathan on its initial release I got a very strong wet dog smell, I don't know if it triggered something in my scent receptors or what but the second time I used it it was completely different and wonderful. Hallows was similar, I had to approach it slowly and let it grow on me. I don't know if I'm a scent non-conformist or what but I will usually avoid the traditional "barbershop" scents. Although I did just experience Stirlings barbershop scent and I think I like it so who knows. The fougere scent is another one that isn't at the top of my list. They rank at "just ok" which makes it hard to use them when there are so many soaps with scents I like more in the cabinet. One of the fougeres released last year by B&M had something in it that drifts in and out of scent focus that I find mildly unappealing. I can't put my finger on it but they are highly regarded so I chalk it up to my own peculiar olfactory receptors. In any case I think the world of scent is magical.
Mark