Barrister and Mann

What's hallows smell like? I go on the pre order can't wait to try it. I love me some B&M.

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This made me laugh so hard, thanks! I actually bought last year's Hallows off a forum member recently to see if I will buy the new one. Probably will.

Hey will, question... Maybe my nose is tricking me but does the new Seville smell slightly different than the old white label?

Something about the base has made it a little bit more citrus-forward off the jar than it used to be. The fragrance is identical, though, and, when lathered, it smells exactly the same, at least to me.

I think I have definitely learned over time that if I can get samples of Barrister and Mann scents, I get the sample. I definitely had plenty of opportunity to pre-purchase Hallows but I could not pull the trigger knowing how much I can LOVE or HATE a Barrister and Mann scent. Now that I've tried the Glissant bases, I do not think I have a single soap that performs better than Barrister and Mann. Pannacrema Nuavia series are on par, but not better.

However, the Barrister and Mann scents can be so polarizing. For example, I decided based on scent and a past sample, to purchase the Glissant Seville. I had one of the best shaves I've ever had with any soap with it yesterday. LOVE Seville. Based on scent description I decided to sample Leviathan. I'm glad I did. At first Leviathan smelled like an ash tray to me off the sample. Then after testing it, smelled ok. Throughout the day, I kept going back smelling, smelling smelling. Hate, like, hate like. Finally the next day I decided to shave with it. I didn't get through a first pass. I wiped the lather off my face and shaved with Seville instead. I hope maybe one day to score a sample of Hallows, but its so limited and so popular I doubt I ever will. Now Dickens and First Snow sound fantastic but again, I'll be sampling first for skin irritation and scent before I buy a full puck.

I think I have definitely learned over time that if I can get samples of Barrister and Mann scents, I get the sample.  I definitely had plenty of opportunity to pre-purchase Hallows but I could not pull the trigger knowing how much I can LOVE or HATE a Barrister and Mann scent.  Now that I've tried the Glissant bases, I do not think I have a single soap that performs better than Barrister and Mann.  Pannacrema Nuavia series are on par, but not better.  

However, the Barrister and Mann scents can be so polarizing.  For example, I decided based on scent and a past sample, to purchase the Glissant Seville.  I had one of the best shaves I've ever had with any soap with it yesterday.  LOVE Seville.  Based on scent description I decided to sample Leviathan.  I'm glad I did.  At first Leviathan smelled like an ash tray to me off the sample.  Then after testing it, smelled ok. Throughout the day, I kept going back smelling, smelling smelling. Hate, like, hate like. Finally the next day I decided to shave with it.  I didn't get through a first pass.  I wiped the lather off my face and shaved with Seville instead.  I hope maybe one day to score a sample of Hallows, but its so limited and so popular I doubt I ever will. Now Dickens and First Snow sound fantastic but again, I'll be sampling first for skin irritation and scent before I buy a full puck.

There will be a LOT of Hallows on the market, come the end of October. You'll probably have a fair opportunity to grab some and, if you end up liking it and miss it (unlikely, trust me), you'll probably be able to get a jar from someone who DIDN'T care for the purchase.

I think I have definitely learned over time that if I can get samples of Barrister and Mann scents, I get the sample.  I definitely had plenty of opportunity to pre-purchase Hallows but I could not pull the trigger knowing how much I can LOVE or HATE a Barrister and Mann scent.  Now that I've tried the Glissant bases, I do not think I have a single soap that performs better than Barrister and Mann.  Pannacrema Nuavia series are on par, but not better.  

However, the Barrister and Mann scents can be so polarizing.  For example, I decided based on scent and a past sample, to purchase the Glissant Seville.  I had one of the best shaves I've ever had with any soap with it yesterday.  LOVE Seville.  Based on scent description I decided to sample Leviathan.  I'm glad I did.  At first Leviathan smelled like an ash tray to me off the sample.  Then after testing it, smelled ok. Throughout the day, I kept going back smelling, smelling smelling. Hate, like, hate like. Finally the next day I decided to shave with it.  I didn't get through a first pass.  I wiped the lather off my face and shaved with Seville instead.  I hope maybe one day to score a sample of Hallows, but its so limited and so popular I doubt I ever will. Now Dickens and First Snow sound fantastic but again, I'll be sampling first for skin irritation and scent before I buy a full puck.

There will be a LOT of Hallows on the market, come the end of October. You'll probably have a fair opportunity to grab some and, if you end up liking it and miss it (unlikely, trust me), you'll probably be able to get a jar from someone who DIDN'T care for the purchase.

Will,

That's awesome. I saw that you mentioned there will be an abundance of Hallows this time. Nicely done. Like I say hopefully I'll be able to try it this go around. Thanks for the heads up.

I think I have definitely learned over time that if I can get samples of Barrister and Mann scents, I get the sample.  I definitely had plenty of opportunity to pre-purchase Hallows but I could not pull the trigger knowing how much I can LOVE or HATE a Barrister and Mann scent.  Now that I've tried the Glissant bases, I do not think I have a single soap that performs better than Barrister and Mann.  Pannacrema Nuavia series are on par, but not better.  

However, the Barrister and Mann scents can be so polarizing.  For example, I decided based on scent and a past sample, to purchase the Glissant Seville.  I had one of the best shaves I've ever had with any soap with it yesterday.  LOVE Seville.  Based on scent description I decided to sample Leviathan.  I'm glad I did.  At first Leviathan smelled like an ash tray to me off the sample.  Then after testing it, smelled ok. Throughout the day, I kept going back smelling, smelling smelling. Hate, like, hate like. Finally the next day I decided to shave with it.  I didn't get through a first pass.  I wiped the lather off my face and shaved with Seville instead.  I hope maybe one day to score a sample of Hallows, but its so limited and so popular I doubt I ever will. Now Dickens and First Snow sound fantastic but again, I'll be sampling first for skin irritation and scent before I buy a full puck.

SCShaver give Leviathan a second chance after a few days.  I found that I didn't care for it on first use but in some mysterious way it morphed into something that I truly love.  Weird.

I like every one of the Barrister and Mann scents, however, I do like some more than others.  You mention that B&M can be polarizing and from what I've read on forums that appears to be true.  I think you can divide the scents in to two main camps, the polarizing ones which include, IMO, Roam, Petrichor, Leviathan, Hallows and Night Music and the all the rest of them, which people may like or dislike but rarely as viscerally as with the ones first mentioned.  

I really think that Will and his team at Barrister and Mann have been doing such good work and making our shaves such an enjoyable experience, we are indeed fortunate.  If you question B&M's popularity just look at the length of this Thread and compare it to the MWF Thread.  Oh wait, there is no MWF Thread
Mark

...Throughout the day, I kept going back smelling, smelling smelling. Hate, like, hate like....

This description almost exactly describes my initial exposure to Leviathan.  Someone told me my nose received an education.  Now I use it often.  I absolutely love the scent.  Here's a link to my post regarding that first use.  Reviewing that post, it appears that was my first exposure to B&M as well.  That's when I fell down the rabbit hole.

I really like the Cheshire scent, and the performance is wonderful, but I wasn't as taken with Lavanille as I thought I might be. I've ordered some Bay Rum to see how it compares -- if it's a winner, I might give Leviathan a try (I like the name).

Ohhhh, I'd love to jump in here. I liked very clean scents and nothing out of the ordinary. My den consisted of only citrus scents and barber-shop type scents. I purchased Night music because the label was awesome and I love strawberry and vanilla (even though Will hinted it is not strawberry forward at all). I smelled it and literally laughed out loud. It was the worst smelling soap I have ever smelled. I sold it the very next day. As time went on I slowly started exploring scents that weren't raunchy, but not as clean as I was used to. When I stumbled across Rhapsody I thought it was gross. Then smelled again and loved it. Went back and forth between gross and I'm in love. I realized I was smelling it multiple times a day and simply fell in love with the complexity. Adagio smelled strange to me but it because my favorite B&M. Then came ROAM. This smelled like straight up campfire but I knew I had to give it a chance. My first lather was rather smokey smelling. I went through all my soaps and did a blind smell. When I got to Roam I thought I smelled a lovely floral soap. I opened my eyes and was surprised it was Roam. Sometimes the label or reading reviews will put an idea in our head that we can't escape. By the way, I love roam now.

Fast forward to a month ago, I figured my nose was a little more advanced. I love the artwork on Night music and simply had to have it again. When it arrived in the mail from a forum member, I thought I was smelling something completely different. How did I not love this in February? This scent is absolutely amazing and is now on of my top scents. I now own Hallows and Leviathan which I never thought I would purchase.

B&M scents are a rare breed. Something that I don't think you will definitely liked right away. Many of them take time... Or maybe you just need to re-visit them at a later date. I've slowly been selling off my other brands of soaps and my B&M line has been growing.


Thanks Will, for making soaps so fun!

Ohhhh, I'd love to jump in here. I liked very clean scents and nothing out of the ordinary. My den consisted of only citrus scents and barber-shop type scents. I purchased Night music because the label was awesome and I love strawberry and vanilla (even though Will hinted it is not strawberry forward at all). I smelled it and literally laughed out loud. It was the worst smelling soap I have ever smelled. I sold it the very next day. As time went on I slowly started exploring scents that weren't raunchy, but not as clean as I was used to. When I stumbled across Rhapsody I thought it was gross. Then smelled again and loved it. Went back and forth between gross and I'm in love. I realized I was smelling it multiple times a day and simply fell in love with the complexity. Adagio smelled strange to me but it because my favorite B&M. Then came ROAM. This smelled like straight up campfire but I knew I had to give it a chance. My first lather was rather smokey smelling. I went through all my soaps and did a blind smell. When I got to Roam I thought I smelled a lovely floral soap. I opened my eyes and was surprised it was Roam. Sometimes the label or reading reviews will put an idea in our head that we can't escape. By the way, I love roam now.

Fast forward to a month ago, I figured my nose was a little more advanced. I love the artwork on Night music and simply had to have it again. When it arrived in the mail from a forum member, I thought I was smelling something completely different. How did I not love this in February? This scent is absolutely amazing and is now on of my top scents. I now own Hallows and Leviathan which I never thought I would purchase.

B&M scents are a rare breed. Something that I don't think you will definitely liked right away. Many of them take time... Or maybe you just need to re-visit them at a later date. I've slowly been selling off my other brands of soaps and my B&M line has been growing.


Thanks Will, for making soaps so fun!

Very well written! I love most all scents from B&M, even the divisive ones like Night Music and Roam.

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I really like the Cheshire scent, and the performance is wonderful, but I wasn't as taken with Lavanille as I thought I might be. I've ordered some Bay Rum to see how it compares -- if it's a winner, I might give Leviathan a try (I like the name).

Leviathan does roll of the tongue pleasantly doesn't it? Its a fun word to say and a great soap.