Barrister and Mann

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!

Yay! I'm glad you're enjoying it now.

Leviathan was not nearly as "dark" as I expected. I enjoy it a lot but was expecting death. I guess I'm rather glad I don't detect death.

On a separate note, does anyone else prefer the old containers over the new (Cologne Russe, Seville)? They are a tad shorter. They are stronger but for some reason I really prefer the old containers.

I made a similar comment about the containers when I first received Russe. I've gotten used to them and I don't know if it matters much which container. What's that's old saying about appreciating what's in the inside? Ha.

We felt that it was better to have a heavier container, which feels a bit more solid (the older jars had been accused of being "cheap"), and the quality control at our old jar manufacturer has become extremely unreliable, hence the switch.

Well then I can't complain. Lovely artwork by the way. Is Dickens/Night Music/Rhapsody going to have their same old artwork?

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!

Yay! I'm glad you're enjoying it now.

Leviathan was not nearly as "dark" as I expected. I enjoy it a lot but was expecting death. I guess I'm rather glad I don't detect death.

On a separate note, does anyone else prefer the old containers over the new (Cologne Russe, Seville)? They are a tad shorter. They are stronger but for some reason I really prefer the old containers.

I made a similar comment about the containers when I first received Russe. I've gotten used to them and I don't know if it matters much which container. What's that's old saying about appreciating what's in the inside? Ha.

We felt that it was better to have a heavier container, which feels a bit more solid (the older jars had been accused of being "cheap"), and the quality control at our old jar manufacturer has become extremely unreliable, hence the switch.

Will, certainly not complaining, and as always, it is appreciated that you are transparent in motivations for certain changes. My only point of reference was of course my personal experience in that every container from white label on to now has been excellent. It took time to grow on me but the new containers work just as well.

Keep up the good work.

All this recent talk of Bay Rum reminded me that I had a sample of the Barrister and Mann Bay Rum soap that I hadn't tried. So I went ahead and tried it last night. And, wow! Performed great, and that scent is delicious. Seriously. I keep going back and sniffing the soap. Seems really appropriate for the changing season, too. I didn't really consider myself a huge Bay Rum fan before, but this one is so very nice. My only problem now is not having an aftershave to continue the goodness. So I guess I'm jumping on board the train of support for Will to add a Bay Rum aftershave to his lineup whenever he can. But in the meantime, what should I use to complement the soap, since I will definitely be getting a full tub of the soap with my next order?

The delicious spice cookie sense I get from the B&M Bay Rum soap makes me even more curious to try Dickens this winter, since "delicious cookie" seems to be the description that stands out in my memory. Can't recall who said it. But any chance they'd make a good pairing?

...But in the meantime, what should I use to complement the soap...

I really like Derby City Chop Shop's Winter Reserve.

...But in the meantime, what should I use to complement the soap...

I really like Derby City Chop Shop's Winter Reserve.

Ooh, interesting. I was actually wondering recently whether whiskey would make a reasonable and interesting base for an aftershave. And here you are recommending a Bay Rum aftershave with a bourbon base. That sounds nice. Although a bit pricey with shipping added (plus it looks to be currently unavailable). I think maybe a Bay Rum aftershave is something that can be experimented with on your own without too much trouble though. I might try to see what I can come up with to complement Will's soap, for my own personal use, until he has a chance to offer a professional version for sale. It'll be a good test for my nose. I'll sample some of what's out there, too, depending on what's available in sample sizes. But I have to admit that that Chop Shop bottle looks nicely done (very attractive packaging). Thanks for suggesting it - I'd never heard of it before.

...I'll sample some of what's out there, too, depending on what's available in sample sizes. But I have to admit that that Chop Shop bottle looks nicely done (very attractive packaging). Thanks for suggesting it - I'd never heard of it before.

PM sent.

Hey Will, I just got the BR Cool and had a question about a particular note in the fragrance.  It's a somewhat bitter/powdery note that is very present during drydown.  Not the lavender, lemon bergamot, but something in the middle and base.  I detect something very similar in Lavanille, if that helps.

Trying to wrap my head around the scent.  The performance is lovely, but while that bitter/powder note works in Lavanille, I'm not positive where I stand on it in the Cool formula.  To be fair, I have never used Floid Blue so I wasn't sure what I was getting into!

Totally different notes. What you're smelling is a compound called Norlimbanol, literally the chemical smell of desiccation; smelling the stuff at full strength will cause your entire nasal cavity to dry out. It's used in fresh coumarin chypres, aquatics, and various other things, but, like most things, has a certain set of people for whom it is not pleasant.

Hi Will, I sent you a PM following up about the Nortlimbanol. That's some interesting stuff, and I can definitely see how it fits into some of those aquatic profiles. Fragrance industry is crazy I'm finding!

Hey Will, I just got the BR Cool and had a question about a particular note in the fragrance.  It's a somewhat bitter/powdery note that is very present during drydown.  Not the lavender, lemon bergamot, but something in the middle and base.  I detect something very similar in Lavanille, if that helps.

Trying to wrap my head around the scent.  The performance is lovely, but while that bitter/powder note works in Lavanille, I'm not positive where I stand on it in the Cool formula.  To be fair, I have never used Floid Blue so I wasn't sure what I was getting into!

Totally different notes. What you're smelling is a compound called Norlimbanol, literally the chemical smell of desiccation; smelling the stuff at full strength will cause your entire nasal cavity to dry out. It's used in fresh coumarin chypres, aquatics, and various other things, but, like most things, has a certain set of people for whom it is not pleasant.

Hi Will, I sent you a PM following up about the Nortlimbanol.  That's some interesting stuff, and I can definitely see how it fits into some of those aquatic profiles.  Fragrance industry is crazy I'm finding!

That you did! We've been on the road for the tour, so my access to messages and such has been limited, but I just sent you an answer.

Hi Will, were the DFS and the Nocturne similar in scent? I have DFS and found a Nocturne but don't want to spring for it if they are too similar.

Hi Will, were the DFS and the Nocturne similar in scent? I have DFS and found a Nocturne but don't want to spring for it if they are too similar.

Sort of? DFS is more acidic, while Nocturne is drier (owing to the leaf accord) and smokier.