Barrister & Mann AMA, July 17th, 2016

6) I've actually been getting back into video games a little bit recently. It's a lot of fun, but I'm not the kind of guy who can play for hours and hours, so it works well to unwind.

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

6) I've actually been getting back into video games a little bit recently. It's a lot of fun, but I'm not the kind of guy who can play for hours and hours, so it works well to unwind.

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

so which ones do YOU play?

I used to be a very hardcore gamer...committing around 60-80hrs a week back in my younger years. I was one of the top Swat 4 PC players in the world, at the time.

6) I've actually been getting back into video games a little bit recently. It's a lot of fun, but I'm not the kind of guy who can play for hours and hours, so it works well to unwind.

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

so which ones do YOU play?  

I used to be a very hardcore gamer...committing around 60-80hrs a week back in my younger years.  I was one of the top Swat 4 PC players in the world, at the time.

Mostly FPS. Currently Overwatch and back to Evolve after the reboot.

A bit of L4D2 and SupCom2.

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

so which ones do YOU play?  

I used to be a very hardcore gamer...committing around 60-80hrs a week back in my younger years.  I was one of the top Swat 4 PC players in the world, at the time.

Mostly FPS. Currently Overwatch and back to Evolve after the reboot.

A bit of L4D2 and SupCom2.

ah..I have L4D2. do you play any TF2?

Thanks, Will-that's been my experience as well, the lower lofted brushes do better. The second time I used the Seville, the BK 12 seemingly swallowed all the lather. Next time, I got great results with ease with a Simpsons Chubby 2 Synthetic. I've got some other synthetics I'm going to give a whirl as well.

Every think about doing a 'special edition' with a ceramic or clay container, or something 'out of the box' like the MdC 'brain bowl'?

I've thought about it several times, but I rather like the cleanliness of the plastic. Perhaps at some point in the future.

Will, I have a few questions for you, if you are still here after so many hours  

1. Before you started making shaving soaps, did you primarily use creams or soaps or a combo of both ?

2. What made you take the step to start making shaving soaps ?

3. When you did start to make your own soaps, how did you go about it ? Did you research the internet and spoke with other soaps makers and from that started to mix your own soaps ?

4. Have you been into fragrance for a long time ?
I was already into fragrances at age 14, and had maybe 30-40 full bottles at the time I was 16-17 years old.

5. Do you wear fragrances every day ? Do you have rotation of fragrances/do you own a collection of fragrances ? (I curently own 500+ full bottles of fragrances, and wear a new one every day of the year pretty much, and find my temper and life just gets that tiny bit more exciting, when I wear a fragrance I can sniff during the day)

6. Do you have any idea why superlathers work so well for me - superlather is a mix of a shaving cream and a shaving soap and if I have a poor performing cream or soap, mixing it with a better quality counterpart (soaps or cream), will almost always provide me with a much greater quality lather and shave.

7. Would you consider having a steady line up of shaving soaps (for instance 8 or 10 soaps), that always are in your shop, and then release a couple of season soaps every 3-4 months ?

Thanks, my friend  

1) I primarily used a combo, though I've actually veered toward creams of late. The slickness works really well for my skin.

2) I needed to pay the rent and figured "If other people can do it, I can do it too."

3) 2013, though I was experimenting with the process all the way back in 2012. I did a LOT of research, primarily courtesy of the Boston Public Library. At that time, the methods for making shaving soap were closely guarded, so there weren't many people willing to tell me much about it.

4) Since 2013, when I spent a lot of time in San Francisco. SF has a huge perfume scene and I lived next to a young lady who had a thing for fragrance. She was the one who really got me into it.

5) Almost every day, but it's mostly what I feel like wearing that day. I don't follow any set schedule; prefer to stay with what feels "right" for the occasion.

6) Sounds like you need something of particular density and slickness, which sounds about right. Have you tried Nancy Boy?

7) That's basically what we do now. The main five: Seville, Cheshire, Bay Rum, Lavanille, and Cologne Russe. The seasonals: Rhapsody, Adagio, Leviathan, and now First Snow.

My thoughts - B&M is number one, for me.  Will's love of perfumery and scents really shines through on the creations...  I have to say, I've enjoyed all that I've tried (and I own 14 of them!).  They go beyond singular scents and simple or cliché fragrances.  The performance of both the soaps and aftershaves is outstanding and dependable.  I look forward to every new release.  Can't wait for my Boudelaire to arrive in a couple of weeks!

Will, will we ever see Le Grand Chypre again?

Next year. We're bringing it back as a permanent addition to the line.

Will, thanks for doing this. I saw Adrian was on the "whirlwind  tour" list. When will you be at Maggard's again?

Yes indeed! Maggard is the place. Brad and Casie are cool with it and the shop can accommodate lots of people, so it should work pretty well

6) I've actually been getting back into video games a little bit recently. It's a lot of fun, but I'm not the kind of guy who can play for hours and hours, so it works well to unwind.

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

Sorry to disappoint, but it's largely been PS4. Been playing Doom (which I love and have a long history with, as a franchise) and a fun little game called Song of the Deep recently. Only had the thing a month or so.

so which ones do YOU play?  

I used to be a very hardcore gamer...committing around 60-80hrs a week back in my younger years.  I was one of the top Swat 4 PC players in the world, at the time.

Mostly FPS. Currently Overwatch and back to Evolve after the reboot.

A bit of L4D2 and SupCom2.

ah..I have L4D2.  do you play any TF2?

Heck yea! My gaming community is based around tf2.

www.no-heroes.com

/plug

#dontbanmeforlinkingoffsite

Earlier this year, you mentioned that you might be producing a limited run of Petrichor toward the end of this year.  From what I'm reading in this thread, I understand it's probably not in the cards for the year.  Are you thinking about for sometime in 2017?

Thanks.
Bob

Sorry bobmsp, missed this on my first pass through. Yes, Petrichor is slated for the Spring of 2017. It seems like an appropriately Spring-like scent.

Will, thanks for doing this. I saw Adrian was on the "whirlwind  tour" list. When will you be at Maggard's again?

Yes indeed! Maggard is the place. Brad and Casie are cool with it and the shop can accommodate lots of people, so it should work pretty well

6) I've actually been getting back into video games a little bit recently. It's a lot of fun, but I'm not the kind of guy who can play for hours and hours, so it works well to unwind.

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

Sorry to disappoint, but it's largely been PS4. Been playing Doom (which I love and have a long history with, as a franchise) and a fun little game called Song of the Deep recently. Only had the thing a month or so.

Ah, Doom. My first FPS and one of the games that got me hooked.

Will, thanks for doing this. I saw Adrian was on the "whirlwind  tour" list. When will you be at Maggard's again?

Yes indeed! Maggard is the place. Brad and Casie are cool with it and the shop can accommodate lots of people, so it should work pretty well

What games/systems?

#pcmasterrace

Sorry to disappoint, but it's largely been PS4. Been playing Doom (which I love and have a long history with, as a franchise) and a fun little game called Song of the Deep recently. Only had the thing a month or so.

Ah, Doom. My first FPS  and one of the games that got me hooked.

Have you tried the new one? The MP sucks, but the SP is AWESOME!