Barrister's Reserve: preview thoughts

I have mentioned that I am not a "frag-head" so often have difficulty deconstructing scents as I have limited context. I am heavily into food though, enjoy cooking and deconstructing dishes so will attempt to apply the same framework.

I have used the Reserve preview from Will (4) times at this point. Without the training wheels of a description or intended scent mix, I get benzoin up front. In the middle there are notes of warm citrus [perhaps neroli as it is not sharp but more rounded and warm] riding on the back of oakmoss [rich, woody notes] and maybe labdanum as I get some tobacco-ish notes as it dries down. Perhaps the labdanum, if indeed in the ingredients, is also responsible for some of the opening terpenic notes?

For the splash performance/formula itself: feels like witch hazel more so than glycerin to me. I mixed the splash on first use best I could by squeezing the pack back and forth a few times. Drys down non greasy and absorbs well. Healing properties seem very solid although I don't have sensitive skin. Alcohol content is nice too.

A very rich scent, I wouldn't mind a dash of menthol to open up the mix. I know menthol is likely the fragrance equivalent of hot sauce but I like hot sauce in the right application

Thanks Barrister_N_Mann for circulating the samples.

Well we certainly smells things differently - bug spray couldn't be further away from what I get. I get powdery smell. In liquid form I do get almost an alcohol only smell, but within seconds after applying the scent comes out. I very much like this aftershave in performance and scent - the skin feels moisturized yet not oily or tacky feeling. Great job!

Also, I have an extra sample pack. If anyone is dying to try this I can send to you - CONUS only. I only ask that you provide feedback to Will through the website listed on the sample pack.

This is a cross-post of sorts:

This is a top performing aftershave as is. I wouldn't change a thing about it, frankly. The scent is reminiscent of a slightly more aquatic Floid Blue with just enough soapiness (vetiver?) to keep it clean without tipping over into powdery. There is some slight woodiness, but on the sharper end of the spectrum (think closer to cedar than oak), but it really doesn't replicate any of those things. It just shares their qualities. If I had to pick 2 commonly available scents in the wet shaving realm that this resembles, I would say Floid Blue and Fine's Clean Vetiver. This scent is more complex than either of those, however. The longevity is about 8 hours for me (full disclosure that I use more product than just a face shaver because I also head shave.) After the alcohol blows off, the resulting scent is what you have for several hours. There was very little transformation which is good for this type of product.

As far as performance, after 2 uses, one of which involved pushing a blade past it's prime (read irritation), this outperforms Speick. It's not fair to say it surpasses some of my other preferred splashes because I haven't had enough exposure, but it's certainly in the running.

I would be happy if Barrister_N_Mann sold this as is...right now.

I've only used it once, but I really love the stuff. It's so luxuriously woody smelling, plus it was really soothing without feeling noticeably soothing. I was surprised to notice how supple and soft my skin felt, without losing the toned feeling that you get with an alcohol splash. And even though it doesn't seem like that complex of a scent, the evolution over the course of a few hours was subtly very complex.

While I'm neutral to slightly negative on this particular scent (the base note is ... mossy/musky in an old-world musty way I don't care for too much), using Reserve again today I have to agree it's a remarkable combination of bracing alcohol splash plus really, really great soothing and conditioning properties. I'm enjoying that aspect enough that even if this were the only scent offered I'd still want to get a bottle. Now if there were other scents to choose from, WELL THEN ...

While I'm neutral to slightly negative on this particular scent (the base note is ... mossy/musky in an old-world musty way I don't care for too much), using Reserve again today I have to agree it's a remarkable combination of bracing alcohol splash plus really, really great soothing and conditioning properties. I'm enjoying that aspect enough that even if this were the only scent offered I'd still want to get a bottle. Now if there were other scents to choose from, WELL THEN ...

As if I would leave you guys out in the cold like that. There will be other scents. Three for launch, and a fourth in development.

I like the scent a lot personally. Keep some around for me .

I like the scent a lot personally. Keep some around for me .

Oh no, this one isn't going anywhere. It's the Classic. There will also be Cooling, Spice, and Lavender.

Predict as you will.

I like the scent a lot personally. Keep some around for me .

Oh no, this one isn't going anywhere. It's the Classic. There will also be Cooling, Spice, and Lavender.

Predict as you will.

OoooooOoo the lavender sounds nice. What sort of spice will be highlighted in Spice?