Classic Barbershop Scent

I would like to buy a classic barbershop scented soap. I see there are many soaps named "Barbershop"...but I am searching for THE one soap that is the classic barbershop scent. Any recommendations?

btw...I can't wait until someone invents "scratch and sniff" monitors. Buying soaps online "scent unsniffed" is difficult.

You are going to have to define "classic barbershop".

Some people think talcum powdery thing (i.e., find any "artisan" version)

Others think its a classic Victorian thing (i.e., think Eucris or any Lavender/Rose)

Baby Boomers might think its Barbarsol (i.e., think Fine AB)

I think of it as mixture of spilled whiskey, Bay Rum, Barbacide, old newspapers and magazines with cigarette smoke, and Brylcream as that is what I remember barbershops smelled like.

What do you think it is?

This is part of the problem. I don't know how to describe a barbershop scent. I tend to think of a clean, fresh, manly scent...the kind my father would have worn when he and my Mom got all spiffed up to go out on the town. Or the scent the barber would splash on some of the old guys in the chair (back when I was a kid) The best answer I can give is -- I will know it when I smell it.

For me it's gotta be Pinaud Clubman aftershave. That is the quintessential barbershop scent. I don't think he's going for what an actual barbershop from the 60's or 70's smelled like.

OK, I have several and they're pretty nice, Mike's Natural, Stirling and Mystic Waters are all good and are basically the same "barbershop" scent or at least close enough to be interchangeable IMO.

For me, however, the best "barbershop" scent I have in my collection is Chiselled Face Groomatorium Ghost Town Barber.

That said, I tend to agree with grim as to what a real barbershop smells like, at least the ones I've been in which is admittedly a small sample - I've only had 2 barbers in my life and I'm 56 now. My first pro haircut was when I was 5 and I stuck with Tom for 35 years until he retired and I've been with Jerry 16 years. He's starting to talk about retirement. I'm noticing a trend.

If you're looking for a clean, fresh, manly scent ... try Maggard's London Barbershop.  There are others in this same vain - Strop Shoppe Barbershoppe and Chiseled Face Ghost Town Barber, to name just a couple.

I'd call it a more "modern barbershop" - bright and not as powdery, but also not a "cologne-type" scent (that's a different category).

This is part of the problem. I don't know how to describe a barbershop scent.  I tend to think of a clean, fresh, manly scent...the kind my father would have worn when he and my Mom got all spiffed up to go out on the town. Or the scent the barber would splash on some of the old guys in the chair (back when I was a kid)  The best answer I can give is -- I will know it when I smell it.

Well I'm going to guess your looking for the Barbasol thing and NOT what the artisan think barbershop is. That is the classic 50s/60s scent and I believe that is FINE AB soap and aftershave.

If you want the "powder stuff", Mikes, TTFFC Wisp, WSP, and Route 66 Barbershop Hop are good. When I want barbershop I'll go Eucris or T&H Grafton.

But I really think you are thinking barbershop as in Barbasol and maybe try Fine products American Blend. YMMV

I don't know what barbershops smell like since I shave my head ...

Barrister_N_Mann has mentioned Seville coincidentally smells like Campbell's cream for barbershop latherizers. But my current favorite "barbershop" is Latha Original (lavender/oakmoss/heliotrope).

I don't know what barbershops smell like since I shave my head ...

Barrister_N_Mann has mentioned Seville coincidentally smells like Campbell's cream for barbershop latherizers.  But my current favorite "barbershop" is Latha Original (lavender/oakmoss/heliotrope).

That Latha Original is a good one! I think I read somewhere on here that Will said it's not very popular and unfortunately may be discontinued.

I don't know what barbershops smell like since I shave my head ...

Barrister_N_Mann has mentioned Seville coincidentally smells like Campbell's cream for barbershop latherizers.  But my current favorite "barbershop" is Latha Original (lavender/oakmoss/heliotrope).

That Latha Original is a good one! I think I read somewhere on here that Will said it's not very popular and unfortunately may be discontinued.

Really?! That would be a damn shame. I have an extra tub of the soap already - going to have to pick up an extra splash.