I don't see Through The Fire Fine Craft (TTFFC) getting much discussion here and they should. They have some unique and terrific scents and excellent soaps. Here is a little bit about their scents, my opinion. TTFFC is an Artisan soap maker out of MI. I believe they also make Maggard's branded soaps. They have a reasonably large selection of scents. In terms of performance, I don’t discuss performance other that to say every shave I got from these soaps was close. There seems to be two formulas, one with tallow and one without, with respective price differences. Prices runs $3 - $3.75/oz.
Sample presentation is, without doubt, the finest functional samples I’ve seen. One can easily get a Chubby 2 brush in this container and then bowl or face lather. This sample has been used.
Official scent descriptions are here. For the most part these scents are strong, not subtle, and last the entire shave. These are not like those “subtle” soaps where you get whiff, lather it, and in 10 seconds there is no scent left. For most of them, you will remember them. Now here is the strange part. The latest soaps sell for $15 for 4 oz or $3.75 oz. Some of the earlier ones sell for $3/oz. Samples sell in 5 packs (pick your scents) for $13 and are 1 oz. That works out to $2.60/oz. I weighed the empty container minus the label and multiple ones were 0.6 oz. One full one I had left over was 1.8 oz. Others I had that were partially used ranged in weight from 1.5 to 2.2 oz. I think there is no doubt, whatsoever, the samples are a minimum 1 oz of product. This mean buying 5 samples is cheaper than buying the full product. If you are into Haslinger, which comes as a tiny 2.1 oz size and seem to be all the rage these days, it fits into one of these sample cases.
and to see the lip close up, Haslinger fits below the lip
Here are the scents I got and what they smelled to me.
Fougere
This was a fresh, green scent but a perfume/colgone scent, not to my liking. I also might have been allergic to this scent as part of my face was burning. This was not the best for me.
Ignite
Ginger ale. Upon reading the ingredients later I saw it’s really a long list of fruits including orange, mango, peach, and lime. OK, it might have been a orange soda but whatever it was, I liked it. I'm sticking to ginger ale and I liked it.
Extinguish
Rasberry Soda. Blooming this soap made the scent very pronounced. TTFFC describes it as Sweet Rasberry. They nailed it and I actually got it. Since it did not have a long list of scents, just lemon in addition, I got it right.
Through The Fire
Wow, just wow. This was about the most unique scent I've ever seen from any soap maker, artisan or not, and I guess with the name might be their signature scent. This is what I got and I usually don’t talk in long, dreamy words …
Think about a Christmas Eve Snowstorm. It’s freezing outside. The snow is coming down and you and the family are sitting in front of an open fire in the fireplace. If you have a wood stove, think about the first scents you get when lighting the kindling. What is more inviting than this scent? Upon opening this soap sample that is EXACTLY what you get. TTFFC describes it as a light wood smoke. Yep, it is. They absolutely nailed this.
The downside? It might have been a bit too strong as even after washing it off and putting on an aftershave, 30 minutes later there was still a hint of it. But if you like the smell of a campfire or fireplace, this is it.
Steel
The picture on the tub for this soap is a gingerbread man. Hmm. Nope. I got a sweet perfume type scent, not at all what I expected. This was not a gingerbread man to me.
Bay Rum
Bay Rum is Bay Rum or is it? I found this version too sweet and another perfume/cologne scent. Not for me.
Armada
Another Old Spice emulation and another sweet perfume/cologne scent. You will like this if that is what you seek. It kind of grows on you but is sweet.
Wisp
Another Barbershop emulation , also sweet and a perfume/cologne type scent. I thought it had a bit of floral scent and found it pleasant, but of the cologne type scent, not the deep essential oil type scent. Now I could be wrong but that is what I think.
Cutthroat
And another variation of the Barbershop type . This one smelled overly sweet to me, a bit darker, not as light as Wisp.
Anvil
Anvil reminded me of Steel - too sweet, too much cologne/perfume scent for me.
Angel’s Share
Light Chocolate. TTFFC says dark - caramel coffee/bourbon/vanilla etc. Close enough. If you like chocolate - this is for you.
Brokkr
Different. TTFFC says its honey and ale. I’ll like it. I got it and agree. Honey and ale.
Chocolate Orange
Exactly what it says – Chocolate and Orange, sort of like a chocolate from a one pound box of chocolates. If you want to smell an orange chocolate while shaving, this one will do that.
Power Hammer
Root Beer. IMO, an excellent version. Hmmm.
Sucker Punch
Strong lemon, tart, and the scent lasts with each re-lathering a fresh wave of lemonade hitting the face. If you like lemon, this one is a strong lemon. Sucker Punch was the strongest, tartest lemon scent I've come across.
Sample presentation is, without doubt, the finest functional samples I’ve seen. One can easily get a Chubby 2 brush in this container and then bowl or face lather. This sample has been used.
Official scent descriptions are here. For the most part these scents are strong, not subtle, and last the entire shave. These are not like those “subtle” soaps where you get whiff, lather it, and in 10 seconds there is no scent left. For most of them, you will remember them. Now here is the strange part. The latest soaps sell for $15 for 4 oz or $3.75 oz. Some of the earlier ones sell for $3/oz. Samples sell in 5 packs (pick your scents) for $13 and are 1 oz. That works out to $2.60/oz. I weighed the empty container minus the label and multiple ones were 0.6 oz. One full one I had left over was 1.8 oz. Others I had that were partially used ranged in weight from 1.5 to 2.2 oz. I think there is no doubt, whatsoever, the samples are a minimum 1 oz of product. This mean buying 5 samples is cheaper than buying the full product. If you are into Haslinger, which comes as a tiny 2.1 oz size and seem to be all the rage these days, it fits into one of these sample cases.
and to see the lip close up, Haslinger fits below the lip
Here are the scents I got and what they smelled to me.
Fougere
This was a fresh, green scent but a perfume/colgone scent, not to my liking. I also might have been allergic to this scent as part of my face was burning. This was not the best for me.
Ignite
Ginger ale. Upon reading the ingredients later I saw it’s really a long list of fruits including orange, mango, peach, and lime. OK, it might have been a orange soda but whatever it was, I liked it. I'm sticking to ginger ale and I liked it.
Extinguish
Rasberry Soda. Blooming this soap made the scent very pronounced. TTFFC describes it as Sweet Rasberry. They nailed it and I actually got it. Since it did not have a long list of scents, just lemon in addition, I got it right.
Through The Fire
Wow, just wow. This was about the most unique scent I've ever seen from any soap maker, artisan or not, and I guess with the name might be their signature scent. This is what I got and I usually don’t talk in long, dreamy words …
Think about a Christmas Eve Snowstorm. It’s freezing outside. The snow is coming down and you and the family are sitting in front of an open fire in the fireplace. If you have a wood stove, think about the first scents you get when lighting the kindling. What is more inviting than this scent? Upon opening this soap sample that is EXACTLY what you get. TTFFC describes it as a light wood smoke. Yep, it is. They absolutely nailed this.
The downside? It might have been a bit too strong as even after washing it off and putting on an aftershave, 30 minutes later there was still a hint of it. But if you like the smell of a campfire or fireplace, this is it.
Steel
The picture on the tub for this soap is a gingerbread man. Hmm. Nope. I got a sweet perfume type scent, not at all what I expected. This was not a gingerbread man to me.
Bay Rum
Bay Rum is Bay Rum or is it? I found this version too sweet and another perfume/cologne scent. Not for me.
Armada
Another Old Spice emulation and another sweet perfume/cologne scent. You will like this if that is what you seek. It kind of grows on you but is sweet.
Wisp
Another Barbershop emulation , also sweet and a perfume/cologne type scent. I thought it had a bit of floral scent and found it pleasant, but of the cologne type scent, not the deep essential oil type scent. Now I could be wrong but that is what I think.
Cutthroat
And another variation of the Barbershop type . This one smelled overly sweet to me, a bit darker, not as light as Wisp.
Anvil
Anvil reminded me of Steel - too sweet, too much cologne/perfume scent for me.
Angel’s Share
Light Chocolate. TTFFC says dark - caramel coffee/bourbon/vanilla etc. Close enough. If you like chocolate - this is for you.
Brokkr
Different. TTFFC says its honey and ale. I’ll like it. I got it and agree. Honey and ale.
Chocolate Orange
Exactly what it says – Chocolate and Orange, sort of like a chocolate from a one pound box of chocolates. If you want to smell an orange chocolate while shaving, this one will do that.
Power Hammer
Root Beer. IMO, an excellent version. Hmmm.
Sucker Punch
Strong lemon, tart, and the scent lasts with each re-lathering a fresh wave of lemonade hitting the face. If you like lemon, this one is a strong lemon. Sucker Punch was the strongest, tartest lemon scent I've come across.