Tempcore
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Clean Niche
Off the sprayer, Replica: At the Barber's smells clean. Very clean.
Scent-wise, it is an amalgamation of the most inoffensive notes of common masculine hair care products rounded off with a note of geranium for a creamy accord.
Longevity is 6 - 8 hours, depending on your sprays; warmer - hot climate definitely helps. As for projection, it is not dense enough to project through a sweatshirt, jacket, or winter coat; let's say arms-length while dressed for warm weather.
At the Barber's is so inoffensive, its lack of offense is often the basis of the most neutral and negative reviews who ultimately complain about the price tag. Meanwhile, they seem to forget one important factor: this is a niche fragrance.
Looking for a fragrance that stands up to warmer weather, but not offensive enough to have delicate noses turning away? Then give Maison Martin Margiela's Replica: At the Barber's a sample.
"But, but, but it smells like something cheaper and off a retail counter." Maybe, but it sure as heck doesn't perform like something cheap. This isn't something devised by accountants to be the next panty-dropping, club-banging, sillage monster meant to have the ladies at the office dropping to their knees. There are many other fragrances that serve that purpose.
Scent-wise, it is an amalgamation of the most inoffensive notes of common masculine hair care products rounded off with a note of geranium for a creamy accord.
Longevity is 6 - 8 hours, depending on your sprays; warmer - hot climate definitely helps. As for projection, it is not dense enough to project through a sweatshirt, jacket, or winter coat; let's say arms-length while dressed for warm weather.
At the Barber's is so inoffensive, its lack of offense is often the basis of the most neutral and negative reviews who ultimately complain about the price tag. Meanwhile, they seem to forget one important factor: this is a niche fragrance.
Looking for a fragrance that stands up to warmer weather, but not offensive enough to have delicate noses turning away? Then give Maison Martin Margiela's Replica: At the Barber's a sample.
"But, but, but it smells like something cheaper and off a retail counter." Maybe, but it sure as heck doesn't perform like something cheap. This isn't something devised by accountants to be the next panty-dropping, club-banging, sillage monster meant to have the ladies at the office dropping to their knees. There are many other fragrances that serve that purpose.
1 Comment
Tempcore 3 years ago
Beware The Boss' Wrath!
Sacrificing some of the freshness from the original, this is a definitely a stronger and more tenacious take on the Boss Bottled scent we all know. The scent itself is focused on the spicy vanilla-sandalwood accord, making it more suitable for cooler seasons/environments.
That said, two to three sprays should be enough to last past the eight hour mark. Any more and you risk incurring what I call The Boss' Wrath: the dry-down.
Unlike the original, this has kind of a dark, spicy vetiver focused dry-down that might send others backing away if it's projecting. Consider taking it easy on the sprays to avoid angering The Boss, who should also be taking it easy towards the end.
That said, two to three sprays should be enough to last past the eight hour mark. Any more and you risk incurring what I call The Boss' Wrath: the dry-down.
Unlike the original, this has kind of a dark, spicy vetiver focused dry-down that might send others backing away if it's projecting. Consider taking it easy on the sprays to avoid angering The Boss, who should also be taking it easy towards the end.
Tempcore 4 years ago
Creamy
So, this smells like lavender and...
No, this is the OTHER kind of barbershop: more modern, vanilla dominant, but not spicy.
It is as if Rod Lovan managed to isolate the familiar creamy accord of every type of "barbershop" scent out there and create his own masterpiece of just that creamy scent. There's nothing gourmand about it; it's still smells very clean, dense, but not offensive. It's similar to the "liquid powder" vibe you get from vintage Zino Davidoff without the daring, offensive notes.
Like many of Stirling Soap Co.'s original creations released in EdT concentration, longevity is beyond eight hours, and sillage is at arms length while still being very dense.
I can't help but feel it was named "Barbershop" for lack of something better. As opposed to a vague and lengthy name like "Stirling Well Groomed," "Stirling Dapper," or "Stirling General Purpose." In any case, original creations such as Barbershop have proven Stirling Soap Co. to be a very capable niche house. If only it weren't for those clone scents.
Anyway, I love it.
No, this is the OTHER kind of barbershop: more modern, vanilla dominant, but not spicy.
It is as if Rod Lovan managed to isolate the familiar creamy accord of every type of "barbershop" scent out there and create his own masterpiece of just that creamy scent. There's nothing gourmand about it; it's still smells very clean, dense, but not offensive. It's similar to the "liquid powder" vibe you get from vintage Zino Davidoff without the daring, offensive notes.
Like many of Stirling Soap Co.'s original creations released in EdT concentration, longevity is beyond eight hours, and sillage is at arms length while still being very dense.
I can't help but feel it was named "Barbershop" for lack of something better. As opposed to a vague and lengthy name like "Stirling Well Groomed," "Stirling Dapper," or "Stirling General Purpose." In any case, original creations such as Barbershop have proven Stirling Soap Co. to be a very capable niche house. If only it weren't for those clone scents.
Anyway, I love it.
Love It or Leave It
Pepdal nailed it with the title of his review; it shares other qualities with a big a city as well. It's big, it's loud, and many will say it's also smelly. What are you gonna do about it? Well, now it's time to make a decision.
If you're just visiting New York Intense from a decant/sample, then you might very well decide to go home, wash it off, and spray something fresh. Thank you for visiting.
However, be prepared for some divisive opinions should you decide to stay, love it, buy a bottle, and decide to wear it on a regular basis. Now what do you do?
Are you going to allow the mean people with their mean words tell you what to wear and send you scrubbing? Or do you have enough confidence to keep wearing it regardless of what they say?
Longevity is until scrubbed and sillage is at arms length with the density varying on your sprays. Two should be enough to be able to smell it on yourself and enjoy it throughout the day.
I love it.
If you're just visiting New York Intense from a decant/sample, then you might very well decide to go home, wash it off, and spray something fresh. Thank you for visiting.
However, be prepared for some divisive opinions should you decide to stay, love it, buy a bottle, and decide to wear it on a regular basis. Now what do you do?
Are you going to allow the mean people with their mean words tell you what to wear and send you scrubbing? Or do you have enough confidence to keep wearing it regardless of what they say?
Longevity is until scrubbed and sillage is at arms length with the density varying on your sprays. Two should be enough to be able to smell it on yourself and enjoy it throughout the day.
I love it.
Green and Mean
Varen is a beautiful, sharp, green lavender full of enough oakmoss to give the IFRA the proverbial finger.
Out of the way, barbershop fougeres! Your creamy pleasantness, floral notes, and safe oakmoss substitutes are but an obstruction in the path of a REAL fougère! Move aside as Varen is about to...
Wait, has it been four hours already? It appears it's time for our dear Varen to take a skin (scent) nap. Five hours, you say? Well, that's enough work for today: it's time for Varen to clock-out and call it a day. Until next time, Varen.
Yes, Varen is a beautiful green scent that does not last very long unlike other Stirling Eau de Toilette's in my collection (Barbershop and Stirling Spice). As a result, I wonder whether or not oakmoss is as ideal of an ingredient that many of us in this hobby believe it to be.
Edit 07/10/2022: I regret to say that I based my review of its performance based on a wrist spraying.
After many full wears since then, I'd like to revise my performance review and say it performs really well. The sillage isn't far, but you will be surrounded by a nice, dense scent bubble that you will smell until scrubbed.
Out of the way, barbershop fougeres! Your creamy pleasantness, floral notes, and safe oakmoss substitutes are but an obstruction in the path of a REAL fougère! Move aside as Varen is about to...
Wait, has it been four hours already? It appears it's time for our dear Varen to take a skin (scent) nap. Five hours, you say? Well, that's enough work for today: it's time for Varen to clock-out and call it a day. Until next time, Varen.
Yes, Varen is a beautiful green scent that does not last very long unlike other Stirling Eau de Toilette's in my collection (Barbershop and Stirling Spice). As a result, I wonder whether or not oakmoss is as ideal of an ingredient that many of us in this hobby believe it to be.
Edit 07/10/2022: I regret to say that I based my review of its performance based on a wrist spraying.
After many full wears since then, I'd like to revise my performance review and say it performs really well. The sillage isn't far, but you will be surrounded by a nice, dense scent bubble that you will smell until scrubbed.
