Thread: Mama Bear Cedarwood and Barrister Ferox

My 2 latest purchases finally arrived and they smell incredible! The Barrister & Mann soap has an uneven surface on top and a consistency which I've never seen on a soap before, but after adding a lot of water to my brush it lathered up nicely and smelt great. Hoping I get the same joy out of the Mama Bear which I plan on trying tonight.

After lathering directly in the Barrister "tub" I left the cap off for 24 hrs to let it dry then screwed it back on. I've read some articles on SRP that seem to confirm this is the best way to ensure the smell will last and I won't get any mold in there. Anyone else use Barrister soap and have any recommendations?

I have tried the Barrister & Mann bay rum and saville and enjoy them. With retirement I usually shave in the late afternoons and if using soap I leave the lid off until around 11:00 p.m. which is bedtime.
I have tried many mama bear soaps and never met one that I liked. I understand it is probably dangerous to not appreciate the cult status of mama bear soaps but it is what it is.

lz6, I promise I have no interest in "converting" you or debating, but just curious: is it a performance issue or a scent issue for you on the Mama Bear's?

B&M makes fantastic soaps, hands down. They are notably thirsty soaps, which they even state on their website, but that isn't a negative. I have some seville, vetiver/heather/clary sage, bay rum, cheshire, as well as a large supply of winter spice.
I have some pressed into open glass dishes like the rest of my soaps, and the winter spice is pressed into a larger glass dish that came with a lid. I don't really notice a big difference between the two, so I don't think that the scent fades all that much if left open.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

lz6, I promise I have no interest in "converting" you or debating, but just curious: is it a performance issue or a scent issue for you on the Mama Bear's?

It was a bit of both, performance and scent. I had been a cream only user forever. I only face lather. I started using soaps with Penhaligons and MDC, added Goldachs, Spezial, and Fine Scottish Soaps. A friend sent me some of Mama Bears blood orange and a lemon scented soap, the exact name escapes me. I found both lacking in the amount and nature of
the lather and really did not care for either scent so I passed them on and did not look back. I realize of course judging an entire line up of scents and blends may be a bit short but I figure at 69 years old I am on the downside of the number of wetshaves I have left coming so I am experimenting much anymore. : P

I've only tried two pucks and one stick of MB, and while I'm happy w/ them all, I've found the stick easier to lather consistently. I look forward to trying sticks from others to widen my sample.

I broke out the MB and man does it smell like Cedarwood! It felt much more like glycerine than an actual bar of soap (completely different consistency and feel to the Barrister) but it lathered up nicely and felt good on my face. I won't be rushing back to buy another scent of the MB but I'm glad I have one to work my way through.

I find with Mama Bears that even after it seems like I've made a good lather, I go ahead and add a little water and work it some more. I find it's able to hold the extra water without breaking down, and it just adds to the slickness.