Thread: B & M’s Hallows

I’ve never used a Barrister & Mann product before, but their marketing is off the hook. Here is how they describe thier inspiration for a soap! A soap!!

Taking inspiration from the swamps and churchyards of the city, we combine vetiver, oakmoss, black pepper, cocoa, labdanum, and cedar to produce a deep, cold scent suited to the chilly, bitter days of late October. Gloomy, rich, and perversely elegant, Hallows is a reminder of why men once feared the dark.

- https://www.barristerandmann.com/col...-fragrance-oil

Well, it’s not officially fall yet, but it feels fall(ish) enough to me to give the old Hallows a run. Stand by...

So I decided that today my Feather AC would get the call. I haven’t used it in a while and I know two things about Feather: first, on a new blade, it’ll mow through anything. And second, on a new blade, only the best soaps will hide the burn when I run the Alum over it! How would B&M fair? I was dying to find out.

A nice warm shower later, I lathered her up!



Nothing spectacular, but certainly not bad! I threw some on my face and had at it.

Scent: well they say they are emulating the swamps, and though I wouldn’t go that far, it wasn’t spectacular. I can’t quite figure out what I was smelling. Because it’s a fall scent, I want to say pumpkin was one scent, but I could be imagining it. I don’t know. The scent is subtle(ish) though. And though I can’t place it, and it’s not “my” thing, it’s not offensive.

Viscosity: so B&M get a lot of praise for having a really creamy lather, but I didn’t get that here. I’m not sure if this is a tallow soap or not, but it didn’t “act” like one for me. It was ok, but I was really expecting more.

When I rubbed the Alum across my face post shave, though the shave itself was more than comfortable, I got some sting. It’s hard to calm the Feathers first shave... but it can be done. This was in the middle.

So I guess you’re seeing I was rather uninspired. Sigh. I might have been hoping for too much, but then there’s enough left that I might discover after a couple of shaves a new side to it.

I will say this, the aftershave was insane lovely. You got a smashing lot of chocolate to start, then it died into that pumpkin swamp thing. Moreover, my skin feels lovely! Now I’ve just come off of using the Osma soap for a week which is a seriously conditioning soap, so this could be “left over,” but I don’t think so.

I’m looking forward to trying it again.

Thanks for the reviews, David-I like your dog!

Thanks buddy. She’s ridiculous in that she thinks everything is food lol!

She is a real dog. I have3 who stop whatever they are doing as soon as I go into the kitchen.

6 hours later and my face still feels great! Maybe there is more to this stuff than I originally gave it credit.

Har ! Bowl = food . Right ?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Har ! Bowl = food . Right ?

Lol, yes, yes it does. Good point.

It’s a baby food bowl that I’ve come to love for lathering! Perfect size, and if you float it in hot water, she’ll transfer the heat in. I even scratched the insides to aid the lather making process. But yes, all the dog sees is a bowl. Bowl = food lol!

Ive always thought B and M was a decent soap. Not the best ive come across, but its passable. Thanks for the review.

UPDATE - FINAL UPDATE:

I think the great feel after my initial shave with Hallows was more a function of a great new blade/Feather AC shave, than the actual soap or aftershave. I shaved using the Hallows again this morning, and again, was left uninspired. I’m really bummed about it. I wanted so much to love on it.

There’s more than enough for another two or three shaves, but I’m putting it away.

On a positive note, I did something odd today that I think I’ll be doing again and again. Every morning I make myself a coffee via the kettle and my French press. When I pour my coffee, it stands to reason it’s rather hot. Today, after I took out some soap and smeared it into my mixing bowl, I plopped the bowl on top of my coffee as I jumped n the shower. The soap melted and was nice and warm when I applied it the first time. It was even warmer the second time after I put it back on top with my brush when I was done my first pass.

This is WAY better method than any scuttle I’ve ever used, or for that matter just plopping my bowl in hot sink water.

Old dogs can learn new tricks!!