Season of the Witch Shaving Soap

Ah, the evocative dance of scent—where memory, atmosphere, and story intertwine. Today, we immerse ourselves in Barrister & Mann’s "Season of the Witch," a fragrance cloaked in allure, and yet—how can I put it?—it leaves one at a curious crossroads. As with any release carrying the weight of thematic promise, one cannot help but step into the experience with expectation, only to find it shifting in unexpected ways.

At first glance, we might anticipate a fragrance that channels the mystique of the ancient and the occult—the smoke of incense swirling in forgotten corners, the dry rasp of timber floors well-worn by ritual, the musty whisper of leather-bound tomes. Perhaps even the scent of herbal infusions or the charred remnants of spells long cast. But what "Season of the Witch" delivers is something altogether different, and one must adjust accordingly.

From the very first encounter, this fragrance greets the senses with a sharp edge. It has a bite—an aggressive note that brings to mind the acrid scent of gunpowder after it’s burned away, mingled with the cool, steely presence of oxidizing copper. There is an acidic sharpness here, as though the smell of metal itself could be transformed into fragrance form. It is arresting, jarring even—a fragrance not to gently lull you into mystery, but to shake you awake with its starkness.

The dry down does offer some respite. In time, the harsher elements soften slightly, and a heavy smoke and earthy undercurrent begins to emerge. There’s an herbal whisper, perhaps, and a fleeting suggestion of mint—like a balm to temper the initial edge. Yet, even in this softened form, it remains a scent rooted more in the elemental and raw than in the ethereal.

Barrister & Mann, ever the purveyors of excellence in the shaving world, have once again produced a finely crafted scent. The technical prowess is undeniable. My own collection of their offerings stands testament to their consistent ability to deliver. And yet, with "Season of the Witch," the grand spectacle of the name and the mythos that surround it seem, to my senses, a bit at odds with the fragrance itself. I find myself reminded of their earlier release, Lyssa—a fragrance accompanied by the grandiosity of a zombie-filled apocalyptic narrative, but which, to me, evoked little more than the powdery floral contents of Nana's vintage handbag.

In "Season of the Witch," we are presented with a similar dichotomy. The buildup—the ancient themes, the evocative name, the whispers of malefic incantations—promises something arcane, and yet the fragrance feels rooted in the modern, industrial, and bracing. Perhaps it speaks to a different kind of witch—one who forges spells in the heat of a smelting furnace rather than in a moss-covered grove.

In sum, "Season of the Witch" is not your typical Halloween scent. It challenges, provokes, and perhaps perplexes those who come seeking a familiar conjuring of the arcane. But for those willing to embrace its stark, metallic core, it may well cast a spell of its own—albeit a different one than expected.

Fall in New England. No better time of the year in my opinion. This soap is perfect for this great time. Complex scents that keep changing the more you use it. I smell a little of everything listed on the label in this one. And the performance like with all B&M soaps is incredible. You hit it out of park with this one.

Unique scent, smells like incense from a church. The shaving soap provides enough lubrication for an excellent shave. My shaves never disappoint when I use Barrister and Mann shaving soaps. Your skin stays so moisturized. I Highly recommend your shaving soaps.