Barbers Recommending Colognes: An Outdated Practice?

The scent of a barbershop is distinctive and memorable, often evoking feelings of freshness and masculinity. While some people love it, others find it vile. But do barbers still recommend colognes to their clients?

The answer is yes, and there are many colognes on the market that aim to recreate the unique barbershop scent. These colognes typically feature leathery accords, musk, and fresh scents, with some modern fragrances adding their own twist.

Barbers themselves often use aftershaves like Pinaud Clubman or Original Old Spice, which are strongly associated with the barbershop experience. However, if you want to carry that scent with you throughout the day, you'll need a cologne.

There are many options available, from the fresh and citrusy Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Shop cologne to the woody and spicy Dover Street Market by Comme Des Garcons. Whether you're looking for a delicate or potent fragrance, a barbershop-inspired cologne can make you feel clean, fresh, and powerful.

What are the best barbershop colognes?

There's something about a classic barbershop scent that's uplifting yet grounding. It's fresh yet musky, and often features leathery notes. While some colognes will make you smell like you've just walked out of a high-end barber shop, others fail to deliver.

Marmara Barber Eau De Cologne No 2

A fresh yet punchy offering from Marmara, this cologne has a high alcohol content and a botanical scent that will last throughout the day. It's a versatile, balanced scent at a fair price.

Suavecito Bay Rum Aftershave

This spicy bay rum cologne from Suavecito is a great budget option. It has an irresistible, manly scent that will leave you feeling clean for hours.

Stetson Original by Coty

This lavish, leather cologne with subtle hints of alcohol and citrus is perfect for a luxury splurge. It's a great scent for spring and special occasions.

Reuzel Wood & Spice Solid Cologne

A unique, luscious, and earthy wax-based cologne with hints of clove and lemon zest. It will protect your skin throughout the day and make you smell like you've had a classic barber shop experience.

Imperial Bergamot After-Shave

Alcohol-free and designed for everyday use, this zesty bergamot scent is balanced and medicinal. It will soothe, cleanse, and disinfect your skin and is suitable for all seasons.

Barber Marmara Puerto Rico

Commonly known as 'Puerto Rico', this edgy, modern scent with classic barber shop twists is perfect for young men. It has bold hints of vanilla and a cool, vibrant brand.

Raw Pheromone Cologne

If you're looking for a barber-style cologne that women will love, this potent elixir from Raw is a great choice. It's packed with magnetizing pheromones and has a punchy floral scent with hints of black pepper.

Oak City Solid Cologne

Made with shea butter and beeswax, this solid barber-style cologne is long-lasting and has an out-of-this-world scent. The blend of citrus, mahogany, and lavender creates a vibrant, manly fragrance.

Taylor of Old Bond Street Cologne, Shaving Shop

This delicate cologne has a citrusy, light spice scent that's not overpowering. It reminds you of a classic shaving cream, but in a complex and classy way.

Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum Cologne-Special Reserve Double Strength

This cologne from Ogallala takes the vintage scent of bay rum and makes it stronger. It has a clove-centric recipe, followed by citrus notes and a slight licorice scent.

Rive Gauche by Yves St Laurent for Men

This cologne has the old-time barbershop smell of bay rum and vetiver. It has a woody, earthy base with some spice and a slight floral note.

Dover Street Market by Comme Des Garcons

With a bright citrus scent and a woodsy spice note, this cologne has the aroma of a unique shaving soap. It's complex and transportive, reminiscent of an Italian barbershop.

Truefitt & Hill Grafton Cologne

With notes of sandalwood and bright citrus, this cologne from Truefitt and Hill will transport you straight to the barber chair. It's a great choice if you want to smell like your grandfather after a fresh haircut.

Penhaligan's English Fern Eau de Toilette

This cologne will make you smell cleaner than ever before. It has a fresh, grassy, and green scent, with a sandalwood finish that brings it back to a shaving cream aroma.

Penhaligan's Sartorial Eau de Toilette

This floral yet masculine cologne is perfect for autumn. It has a unique, bitter, and metallic scent that's a modern take on a classic barbershop fragrance.

Guerlain Vetiver Eau de Toilette Spray

A fresh and green summer cologne, this vetiver cologne starts citrusy and gives way to bitter vetiver and lemongrass. It has a subtle tobacco aroma and a classic, manly scent.

O'Douds Natural Cologne (Heritage and Tobacco Rum)

This complex men's cologne combines the scent of a smoke shop with a barber shop. It starts with bergamot, followed by sandalwood, and finishes with earthy spices.

21 Man Made Sweet Tobacco Cologne

With a woodsy, vanilla scent and aromas of shaving cream and bay rum, this cologne will make you feel nostalgic. A little goes a long way, and it has a fresh scent with a dark, rich muskiness.

Why do barbers spray cologne?

The scent of a barbershop is distinctive and memorable, often evoking feelings of freshness, masculinity, and elegance. This unique aroma has been recreated in colognes, allowing people to relive the experience of a barber's pampering. While some colognes aim to capture the traditional barbershop fragrance, others put a modern twist on it.

Barbershop colognes typically feature a combination of leathery accords, musk, and fresh scents, with some incorporating citrusy notes for a vibrant touch. The result is a scent that instantly transports you back to the barber's chair, leaving you feeling clean, bright, and ready to take on the world.

The act of spraying cologne is an integral part of the barbering ritual. It symbolises the completion of the grooming process, leaving the customer feeling refreshed and invigorated. The cologne's fragrance lingers, providing a lasting reminder of the barber's expertise and attention to detail.

Additionally, barbershop colognes cater to a range of preferences, from light and fruity to earthy and musky. They can be tailored to different seasons, with summer colognes tending towards fruity and floral notes, while winter colognes embrace smokier, spiced aromas.

The art of barbering extends beyond haircutting and shaving; it encompasses the entire sensory experience. The scent of a barbershop, captured in a cologne, is a powerful way to evoke feelings of relaxation, confidence, and sophistication.

What is a barber shop cologne?

A barber shop cologne is a fragrance that evokes the feeling of being pampered in a high-end barber shop. It typically has a fresh, striking scent that soothes the skin and offers a lasting feeling of cleanliness and elegance. The best barber shop colognes not only smell amazing but also protect the skin after grooming, leaving you feeling refreshed throughout the day.

When choosing a barber shop cologne, it is important to consider your favourite scent styles, such as light and fruity or earthy and musky, as well as the seasonality of the fragrance. Summer colognes tend to be fruity, zesty, or floral, while winter colognes often have smoked, spiced, or warming notes. Size is another factor to consider, depending on whether you intend to use the cologne for special occasions or daily.

Some popular barber shop colognes include Marmara Barber Eau De Cologne No. 2, known for its fresh botanical scent and high alcohol content; Suavecito Bay Rum Aftershave, a spicy and niche scent that exudes barber-grade quality; and Stetson Original by Coty, a lavish leather cologne with subtle hints of alcohol, citrus, and sage.

How do you use a barber shop cologne?

Using a barber shop cologne is simple. It's best to apply it straight after a shower or after grooming. Gently dry your neck and face, then apply a spray or a small amount of cologne to the desired area and rub it in evenly. For the best results, avoid mixing your barber shop cologne with other scents.

When choosing a barber shop cologne, consider the size of the product based on how often you'll use it. If it's for special occasions or travel, go for something smaller. For daily use, a larger bottle is a better investment.

Also, think about the scent you want. Barber shop colognes can be light and fruity or earthy and musky, for example. Consider the season, too. Summer colognes tend to be fruity, zesty, or floral, while winter colognes are often smoky, spicy, or warming.

What are the characteristics and fragrance notes within a barbershop cologne?

The characteristics of a barbershop cologne are designed to make the wearer feel uplifted and refreshed, reminiscent of the feeling of leaving a barbershop. These fragrances are often described as having an old-school, masculine, clean, and fresh scent.

The fragrance notes within a barbershop cologne can vary, but some common ones include:

• Musk
• Leather
• Citrus
• Lavender
• Powdery or soapy notes
• Spices
• Vanilla
• Mint
• Lime
• Woody or earthy notes
• Honey
• Tobacco

These notes can be combined in various ways to create the signature barbershop scent, which is meant to evoke the feeling of a traditional barbershop experience.

Some specific examples of barbershop colognes include:

• Maison Martin Margiela At The Barbers
• D.S & Durga Burning Barbershop
• Pinaud Clubman
• Paco Rabanne Pour Homme
• Penhaligon's Sartorial
• Prada Amber Pour Homme
• Old Spice Original
• Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Pour Homme
• Versace L'Homme
• Boucheron Jaipur Homme
• Azzaro Pour Homme
• Amouage Silver Cologne
• Burberry Touch For Men

Frequently asked questions