Barrister and Mann: Seville Review

I’m a barbershop fanatic, something I’ve beaten to death recently. And when searching for scents that remind one of patiently sitting, waiting for the barber to begin cutting one’s hair, Barrister and Mann’s Seville constantly pops up.

I purchased this soap approximately one year ago during the soap maker’s last Flash Sale and it’s hung on since then. Unfortunately, the terrible pictures that I took don’t portray how much soap is left, which isn’t much. Every time I use the soap, I load the heck out of it and the rock-hard puck has suffered on admirably.

This white-branded tub of Seville is no longer available, as it has been replaced with the newer Glissant-based product. The price, though, remains the same at $16.00 for a 4 oz. tub. Barrister and Mann’s products, especially those that are made in limited quantities, are usually quite pricey.

Paying $4.00 per oz. isn’t something that I usually do, since there is abundant amount of soaps out there that perform incredibly well for less. But, as I’ve pointed out before, Barrister and Mann’s products create an incredible lather. And the old jar of Seville isn’t any different.

Barrister and Mann’s Seville creates a rich, thick, and slick lather that is hard to beat. Yes, the soap is pricey, but after using the soap I can see why. Few soaps can compete with the soap maker’s products and they continually give me an amazing shave.

The only thing that stops me from gushing over Seville is the scent. The soap is characterized as: “A traditional barbershop scent, this soap contains bergamot, lemon, patchouli, oakmoss, lavender, and rosemary. A fresh, clean fragrance that goes with pretty much anything.”

Seville, unfortunately, doesn’t do it for me. The rosemary and lavender are front and center, creating an herby-forward scent. The oakmoss comes in at the end to provide a bit of powder, which I enjoy, and my nose doesn’t detect any of the citrus notes. While other barbershop scents provide a fresh, modern take on the fragrance, Seville is more of a traditional take. Some will enjoy it, while others, like myself, will veer towards the other family of barbershop scents.

The one good thing about the scent is the strength. It’s strong out of the jar and stays above average throughout the shave. The scent doesn’t hang around for too long after the shave though, as I was only able to smell it on my hands 30 minutes after the shave. Still, it’s good to see, or rather smell, that the soap has above average scent strength for how much it costs.  

Scent Pleasantness: 6/10

Scent Strength: 7/10

Lather Quality: 10/10

Price: 6/10

I’m not a huge fan of the scent, but it’s something that I reach for when I’m looking to get a great shave before bed. It’s a calming, relaxing scent that barbershop fans should try. The lather is superb, which is something that is to be expected from Barrister and Mann, the post shave is great, and the price, while a little high, matches the quality of the soap. Before spending $16.00 on a tub, I would recommend getting a sample to try out.

Overall: 7/10