What are your recommendations for must try soaps/scents from the popular artisans?

you mentioned most of the popular ones. I'll throw in ethos to the mix. jabonman/eufros is a real nice soap too, imho.

scent is subjective, of course.

Grooming Dept: Aether
B&M: Leviathan
A&E Khalifa, Revolution
Tallow+Steel: Sasquatch, Boreal, Dark II
Eufros: Rosa Bourbon, Sandalo

By reading up I've found the most popular artisans to be Declaration Grooming, Wholly Kaw, A&E, Talbot, B&M, PAA and probably a handful I'm missing. Being fairly new to this so far I started with Mystic Waters Sensitive and TOBS Mr. Taylor's Cream. Just recently I've acquired A&E Kaizen & Stirling Executive Man. I like the scents of everything I got so far with Executive Man probably being my favorite. I see soooo many different scents out there and it can be overwhelming when I see a list of 10 scents for one soap and try to wrap my head around what it could smell like. So I'm turning to you fine folk for what your recommendations or thoughts on most popular scents and must try from any or all of the brands mentioned.

Of the ones you mention, I'd just put in PAA Cavendish (pipe tobacco).

My favorite scents are all by WSP (Tobacco, Mahogany, Sandalwood), but I don't think their soap base is top-tier. The Tobacco cream is excellent but pricey.

Stone Cottage Suede de Kashmir, but wait for the new formula to come out.

Oh sir!  I agree that WSP scents are delicious but I also find their formulae to be top tier too.  Odd how different water and preference works out.  Used Formula T in sandalwood today and it was glorious.  (Been a long time since I used an inferior base.)

My 2 cents - BM Seville. I just love the scent.

this +1000,  one of the best scent in wet shaving, period.

Some of my favorits.

CFG Ghost Town Barber
B&M Fougere Angelique
B&M Fougere Gothique
L' Occitane Cade
Eleven Blue Spruce
Strop Shoppe Russian Tea ( won't find but if you do scoop it up)


For soap bases it's pretty much just Grooming Department now. If you get an unscented you can just focus on frags.



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Scents are very subjective, really hard to help someone. The best way you might determine your most and least favorite notes; and order couple of samples.
By following my most favorite ones; A&E, B&M, Declaration Grooming and Noble Otter soaps mostly work for me.
I like complex scents of Tallow & Steel and Zoologist soaps.
I hardly find a favorite scent for GroomingDept, even I really like his soap bases. But I like Otium.

Of the ones you mention, I'd just put in PAA Cavendish (pipe tobacco).

My favorite scents are all by WSP (Tobacco, Mahogany, Sandalwood), but I don't think their soap base is top-tier. The Tobacco cream is excellent but pricey.

Stone Cottage Suede de Kashmir, but wait for the new formula to come out.

Oh sir!  I agree that WSP scents are delicious but I also find their formulae to be top tier too.  Odd how different water and preference works out.  Used Formula T in sandalwood today and it was glorious.  (Been a long time since I used an inferior base.)

Sorry, should have said--I only use the Rustic base. Tallow tends to make my skin break out.

My 2 cents - BM Seville. I just love the scent.

Definitely subjective. I sold Seville immediately after I smelled it.

By reading up I've found the most popular artisans to be Declaration Grooming, Wholly Kaw, A&E, Talbot, B&M, PAA and probably a handful I'm missing. Being fairly new to this so far I started with Mystic Waters Sensitive and TOBS Mr. Taylor's Cream. Just recently I've acquired A&E Kaizen & Stirling Executive Man. I like the scents of everything I got so far with Executive Man probably being my favorite. I see soooo many different scents out there and it can be overwhelming when I see a list of 10 scents for one soap and try to wrap my head around what it could smell like. So I'm turning to you fine folk for what your recommendations or thoughts on most popular scents and must try from any or all of the brands mentioned.

Of the ones you mention, I'd just put in PAA Cavendish (pipe tobacco).

My favorite scents are all by WSP (Tobacco, Mahogany, Sandalwood), but I don't think their soap base is top-tier. The Tobacco cream is excellent but pricey.

Stone Cottage Suede de Kashmir, but wait for the new formula to come out.

I like Suede de Kashmir, but Hesperide is my favorite Stone Cottage scent. I also love PAA Cavendish--I used to smoke a pipe, and Cavendish smells just like removing the lid from a tin of fresh Cavendish tobacco and taking a huge whiff...

I am surprised no one has mentioned MDC Fougere yet. I also like MDC Vetyver.