Steinmetzify wrote:Never tried em.
Have enough to last me a good while, but what would you recommend? Also, did you grab the Diamond one? If so how was it?
Ahhhhh, this could take a while.
There are currently 3 bases.
Glissant: The original. Being phased out eventually and These flavors will eventually be Excelsior based. That said, it works great. Some of my favorites are in this base. This includes anything with an animal on it, plus, old stock of seasonal stuff.
Reserve: This is a very soft base that takes tons of water. These are extinct fragrance based. REALLY cool.
Excelsior: The new seasonals have used this base, and the glissants will all eventually be excelsior. I've used this in my behold the whatsis. Seems to be best of both worlds of the other two. Seems firm, but lathers super fast and creamy.
So, my faves:
Glissant faves:
Lavanille: This stuff is RICH. it's brown too. The lather looks like a root beer float. Smells AWESOME.
Cologne Russe: Kind of like Lavanille, but more citrusy. Not as dark.
Promises: Winter Seasonal that is supposed to smell like snow and snow mobiles. Kind of smells like Absinthe to me.
Bay Rum: Haven't shaved with it yet, but boy does it smell nice.
Reserve Faves:
Classic: just awesome! based on Gillette Sun Up from the 60's.
Cool: Based on Floid Blue
Spice: Based on vintage Shelton Old Spice
Excelsior:
Behold the Whatsis: My wife actually likes the smell of this. Like cotton Candy and Laundry.
So, about Diamond. I got one of the 74 "errors". Will forgot to add the beer, grass, caramel, and pine. Mine smells like one big pretzel.

He is sending a new one at no charge. He had to have taken quite a loss on that mistake. Sucks for them.
Here are some misses for me from B&M:
1. They use a natural Oak Moss that lights my face up nasty. So, I can't use Valencia or Reserve Fern.
2. Nocturne is supposed to smell like a Cider Mill. It smells like straight up Skoal Cherry Dip Spit. Makes me want to hurl.
3. I didn't like Reserve Lavander or Glissant Cheshire. Whatever lavender he uses isn't my bag.
4. Le Grande Chypre is super weird. not bad, just strange. Peachey. Expensive too.
So, overall...............The Barrister and Mann container makes every other soap container feel cheap and generic. The scent strength never makes me feel cheated. The lather/performance is as good as anything. In general, the prices are reasonable. Especially compared to Grooming Dept and Wholly Kaw.
BTW, there are a few really good ones available on Amazon for $17.99 shipped. Plus, I get 5% back on my Amazon Chase Visa, and I get 2.77% back on my iBotta account.
I just have an affinity for this brand because it feels and smells very expensive.