Shaving Product Review - Barrister and Mann "Adumbrare"
Value (Cost, Packaging and Performance)
Lather (Density, Glide and Feel)
Post-shave (Healing, Moisture and Feel)
Scent (Quality, Strength and Longevity)
Can you solve the mystery and identify the six notes in this limited edition Barrister and Mann Adumbrare #soap and #aftershave offering? The game's afoot!
adumbrare (latin; 1st conjugation transitive verb): 1) to feign; 2) to shade, screen, or obscure; 3) to sketch out, silhouette, outline, or represent.
Sherlock Holmes. Hercule Poirot. Sir Isaac Newton. Leonardo DaVinci. All great investigators, all classic figures. All men who sought truth, no matter the cost. Mysteries abounded before them, yet they never wavered, pursuing answers with absolute determination and drive.
Barrister and Mann has teamed up with /r/wetshaving to invite you to make discoveries of your own. Join your sense of mystery with your sense of smell as you attempt to unravel the puzzle of Adumbrare.
Good luck.
Of course, I've reviewed countless offerings from #BarristerMann here; click that hashtag and see... So I won't get into performance and such today. Just some background info on this offering. As mentioned, Adumbrare was a limited release with the pre-order running November 1-15, 2017 and finally shipping just over a week ago. It was intended as a release for a Reddit group, but if you follow the events calendar here, you'd have known about it as well as I posted about it...
The pitch here is that the scent (notes) are not listed; it's a game where you need to guess them. Much like Puzzle from L&L Grooming was a year ago. Since the contest is still underway, I won't be sharing my thoughts on them either - so as not to spoil the fun for others. I can tell by the numbers that a lot of you are coming here looking for answers! I can say, it smells nice. Overall a bright accord. The Adumbrare soap base is Glissant and the aftershave Tonique.
As for the hardware, a quick note. #TimelessRazor just announced a .78mm gap open comb complete razor based on it - known as the TRBR78 as opposed to the TRBR38. With the base plate enroute for a review, I figured I'd polish up my own #TRBR38 in preparation. While I noticed a patina building, and really wanted to let it happen - I didn't think it was all that much; it was a fairly even color overall. Once I polished the first piece though, it was obvious... It brightened up considerably, and once again looks stunning and almost made of gold (compare the above to the photo from a few days ago!). While some, even Timeless Razor themselves say that the finish doesn't match that of a Wolfman - I'd have to disagree; certainly after I added my own polishing. Granted, the underside of the base plate and internally it's left as machine finished - but everything else externally is exquisitely finished.
I don't know if it was the polishing (implying a total cleaning and imparting a glass-like smoothness to the finish) or the fresh #PolSilver blade and maybe a bit of luck... It shaved ridiculously smooth today. Also very close - much like my first shave with it back in October, where I reviewed it fully. Quite on par (if not exceeding slightly) the .68mm gapped solid bar stainless steel razor. Usually it's not quite as good, which I noticed around the jawline. Most milder razors leave some telltale stubble here on me. I have high hopes for the new base plate; it's said to be "comparable to the .95 [stainless steel razors]." Stay tuned for a full review later this week! I'm hoping it's as efficient as implied, yet as mild as this new design feels. It's sublimely smooth.
The #BSB Shaving Brush which is made of titanium got a polishing as well to brighten things up a bit. Unlike the bronze razor, which is softer and messier to polish - the titanium is harder yet cleaner. It also takes more patience. But I think the results speak for themselves; it gleams like a mirror. Got to love Nevr-Dull! The brush, naturally, did a wonderful job loading and lathering the suds in the #GTP scuttle, as always.
A truly lovely shave today with some seriously gleaming metal hardware. The software too did not disappoint; the bases are well-known and appreciated by fans. I wish I could expand more on the scent notes, but that will have to wait until after the contest has run its course. It's already in the complete History of Barrister and Mann. Until then... Shave on!
UPDATE (02/27/18):
The official notes are sandalwood, grapefruit, petitgrain, tobacco absolute, honeysuckle and currant.