A Day at the Barbers

Starting to sample more recent releases from Aromas de Salazar with A Day at the Barbers, a fittingly fresh and sharp but also deep and intense barbershop scent, somewhere in the mix of a traditional fougere, fresh floral blend, and extra spicy mix featuring bay leaf, cinnamon, and cardamom. I get more of the spices, resins, and oakmoss than, say, the lavender, in this case, and it feels closer to being old-fashioned than hyper-modern in that it’s not really sweet at all, and a bit darker, more suited for the nighttime that some of the fresher, brighter fougeres on the market, albeit with a slight astringent quality that’s attention-grabbing. Anyone looking for something classic, somewhat masculine but not prohibitively so, might find this quite endearing. It brings the barbershop vibe in general but smells quite unique. A Day at the Barbers is priced at $175 for 50ml, somewhere in the middle of the pack as far as the house’s pricing goes, and performs very well. Currently I see this available only on the house website but I believe that Perfumology will have the full a catalogue at some point as well. 7 out of 10

Opens with a massive cloud of citronella. If that’s not your vibe, A Day at the Barber’s is not going to be for you. As it sits in skin, the powdery elements explode out, lavender and violet hold you in a warm, summery embrace. Resolves to smelling like luxe aftershave with ever lingering citronella. Typically lasts until I shower, so no worries about longevity or silage on any level.

When I first wrote about this, the opening struck me similar as the review below, citronella. However it clicked with me after not smelling it for a while, it’s a shaving cream accord! I see it now, and now the whole perfume clicks with me. Additionally, it has beautiful amber with a bit of a camphorous brightness. The tobacco and patchouli bring a nice earthiness, quite nice!

Opening smells like a citronella bug candle. I smell a lot of incense after the top fades and it’s quite nice if that’s what you’re into. Doesn’t remind me of a barbershop at all. I’d say 5/10.