I discovered French Barber during my holiday in France. The name naturally caught my interest right away. However, French Barber has little to do with a classic barbershop scent, at least for me.
Unfortunately, the opening with mandarin feels less fresh and zesty than I would have liked. The citrus remains rather faint and quickly fades away. After that, clary sage takes over, giving the fragrance a slightly aromatic and decidedly well-groomed direction.
I can barely detect any patchouli, on the other hand. In the drydown, French Barber becomes soft, clean and uncomplicated, although also rather unspectacular. I find it somewhat lacking in the rough edges that make a fragrance interesting and memorable.
The longevity is perfectly fine for this price range. French Barber can easily accompany you through the day without standing out particularly or bothering anyone.
In the end, it is a pleasant everyday fragrance at a fair price. It may have little to do with a barbershop scent for me, but at this price, it is perfectly okay.
