Monday 30 March 2020

STEPHAN'S SIX - MARCUS FELLOWES


When Marcus Fellowes retrained as a barber he never imagined that it would ultimately result in the creation of a collection of four fragrances. Designed to alleviate the worries of his clients through scent, they soon expanded to include a beautiful range of body products. After creating for others, I wondered what scented secrets he would reveal during “Stephan’s Six”.

What is the first smell that you can remember?
The strongest memory that comes to mind is the fragrance of coffee being roasted. As a child, I'd travel to town on a bus. The last stop was about a hundred metres away from a coffee shop. If the bus windows were open, you would get a whiff of the fantastic smell. Just like the old Bisto adverts, after getting off the bus I would literally follow the scent all the way to the coffee shop. As I got closer the fragrance became richer and I became increasingly enveloped by it. This was before coffee was popular and it was a rare smell at the time. Thinking back on this now puts me in a sepia setting of early eighties, a warm glow of the innocence of youth and its potential.

What was the first perfume you remember your mum or dad wearing?
Spending a lot of time as a child with my aunt in Glastonbury, I remember her wearing a homemade patchouli blend. I have fond memories of walking down Glastonbury High Street in the summer with her. I almost feel suspended in time, or as I like to say, spending time in the timeless.

What was the perfume of your twenties?
For most of my twenties I doused myself in Obsession by Calvin Klein. A lover of patchouli, sandalwood and musky scents, I can see now why it was a favourite of mine. My strongest memory of wearing this fragrance comes from the ritual of getting ready for the day or an evening out. I'd liken it to that of an actor readying themselves for a performance as they get into character.

What was your biggest perfume mistake?
I remember a rather embarrassing situation at a school disco when I was twelve. On my way there I stopped at a friend's house. I think this was my first disco, so I was looking to impress. My friend's dad was a big fan of Brut aftershave and we literally covered ourselves in it. When we arrived at the disco it repelled just about everyone there!!! I think it took about two weeks to get rid of the smell.

You can only choose one perfume?
I'd have to choose Lavender Water by Geo F Trumper. It's all about subtlety nowadays. A lover of lavender, this is a scent that always works for me.

What perfume should I try?
I'm probably biased but I’d have to say Sartorial by Barbershop Botanicals. This was the first fragrance that I created and it’s still my favourite, and a favourite of the majority of our customers. It's a sweet, earthy, woody scent that blends frankincense and woods with orange and neroli. I call it the scent of sophistication.

For more details about Marcus Fellowes and Barbershop Botanicals, you can visit the website at barbershopbotanicals.co.uk.

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