At Stone Field Shaving Company, I’ve always believed scent should tell a story. So many of the collaborations I've had with artisans have revolved around a story or memory. Several years ago, dupes seemed to be quite popular and we decided to craft some shave soaps and splashes based on popular fragrances. No. 82 was my personal favorite and I still have a set. The other day I used this set and took a picture. I asked AI (Who doesn't?) to polish up my image.
Scent is a powerful sense. It’s the one most tied to memory — the one that can bring back a place, a person, or a moment faster than a photograph ever could. One breath, and suddenly you’re somewhere else entirely.
That’s what No. 82 has always been for me. Each one of the original 4 dupes created had its own direction, but No. 82 stood apart immediately. Inspired by the unmistakable character of classic fragrances like Drakkar Noir, it carried the feeling of the late 80s and 90s — when scent had presence and identity.
For me, it always leads back to growing up in Winnipeg. Travelling over the St. James bridge with the windows down and music playing on our car stereo- when Cassettes were still a thing and CD's were the next best thing. Friday Nights at Empress bowling or trying to look cool at Wise Guys while drinking our cheap beer. Cool night air, Night drives and that familiar trail of cologne that seemed to follow every guy heading out for the evening.
No. 82 didn’t recreate that time. It connected to it.
I'm sure someone will ask about this scent and when we are getting more. Sadly we are not. The artisan behind this collaboration has since closed up shop. That means No. 82 isn’t just limited — it’s unobtainable now.
So now, every shave feels a little different. Every time I load the brush or reach for the splash, I’m aware that there’s a little less of it in the world than there was before.
And that changes the ritual. It slows it down. It makes it intentional.
Some products are meant to last forever. Others become meaningful because they don’t.
I don’t save No. 82 for special occasions. I use it when I want to remember why I started this journey in the first place.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing a scent can do
is remind you where you came from.
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