What started as an idea—and a limited release—ended up becoming one of the most popular shave soaps I’ve ever carried.
The idea for Sippin’ By The Fire actually came to me while I was at work, sitting in a hotel room and wishing I was anywhere but there. I’d much rather have been at home—or better yet, sitting around a campfire. Somewhere along the way, that campfire scene started taking shape in my head, and Sippin’ By The Fire was born.
So many of the shave soaps I’ve created for Stone Field have a story behind them. Some are inspired by my own experiences flying, while others come from simply imagining the places, people and moments that are part of the aviation world. I’ve often pictured pilots sitting around a fire at the end of a long day, swapping stories, enjoying a drink and escaping from the demands of the job for a little while. That image became the inspiration for Sippin’ By The Fire.
I’ll admit, Sippin’ By The Fire wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse when I first tried it. It was smoky, warm and boozy—booziness probably is a word in the shaving world—and definitely different from the scents I would normally gravitate toward.
But there was something about it.
That combination of smoke and warmth, with just enough of that boozy character, seemed to strike a chord with wet shavers. Before long, Sippin’ By The Fire had developed a following of its own in shave dens across Canada and the world.
And that’s one of the things I love about small-batch artisan products.
They’re often different from what you’ll find on a mass-produced shelf. They’re made in smaller quantities, by people who are passionate about what they create, and they can have a personality all their own. Sometimes the ingredients, fragrances and materials used are sourced in limited quantities—or can become difficult or impossible to obtain.
Unfortunately, that’s the case with Sippin’ By The Fire.
The original formulation has reached the end of its run, not because it wasn’t popular, but because the availability of some of the ingredients ultimately made it impossible to continue producing it in its original form.
And honestly, that’s a little bittersweet.
There’s something special about knowing that a product was made in a limited run, enjoyed by a relatively small community, and eventually became one of those scents people remembered.
Sippin’ By The Fire certainly wasn’t what I expected when the idea first came about. But sometimes those are the products that surprise you the most.
So, to everyone who picked up a tub, worked up a smoky lather and enjoyed a shave with Sippin’ By The Fire—thank you.
It may have started as a limited release, but it certainly found its place around the fire.
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