You cant go wrong with these dirt-cheap classics. only Penhaligon's Bluebells eau de toilette. Original Aqua Velva bottle from the 1930s. Are you sure you're not getting it mixed up with something else? Nevertheless it is kind to limit fragrance in certain settings so you dont inadvertently trigger someones allergies. I save the controversy for last: I like Lilac Vegetal. Heart notes include coriander, carnation, cinnamon, juniper, and jasmine. [9] Among other things, this is discussed in the film Zodiac The Killer's Trail as the favorite drink of author Robert Graysmith. One person noted that it was very lime forward and not as sharp as other lime forward fragrances. I just tried some Master Blue aftershave - rather similar to Aqua Velva, though a little less complex and drier smelling. Heart notes include nutmeg, water lily, mignonette, cinnamon, and geranium. I like Jo Malone Freesia and Pear. I use Pre de Provence No. Some of them are a few years old at this point, which I've heard is not good for colognes, but they still smell great to me and they remind me of a dear friend, so I'll continue to wear them happily. When I smelled this for the very first time, I really liked it. I remember it well, but the fragrance is not the same. Mark Jacobs Bee Happy makes me happy and I'm totally old school with Be Delicious by DKNYit does put me in mind of apples..a scent that pleases me; apples..I'm smiling thinking about them. Xyyrus by Givenchy or the remake, Parfums Mythique Xeryus. With a name that includes the word spice, its no surprise that the scent is spicy (duh), with hints of sage, cinnamon, musk, and cedarwood. Dear double God! Iron by Coty, Stetson, Adidas Classic, were all great! The one gripe I have regarding mens grooming is a lack of products with the same scent that one may wear during a day. Discussion ended. of Vetiver that I wear around home as the scent changes too much for me to wear it on a full day out.What do I wear out and about? But please take noteeven though this smells kind of awesome, the scent fades fairly quickly. My first impression when smelling this was you can never get tired of Cool Water. My sons friends definitely went for Polo, as I mentioned in an earlier reply. Dior Eau Sauvage was introduced in 1966. My advice to my grandsons: Go to a store with a good quality of men's fragrances, locate a beautiful young woman and ask her what cologne she would chose for her husband. I just love the smell. I worn it for years, but somehow my PH has changed and I cant stand the smell on me now. It literally lasts for years without deteriorating at all. For special, it really depends on the event, your mood, and your chemistry (Hermes and Philosophy are go-tos for me), but for the sake of everyone else in the room, car, train, whatever, *please* use a light touch! You are using an out of date browser. 63 shave soap and after shave which is pleasant but by no means overbearing .During the cooler months I may wear Royall Vetiver Noir or St Johns Bay Rum on weekends and special occasions. Drakkar is great! I'm new to this world and I haven't actually smelled either of those (although I've read quite a bit about them). 4711 can be bought in an 800 ml bottle for under or around $40. Sea notes also make up a big part of the opening. Although I shouldnt be too surprised as I do have a bit of ahead going after the scents of cedar or sandalwood notes. Boucheron Jaipur. Another wrote that it smells like cheap, mint body wash. And another wrote that It seems like big companies are knocking this fragrance off for cheap hotels and cheap body washes.. A combination of Aqua Velva aftershave scents normally sold around the holidays. Osage Rub, Caswell Massey Lime, Royall Bay Rum , & Eau Sauvage. Is there a longer lasting fragrance that captures this? You are right. I have been wearing Givenchy Gentlemen since 1977 and it STILL ranks up there with them. Then I switch to Royall Lime once the weather warms up. The mintiness is balanced out with nice, warm hints of lavender, vanilla, and oakmoss, so the scent is actually quite nice. Pricey though. Men also need to know how to wear it. I do wear other very nice colognes but Ive got to have GG in the cabinet. I hike a lot, and bugs are a way of life in the woods. Base notes include cedarwood, musk, amber, and tobacco. One person wrote: Opener lighter fluid Yuck! Unfortunately many classics such as Chanel 5 is terrible on me. I have no true go-to, but in summer I am fond of bay rums of the non-sweet variety, 4711, Florida Water, and Royall Lyme. I've experimented with various products but the blue juice from CVS beats many of them. Good memories, too. Its clean and crisp smelling. And another noted, It smells like a French guy made it.. You can still get Brut 33 online. Obsession is still great. Old Spice is one of the grandaddys of classic drugstore colognesafter all, the original Old Spice has been around since 1938. Some time ago Crabtree & Evelyn had a Lilac perfume that was heavenly; unfortunately discontinued after a short time.If L'air du Temps should stop being made (gasp! Thanks! Top notes include tangerine, grapefruit, lime, bergamot, lavender, cinnamon, and coriander. And I am sure his skin is very grateful. The brand itself in its heyday in the 70s,80s, and 90s was known for being classic and minimalistic. These light floral fragrances remind me of breezy summer days, perfect for casual wear or long flowy floral dresses. I still use 2 of the ones mentioned till date, Drakkar Noir & Fahrenheit. Top notes include lavender, mandarin orange, cedar, nutmeg flower, hawthorn, bergamot, chamomile, and lemon. We encourage exploration, independence, and informed discussion. Thanks! The price is $95 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. My ph levels turn many scents to an aggressive assault on the nosevery different from the sample scent on paper, in the bottle or even on friends. Blenheim Bouquet from Penhaligon is my go-to in every season. I don't like overly sweet/melony aquatics, but I love the sharp powdery blueness of Aqua Velva. There are so many evocative and pleasing ones.Good question. Blenheim Bouquet from Penhaligon and Opoponax from Santa Maria Novella. Cheap, synthetic ingredients some alcohol, beautiful bottle and voila! I appreciate the note-taking on Obsession, Drakkar Noir and Eternity. However, not with Raphael. As to wearing fragrancesculture clearly plays a role in acceptability of perfumes. I feel like most of us look down at drugstore colognes, but truthfully, some of them are gems hidden in plain sight (right next to the Axe Body Wash)and since theyre usually under ten bucks, you can buy a bunch of them to see what youre into. It was launched in 1996. Upon smelling this for the first time, I did find that it was a tolerable scent but not something that I would probably go for. I think one should just smell clean, no fragrance. (Original Aqua Velva poster here) I believe Aqua Velva performs well as an aftershave, and it represents a good value. I still use Hermes fragrance when going out but started to experiment with my own fragrances, based on pure organic essential oils, floral waters and some other only natural ingredients and I think after finishing the H, I will use only this. You must log in or register to reply here. Maybe a little milder and more refined. 4711 cologne is great as an aftershave for men. They really settle into being two different scents over time. In keeping with that value, I use bay rum exclusively. JavaScript is disabled. Acqua di Parma is also nice.Kind Regards,Heinz-Ulrich. Dior as a fashion house has actually been producing fragrances since 1947 so they werent new to the game when they released Fahrenheit. . They found when anise is blended with other scents, it smells quite pleasant. First, no cologne, aftershave only. I wore Drakkar for years. Top notes include seawater, mint, green notes, lavender, coriander, and rosemary. Overall, the consensus of the team is that most of us would actually consider wearing this fragrance. One of the most iconic colognes in the history of drugstores, Brut has earned a special place in the hearts and medicine cabinets of budget-minded dudes since 1963. Why dont we just admit that we still prefer Old Spice? . Plus, its been on the market since 1929, so its obvious this stuff is really good. Base notes include leather, tonka bean, amber, vetiver, musk, and patchouli. 19, so I may revisit it. In a nod to the blue color, there is a cocktail called Aqua Velva, which consists of vodka, gin, lemon-lime, and blue curacao. [1], It was first trademarked in 1917 by the JB Williams Company[2] and later acquired by the Beecham Group in 1982,[3] SmithKline Beecham in 1989,[4] then by GlaxoSmithKline from 2000 until it was sold to Combe Incorporated in 2002. Another person noted that it smells quite bohemian. Is moderate B.O. An article on retro 80s mens colognes and no mention of Xeryus or Grey Flannel? It was launched in 88 but had a big official marketing push when I worked at Macys in 1991. Using it daily as an aftershave plus my wife using it from time to time, a bottle lasts a year. Aqua Velva and Old Spice were low-end purchases but extremely popular after shaves, if not pure colognes. Good article. An 8oz. One person noted that it was very lime forward and not as sharp as other lime forward fragrances. A PLACE TO SHARE ALL THE FRAGRANCE SMELLS! Brut is sold in all supermarkets and discounts stores in France. My life long choice. Top notes include rosemary, artemisia, lavender, basil, verbena, bergamot, and lemon. Debonair looks too good on you to second guess. I second that vote, Gary: Obsession is the one. The big difference is what happens from here. Heart notes include nutmeg, honeysuckle, carnation, violet wood, sandalwood, jasmine, cedar, lily of the valley. truly socially acceptable and unremarkable in Germany? When I first smelled this, I really enjoyed the spice and vanilla combination. However, it does appear that most of the team would actually prefer to not wear this scent. This is so subjective that I can't answer a question about what is "acceptable". It may not display this or other websites correctly. My first impression of Givenchy Gentleman was, Wow, this smells like success. Initially, this scent does come off a bit strong but as long as one does not completely bathe in it, I think that it will be great for a sophisticated and mature individual. Base notes include sandalwood, amber, musk, vetiver, and Brazilian rosewood. I dont. Ralph Lauren Polo (the original Green) was introduced in 1978. I found that this was a great scent for daywear, for casual outings, especially for the warmer months. Aqua Velva Man (Acqua di Gio) Such a unique scent and doesnt make your eyes water for ages. Most of them are woodsy. Unless you are in law offices or boardrooms, I cannot see the benefit. I avoid the big international brands (Chanel, Dior, YSL, PRL etc) which are a rip-off. I can't breathe in a room when those scents are present. One person noted that the bottle was well endowed. [8] Later, the alcohol in Aqua Velva was denatured with denatonium benzoate. Aqua Velva is an American brand of grooming products targeted at men. For a future story, Paul Stuart has their own fragrances and is now selling Phenalgions and Santa Maria Novellla in their own stores. But I remember liking Chanel No. L'a air du Temps has been my signature scent for many many years. Indeed. [10], Original Aqua Velva bottle from the 1930s. [6], Combe Incorporated began shipping Aqua Velva exclusively in plastic "Shatterproof" bottles on February 1, 2010. Davidoff Cool Water is an icon in this era. But to each his own, When i think of 80s cologne, the orginal polo, the quinessential green bottle, was the go to fragrance most guys i personally all had in the medicine cabinet or on the dresser. Theyre not as famous as Obsession, Dior Fahrenheit was released in 1988. Just need to find the right time and place to wear it! Another person noted that Its definitely a unisex scent; it doesnt mean too far into being either too feminine or too masculine. And another person noted that its a crowd-pleaser but not. They are still good and will probably be for a couple of years because they are fully synthetic. When combined, it results in soap + glycerin. all with different scents from different manufacturers. Only aftershaves, no colognes. They are available from Truefitt & Hill directly as they have a website here. This paragraph was day dreaming about scents I'd love in a bottle. What a slippery slope. It belongs to LVMH group. The Classic Ice Blue serves as the original version of Aqua Velva. This is still packaged in the original bottle which while suited to the name, does make it appear like a drugstore-level product rather than a department store level product. Reviews & Articles About Classic Men's Clothing & Accessories, Copyright 20102022 Gentleman's Gazette LLC All Rights Reserved Terms of Service & Accessibility Policy Privacy Policy. I found that it was clean, fresh, and almost reminded me of a barbershop for some reason. Ironically, todays fragrance market is oversaturated! Givenchy Gentleman was launched in the 1970s, though theres some confusion, as various sources list either 1974 or 75. Aftershave only. Combe Inc. To Acquire J.B. Williams Company, Inc. Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue scent at Basenotes Fragrance Directory, 10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-03/jmelvin/p1, http://dx.doi.org/10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-03/jmelvin/p1, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aqua_Velva&oldid=1099764367, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 July 2022, at 13:10. Within seven hours, the entire Aqua Velva stock was sold out, while plenty of Barbasol was still available. The reason for this was the high alcohol content of Aqua Velva: mixed with canned grapefruit juice, the aftershave tasted passable and ensured a solid high for the narrator's entire company. Ive spent a fair amount of time around Germans in Germany and here in the US with whom ones natural aroma doesnt seem to be remarked on. We're a global, diverse, open community of adults that connect to discuss, share knowledge, experience, and love of perfumes. Oddly, even Chanel 5 becomes the opposite of classic elegance on me.Dreaming now; as an avid gardener my two favorite scents are the freshness of ferns and, in high summer, the light heavenly clean scent of tall phlox. Just saying. There was a mens and womens version. Heart notes include carnation, jasmine, rosewood, nutmeg, pine, myrrh, and red berries. B.O. Top notes include lavender, mandarin orange, bergamot, and lemon. I know how this is going to sound, but I get mine quasi-custom. When I do its a very light spritz of Chanel No 5. I'd pay for either of those bottled. So since this review was of 80s and 90s frags, thats probably why Polo Green wasnt included, even though its popularity continued and even heightened through the 80s. I did searches at those Bloomingdales locations for Antaeus and nothing showed up. I'm afraid the only way to bottle that would be pure chemicals without attar or essence. i have tried (they were all gifts from women) Ralph Lauren Polo and Safari, Cartier Roadster, and very long ago, Drakkar Noir. Its a clean and fairly timely scent that will work for a lot of different personalities and age groups. Heart notes include coriander, lily, orange blossom, juniper berries, basil, jasmine, sage, lily of the valley, and geranium. One person noted, It is light and fresh. Base notes include white musk, cedar, oakmoss, patchouli, and amber. Paco rabanne and Eau de sauvage, Givenchy Gentleman as a daily wearer top. Top notes include bergamot, lemon, and petitgrain. Old school drugstore colognes, my friend. - Heart notes include rosemary, iris, and vetiver. I make/refresh orange clove pomanders in early winter and set them out in the living room. Most of my good friends would say the fly dope is effectively my cologne. Old Spice, English Leather, Bay Rum, Pinaud Clubman. And the rest of the team was noting soft citrus rounded by other fragrances. So lets take a trip back in time to the 80s and 90s to see if the fragrances from our youth hold up to todays standards. It is described primarily as fresh which makes sense, given the name. Trumper's Curzon, Dr Harris's Arlington and Truefitt & Hill's Grafton. There have been a couple of detours over the years, when a lady friend gave me something else she wanted me to wear, but Ive always gone back. I especially enjoy the hints of the mandarin orange and the green notes. The price is $89 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Whats your go to fragrance/cologne that complements the preppy/trad/refined attire? Now my go to is the ORIGINAL Miss Dior that is yellow color. Bobby Jones a close 2nd. It is reality that by the end of the day a truckload of workmen is going to smell like a truckload of men, who if they remark on it at all mention that they look forward to getting in a shower as soon as they get home. I found that this was a great scent for daywear, for casual outings, especially for the, This fragrance launched in 1995 and was incredibly popular for well over ten years. Glass bottle 100 ml Aqua Velva Williams (Italian bottle), Aqua Velva Ice Blue bottle from the early 2000s, 100th anniversary Aqua Velva Ice Blue bottle from 2017, 100th anniversary Aqua Velva Musk bottle from 2017, Thomas Derdak, Tina Grant: International Directory of Company Histories, volume 46, 2002, p. 205, Michael Kinch: A Prescription for Change: The Looming Crisis in Drug Development, UNC Press Books, 2016, p. 213, "The Aqua Velva State Today in History: November 17". Another person noted that it smells quite bohemian. Press J to jump to the feed. I definitely feel that this is something that could be worn in, Out of this list today, I would say that my personal favorite is probably the Aqua Di Gio. There is so little call for this, I cannot see myself spending even $50 for a bottle of something to wear that will be unnoticed or end up offending half the people who might notice. My wife uses 4711 as a light splash, and I've used it as aftershave in the past, it works well. This is described as an aromatic Fougere scent and it really helped cement the trend. Still have all these 3 in my collection ever since I was a student in high school, well thats 30 years ago :). Before the 1980s, fragrances were local and few in choice. Very light. JM, VA. Considering its been around since 1810, its safe to say Pinaud Clubman is the only drugstore cologne thats stood the test of time for over 200 years, and its quite possible that your great-grandfather even used the stuff, too. With a name like Ice Blue, you already know this one is going to be minty as fuck, making it perfect for all you dudes who like a fresh, menthol-heavy slap in the face. Surprised you didnt have a mention of Polo in the green bottle. I am a subway ride away from Pasteur Pharmacy in NY; for those who do not know, this place is a mecca for shaving goodies from around the world (less focus on perfume, mostly aftershave and some traditional colognes). Kinda reminded me of a farmers market. But just because a scent is outdated, doesnt make it bad. It became tired and frankly few men wear colognes anymore and fewer still know how to do it properly. The price is $82 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Enuff said. bottle lasts me about 3 yrs. A classic 80s cologne. Im glad a previous poster (or two) mentioned Polo in the green bottle. Lair du Temps for daytime, Chanel No. The Royal warrants confirm their quality. Its heavy and masculine advertising made it a household name in the 80s and 90s. All available online; reasonably long lasting and compared to others a steal. It was actually launched in 1988. It is the only fragrance I find with character. Another one I remember well was Aramis. By accessing Badger & Blade, you agree to abide by the Terms of Usage. is backordered. Clubman works year-round. This is something that I would highly recommend that most people add to their collection. Another good one is the German 4711. 5 from my father when I turned sixteen. I change scents to moodsI love Aqua de Gio by Armani. 5 (summer) and No. Spouse of over 25 years never tried to buy me cologne. This is definitely something that I would personally want to wear on occasion. It is described primarily as fresh which makes sense, given the name. In the heart, you will find aromas of geranium, jasmine, bay leaf, watermelon, juniper berries, coriander and pine tree. The price is $65 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Cacharel pour homme is the best from the 80s. Cold process soap has no need to add harsh chemicals. I think the new generation does. This was so popular that it won a FiFi Award for best mens fragrance in 1985. But since I am a wet shaver I found that I like the scents from Truefitt & Hill better And others noted the very dominant vanilla and how unique the fragrance actually is. Nothing thats too overpowering but things with those kinds of combinations are the things that my nose is typically drawn to. Unfortunately, with the new EU regulations that banned certain ingredients in fragrances and aftershaves and, not to be outdone, the even larger list of ingredients the International Fragrance Association has also recently banned, the fragrances we think we are wearing likely are not the ones we began wearing even a few years ago. I like soliflores, mostly white flowers like muguet de bois, as well as rose - or a combi of both - as well as the bluebell scent (Penhaligon's does this very well). Does anyone remember the name of the cologne from the 80s that touted having pheromones in it? I'm personally attached to Blenheim Bouquet, which is not necessarily an "accessible" fragrance, or a "friendly" one, but which is distinctive and clean, and people seem to like it. Used cologne as aftershave and smelled like a rotting cod after three hours! I love how clean and light that fragrance is. I am intrigued by scents others have mentioned that I've never heard of and look forward to seeking them out. He found that it was too pedestrian. Tom Ford has great and interesting scents. The list is incomplete. Although this is not my favorite or my first choice, I could see myself occasionally considering wearing this fragrance. Like, one hour tops. Unpretentiousness, humility, call it what you will. My cultural background imprinted an enduring prejudice on me that colognes are rather dandyish, for real men, if not exactly verboten. I avoid elevators and take the stairs ;-). I also think they've overdone the oud in everything these days. Ive actually received more compliments on that scent than all the other ones Ive had over the years which is just funny given its low low price. Also, this may completely invalidate the integrity of my opinions however Stetsons Preferred Stock was my first cologne and for me, once it settles down and blends with your skins oils its a really nice scent. on the other hand was verboten, although after years of living and working here with the heat and the impact of German friends Ive come to a more realistic tolerance for it. Very masculine. But my only regret concerning it, is that The Scent doesnt last too long. I can only say that I have always loved scent and considered training to become a "nose" in Grasse for a fragrance house. We discourage herd preference/behavior and fragrance influencers. What I cannot abide are what's called "oriental" scents as well as vanilla and sugary that smell like loukoum. And so, here are 7 solid colognes and aftershaves you can pick up at your corner drugstore, so that you can smell rightwithout breaking the bank. Posted November 23, 2020 in Fragrances, Grooming & Shaving, Two that you are not mentioning here, but I used a lot in the 80s and later. I have around 30 bottles of perfume (I know, excessive).