Like Coke, Old Spice is cemented in our cultural memory, but not always in the way we might imagine. Before I opened my bottle (now plastic, not glass), I thought for sure I remembered the smell. Once it hit my nose, however, I was surprised to find it lighter, subtler, and, yes, fresher than I remembered. It’s a closely guarded secret whether the aftershave formula has been modernized, but the fragrance, the brand assured me, is the same.
— Hmmm. Read more in Why Old Spice Suddenly Smells New at Town & Country. (Also, see Kevin's review of Old Spice.)
Hmmm indeed. For all their assurances, the fragrance is not the same: it’s been altered noticeably at least twice in my lifetime, and probably more — I don’t smell it every time I walk past it in the drugstore.
But the oldish glass bottle I have (late eighties/early nineties, I think) is fantastic stuff, and if they haven’t tinkered with it too severely, it still ought to be: how can you go wrong with (thoroughly unisex) citrus, buckets of carnations, and woody vanilla?
Since Kevin wrote his review, we have both gotten our hands on vintage Old Spice. It is pretty good stuff, in fact, I should wear it this week.
Also not sure it is really in our cultural memory…younger people probably don’t know the smell. My son uses Old Spice Fiji deodorant, which is not at all the same thing.
My father wore Old Spice. My future husband wore it also and that’s what initially turned my head.
I would LOVE it if Old Spice would put out a high end version of the formula using top shelf ingredients. I too love Old Spice- both my grandfathers wore it- and so brings back memories of them.
Even if that was commercially viable, I don’t think you could do it because of IFRA limits on % of eugenol, which is what gave the carnation that bite of clove.
Or maybe there is a fantastic substitute for eugenol by now, I don’t know. I’m really not sure bold carnation scents are commercially viable these days anyway.
My father wore Old Spice – since I keep thinking I am missing the carnation scent of my dreams, I guess I should get some vintage – maybe this is what my nose remembers…
…and this is why I’ll probably never try it. I honestly haven’t the slightest idea what it smells like but surely the minute it hits my skin, it’ll conjure memories of someone or something I’d be better off not remembering.
My Dad always wore Old Spice (just on Sundays for church) and at 88, still does. I need to put in my claim to his bottles as heirlooms/keepsakes. I adore the smell of that stuff like I adore my Daddy… He went through an English Leather phase in the mid-70’s (I loved that huge, heavy, real wood cap), & even dallianced with Brut (w/ that hilarious fake silver chain on the bottle – my Mother though Brut was low-class), but he always returned to ol’ spicey.
“My Mother thought Brut was low-class” ? Now that is comedy gold.
My dad wore Old Spice too. Grandma kept giving him various Avon in those ridiculous bottles shaped like cars or a pistol (!!) but he refused to actually use them and was loyal to OS.
Kelly, I remember those Avon receptacles. Talk about classy!! ??? I wanted a Bo-Peep one full of Timeless or Sweet Honesty but my Mom put the kibosh on that dream. Now, 45 yrs later, I’m in perfumista revenge mode…