Old Spice Original Shulton Company for men

* * *
"Give Dad Old Spice . . . the good-grooming hobby!"
(from vintage Shulton ad)

Back in the day, men wore Old Spice as a "signature scent" without even knowing what a signature scent is, splashing on the after shave or cologne every time they shaved, leaving the most pleasant trail.

That trail—both clean and fresh, and warm and comforting—was the catalyst for my love of spicy scents and perfumery in general. Now, Old Spice holds so many memories of youth, dads and granddads, and family life in simpler times.

I just obtained a vintage bottle (by Shulton, not Proctor & Gamble who has taken this classic and its flankers in confusing directions) in perfect condition, the juice as fresh and intoxicating as when it was new in the '60s or '70s.

So many men wore the after shave, so that's what I wanted. Dabbed some on my wrists and am sitting here, swept in reverie as notes parade by, in twists and turns, not at all in linear fashion—nutmeg, allspice (pimento), carnation with its hint of clove, cinnamon, vanilla, jasmine, tonka bean, musk, heliotrope . . .

Am looking for an antique wooden cabinet to display my perfumes, where Old Spice (launched 1937) in its milk-glass bottle (not today's plastic!) with blue, three-masted, sailing-ship illustration* will fit in nicely.✿

* Different image and product than those on Fragrantica.

Longevity on me: long-lasting
Scent family: Amber Spicy

Nowhere near as good as Old Spice Classis aftershave.
This is hella softer, smoother & longer lasting. The notes (individually or as a whole) are barely noticeable, it’s like a musk of everything.
The classic aftershave you can smell every note damn near.. playing in divine harmony with each other.

Yes, old bottles of Old Spice smell smoother, sweeter and overall better than the current version of Old Spice. But that doesn't mean Old Spice today isn't any good. Old Spice, despite reformulation, still is recognizable as Old Spice, and is very good. It's stronger, spicier and longer lasting than from days of old. It also smells a little bit like shaving cream now, which it didn't in the old days. What Old Spice fan would object to that? Even the aftershave projects and lasts a good 3 or 4 hours on my skin; the cologne lasts about 8 hours. I still love Old Spice, and it's better, even in its reformulated state, than many fragrances that cost ten times more.

If you're thinking about one of the classic fragrances, You can't miss this one. Old Spice is unique in every way. That's it.

I just got an unopened Shulton Old Spice aftershave and talc gift set from the 80s off Vinted for £6. It seems to be in very good condition, probably because it's never been opened.

I am so, so happy with it because I get such a strong carnation note which I adore as well as a vanillary, powdery amber dry down. It has an almost creamy gourmand aspect to the fragrance.

There are so few scents with carnation and it's a fragrance I've always loved, I'm overjoyed to have this scent in my perfume drawer.

I'm excited to wear this, I don't care that it's officially a man's scent, it really suits my skin.

I well remember the first time I used this when I first started shaving at age 16 & hated it. It felt like my face was on fire when I applied it due to the high alcohol content, which also served as an antiseptic, of course.

However, I have long since learned how to shave correctly & this particular aftershave features highly in my twice-daily shaving routine. I have used many bottles of this over the years, as it is replenished continuously.

My elder brother, father, grandfather & great-grandfather also used this. All told, It's very much a timeless classic. I just found out that it has been around since 1938. That's incredible!

It smells fresh & clean whilst also giving a fair amount of longevity, which can be re-applied to the face & neck at any time. It is a pleasant mix of citrus, floral & woody notes, which smells ok. It is perhaps a tad old-fashioned for today's younger generation to use. It is also cheap as chips to buy & so very easy to get hold of.

There is nothing like a good sh1t shave & shower using this in the morning, which always makes me feel like a new man.

Its okay, I know that "if your grandfather hadn't worn it, you wouldn't exist" is a common slogan at Old Spice, but my grandfather wore Aqua Velva, Avon (the car cologne bottles), and Barbasol Green aftershave, so... My father stole my bottle from me and now uses it, but I don't care, because IT IS an old mans scent. I personally don't like this one, but I do love Pure Sport original. Pure Sport smells almost like GIT or Cool Water.

Picked up an original proctor and gamble version, memories just flooded back of pops , the reason I bought it and very glad I did,I also bought the modern variation , absolutely appalling drain cleaner.

I have the new Made in Italy Old Spice Original Aftershave Lotion, To me it smells like the 80's-90's perfumes' Dry down Scent that lingers to the next day on your skin after the perfume has dissipated Spicy woody.. Love it

Clean, fresh, floral, warm. I splash this into my hand and apply it all over both forearms, then I wait 15 minutes and layer Molecule 01 on top. That helps with projection and longevity and adds a little woodiness and backbone to the overall scent. It gives you a classic, clean, comforting, attractive and interesting scent bubble.

I have this cologne & I also have the essential oil of this fragrance as well. I'll get 8-10 of longevity when I layer them together.

My Grandfather is coming to the end of his life, and its been a long and joyful one for him. He's always been an amazing man and its hard to see him go.
I remember the first time I "smelled" this fragrance as a child... he had a little bottle in the medicine cabinet while staying at our house. When i smelled the bottle i was FLOODED with the realization that he wore it. I now knew what my grandpa smelled like! I love the smell its calm and warm.
This bottle will always hold that memory for me.... I'm on an ebay hunt rn for a 90s era bottle, just to keep in my life. I don't know that this could be a common worn one for me given the scent memories for me and others.

Nostalgia washed over me evoking a flood of memories.

This will always remind me of my grandfather who wore it every single day and was the greatest man I’ve ever known. I’d forgotten about this standby classic and might be inspired to pick up a bottle now.

Old Spice by the Shulton Company is an 85-year-old original cologne, a timeless classic in the world of traditional barbershop after-shaves. This fragrance evokes nostalgic memories with its high-quality juice housed in unpretentious and affordable plastic packaging. True to its name, Old Spice combines classic spices like those found in Garam Masala with zesty citrus fruits, fresh florals, and warm woody notes.

While it doesn't have a long-lasting presence, which may be intentional, it provides a comforting and old-fashioned conclusion to your grooming routine. It offers a fresh, spicy, and fragrant feel while also having antiseptic properties due to its high alcohol content. Initially, it has a strong synthetic opening that might be a bit harsh, but as this initial chemical dissipates, it reveals a more inviting aroma.

Despite its brief performance, Old Spice is a must-have in any man's collection due to its affordability. It's worth noting that this fragrance may not be groundbreaking or exceptional in the modern context, but it's a bestseller that deserves a place in your fragrance library, even if you don't reach for it every day.

Oh my, what a phenomenal perfume. I just received a glass bottle from the Shulton era, and it does smell the same or very close to the Early American Old Spice that I had in the past. Up close it can be a little overwhelming and not *quite* my jam, BUT the sillage in the air? Niicccceeee. Soft, semi-powdery, semi-sweetness. Just a nice comforting smell. It's like a blanket of fragrance. Lovely stuff.

Haven't used the cologne in ages, but the Old Spice Original shower gel and antiperspirant are my everyday scent if I don't use cologne. Such a great fresh background scent.

The definition of a barbershop scent.

It smells like a day at the North Sea to me. Not sunny, but bitter and like sea foam. A beautiful, very classic scent!

Powder powder powder. Like your granny's make up with the big powder pad. Somewhere underneath there is an undiscernable spice, but mostly powder.

I recommend Jaipur Homme by Boucheron over this in every aspect. 👍

Discardedandroid love your review but unless Creed invented a Time Machine how the hell can this be a clone of Viking? It’s nearly 100 years old! And also notice the cheeky homage to the king of Home Bargains with a cheeky boat on the bottle!!

I love this scent. In 80 as child I felt that cinnamon and anise .... in every corner....

So incredibly good. An intoxicating and timeless Fougere fragrance. Not long lasting but it’s cheap so just apply more and apply more often. I also own Creed Viking and Tom Ford Fougere d’argent and they are not the same fragrances but they are similar. I love all three and Viking and TF are more complex and smell more modern but if you’re on a budget and you want something like them Old Spice will not disappoint. Now if only they could figure out how to make their deodorant not BURN MY SKIN OFF.

I LOVE Old Spice Original. I think if people didn't have so many memories associated with it, it could be judged more fairly. In any case, I love warm woods and spices and this hits all the right spots. To me, it smells as good as a lot of FAR more expensive fragrances.

Bought a bottle for kicks, just to compare it to Creed Viking. Considering it's so cheap I figured why not? I think on initial spray the comparison between the two is apt. I'd say it's like 70% the same. For sure it's a red, spicy sort of floral. Though I'd say it's a tiny bit sweeter than Viking (cinnamon vs pink pepper), and what surprised me based on my memory is that it's distinctly more creamy than I remember. More floral. Viking is more green/grassy/woody. Old Spice is a bit weaker, and the notes are a bit more bunched together, while Viking is stronger and more airy if that makes sense. But I mean seriously, for your dollar this is a Viking clone through and through. Viking does indeed smell better to my nose, but for your dollar is it really 20x better? I might just sell my Viking bottle and settle for this so I can shower in it. Highly recommend.

How is this so good yet so cheap? I don't understand. And it's weird, because this smell less outdated than most 80s and 90s fragrances. It's so damn pleasant.

I'm a very feminine woman in some ways, but there are several very "manly" fragrances I absolutely love to wear, and this is one of them. Fresh and spicy at the same time. It really does have an air of adventure about it. It also smells even more antique than the age in which it was first introduced. It smells like I would imagine an ancient Phoenician vessel smelling coming back from a trading trip with a boatload of spices, lemons, and other aromatic goods aboard. A joy and a whole lotta fun.

Got for 12 bucks at a grocery store. Used it everyday in the Canadian winter and it works great. I get most compliments when I wear it. If you see it, buy it.

Has a little soapy smell and floral, but also very cinnamon-y.

10/10

It's a THUMBS UP from me and will keep buying.

This is an affordable classic. So wearable for all occasions if you are over 30.

Believe it or not!! This will always be in my collection!! This is a classic scent and although it's dated I love it anyway 💞 very spicy old-school masculine scent. Great to wear at home, running errands, and I have gotten a compliment wearing old spice and the lady was shocked when I told her what I was wearing 🤯🤯.

I blind bought this on amazon cos I've always heard of old spice through internet culture, and well.. the plasticky bottle is a first.. but the scent is heavenly. And where I'm from (Singapore), no one uses products from old spice and that makes me feel kind of a standout.. And for like 20 usd? That's a steal.

A perfect fragrance, can be found dirt cheap, has survived since 1938, it’s everywhere with its shampoo’s, deoderants, bodywashes. What more can be said?

i dont have the cologne, but i did steal the aerosol deodorant from my brother and apparently they have the same notes so ill give my opinion anyway.

to me this is super powdery and little spicy. i think if i mixed tiger balm and baby powder and rolled around in a flower bed id achieve this exact smell. thankfully none of my older relatives wear this so i don't have the displeasure of associating this with old people. its pretty nice

The "Original" with the red stripe is not so close to a vintage bottle. Many elements used in the 80s-90s are now banned. No closer the "Classic" which was reformulated for use in plastic bottles. I'd recommend Murray & Lanman Agua De Florida "Florida Water" as an affordable alternative. Its a hundreds years old formula spicy strong and floral. More unisex than old spice, used by many to bring luck or clear negative energy in a room. I use it to splash on after a shave. It's not Old Spice far more sweet, but somehow is closer to the vintage in spirit spice and strength than the original or classic.

I never wore this before until I was middle aged, so I am probably one of the few reviewers here who has no associations with this (I don't remember any of the men in my family wearing it either). It's a very nice mild fragrance that has carnation as its most dominant note, and that's pretty rare today--carnation has pretty much disappeared in recent years in both men's and women's fragrances, and more's the pity. carnation may be the spiciest of floral notes, and just so this is backed up but other spices too, including cinnamon and nutmeg; there's supposedly star anise in this too, but blessedly I can hardly smell that note (which can be quite overwhelming unless used very sparingly).

This is really pleasant and fresh-smelling in a different way than "fresh-smelling" usually is construed today. I heartily recommend it.

I started wearing this as a teenager in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After I first started wearing it, I remember sitting in class one day thinking that something smelled really good, and then realizing, oh crap, that's me.

My grandpa didn't wear it. My dad didn't wear it. I wore it --- but I am old now.

I like amber based fragrances, and I've moved on to much stronger fragrances that last a lot longer, and cost a lot more, and frankly are much better fragrances. However, those higher end amber based fragrances can just be too much during the really hot days here in CA. Yet, I don't care for the "blue" fragrances, or the green fragrances, or the nautical fragrances, and I hate the citrus fragrances that remind me of a men's room urinal cake. So if I want an amber based fragrance on a hot summer day that isn't the least bit cloying then Old Spice is still my go to fragrance. I've even received a few compliments by girls half my age who had no idea it was Old Spice.

I use the “original” not “classic” bottle. Mildly spicy and lots of powderyness. A good base for heavy vanilla based frags.

“If your Grandfather hadn’t worn it, you wouldn’t exist.“

Opens with a clean, if not a little abrasive citrus aroma, is also powdery. Nutmeg is perceptable in the beginning also.
It then becomes spicier with cinnamon being most notable.
The base is an aromatic-vanilla combined with anise.
Has a classic vibe but current formulation is suprisingly wearable.
Good for year round wear. Suits men 25 up.
Projection and longevity decent when considering the price.

Dad…..grandfather……uncles ❤️

Reminds me of my dad. He passed away last year and every time I get a sniff of this, he’s right there with me. I’ll always have a bottle of this.

Am I, a female, wearing vintage Old Spice today? Oh, yes, I am. :) (Sample: Retro Shulton Old Spice After Shave from StC.) Because... why not?

Does it "smell like grandpa?" Well, yes, I *guess*... if you were MY grandpa (who wore it, and slathered it on my then-4-year-old self because I requested it when I saw him applying it, and who did so without any hesitation or concern regarding fragrance and gender... I *love* my fragrance-related childhood memories, as they are *the best*). However, I can see why this was originally marketed to women in the 1930s (but then re-packaged and marketed to men), because honestly... it could belong to any person who chose to claim it. Many of the notes used in this fragrance are used in a multitude of scents, and women can pull off ambery, spicy fragrances, too. However, given its widespread use and lengthy history, I do understand that most people are going to associate it with men, because I'm guessing many of us had a father or grandfather who wore it.

Aside from the spices (I can definitely smell nutmeg and cinnamon), and the spicy floral element (carnation -- probably not the most popular note in modern times, but one I appreciate), I detect a hint of citrus and geranium. I don't know anything about the current version, but the vintage after-shave lasts FOREVER on my skin. You wouldn't think so, since it's just an after-shave, but... wow. Seriously, I have tried this more than once... if I go to bed wearing it, I am able to detect it in the morning. Its presence may be faint, but it's still there. It sits close to the skin at all times, but the longevity surpasses most modern compositions. (They really *don't* make stuff like they used to, apparently...) The dry-down is powdery, yet spicy, with a touch of musk. It's there without being in-your-face obnoxious. I now realize, looking back, that this scent was present throughout my youth. It was calm, steady, intellectual, and reliable. Just like my grandpa.

This reminds me of the art installation by Robert Montgomery. The quote, "The people you love become ghosts inside of you, and like this, you keep them alive" (commas mine) seems applicable. For here, in this scent, the moment I treasured *is* alive. It breathes. And it is beautiful. I'll suddenly catch a whiff of this as I'm wearing it, and it feels like the ghost of a memory is walking beside me.

Note: If you're into layering or want to transition to another fragrance once this one tapers off a bit... it also functions well as a base for TF Tobacco Vanille.

A very good classic aftershave. Cheap and worth having in every mans colection

Nice aftershave that was used by Grandfathers, fathers, you, and probably your son, It does not last much but has something that makes you proud you are a man when you splash it. 7.5/ 10

Just do;)

I recently watched some wet shaving enthusiasts review Old Spice original vs. The modern take. They stated what most already know and that is how it is a mere shadow of what once was. Most of the scent profile is there, but not as strong and very soft in other aspects that once stood out. I have been fortunate to have purchased some recreations offered by various independents, upon trying them I instantly was taken back to my grandfather wet shaving, and completing the ritual with this classic (he even shared the final remnants with me). Below, in no order…

Cool Spice-Phoenix Shaving
Reserve Spice-Barrister & Mann
Stirling Spice-Stirling Soap Co.

And on a final note, be it nostalgia, or people just really appreciating the classic profile, these splashes frequently sell out on all sites you might find them…I consider that a statement of sorts. Cheers, please do try these alternatives they won’t disappoint.

I’m not a fan of Old Spice. My grandfather wore this and I’m in my mid 50s, so this stuff is definitely old! He was a cranky old guy, so I associate this with him. My dentist also used to wear this, so the associations are not that positive for me.

The scent itself is ok and not terrible. For me it has a strong star anise and nutmeg opening. Pleasant for sure. I also get the mid note of flowers and cinnamon and on the skin it leaves a vanilla and musky smell.

I really dislike the plastic bottle. If you want to smell like the old volunteer in a country town historical museum, this might be a good buy. It’s reasonably cheap, but is not one I would buy again.

Classic barber shop masculine scent. A scent that men have used for decades and still stands the test of time today. I still use the aftershave to compliment some of my richer masculine fragrances. Cannot go wrong.

8.7/10

smells like watered down aldehydes mixed with lip balm and spread over something filthy. though, stick version is very good, a life saver.

Juicy Fruit chewing gum. My father wore this as his signature and growing up, our rooms were upstairs and all I could smell in the mornings was Chock Full O Nuts coffee and Juicy Fruit chewing gum. Over 10 hours later I could still smell him when he came home before me. I'm 50 now but the memories tied to this scent will remain alive until I die.

Old Spice smells like a warm, clean human. Unisex. Comforting when you're ill or can't decide what to dab on. All perfume lovers need to own a bottle, how can you not when it's under $10?

Grampa... all the way! I love just about every note in this fragrance, but the spicy top and the warm base get me every time. I also adore heliotrope in the heart. It's definitely masculine, but in the most comforting, classic, old guy kind of way. I don't know any men who wear it anymore, but it brings back fond memories of my Grampa's cheek after shaving.

Huge difference between the modern EDC to the Shulton era EDC. The modern P&G version has a cheap, crappy soap dry down which reminds me of the current formulation of Cool Water's dry down. It basically smells like nothing, there's this faint Old Spice smell, and this is about 10 minutes after spraying. The classic Shulton splash on Cologne version from the early 90s, which probably isn't even the best version, smells so much more legit in the dry down. It retains the Old Spice scent, it's richer, it's darker and it just has so much more going on with it. When P&G claims that they're still using the same formula as the Shulton, there's no way they're using the same oils in the same concentrations as they did before, either that or some of the ingredients have been banned, because it's completely different. It has a lot of the same character off the top and you can tell it's OS, but after five minutes they're completely different. The modern OS aftershave is much, much better and more in the style of the Shulton compared to the modern EDC, but it just doesn't last as long.

This is the smell of my grandpa. Now, I don't specifically have memories of him tied to this scent. I remember he used to dress neatly, keep his hair combed up, and that he always smelled good but I don't actually remember what he smelled like I don't think or at least my olfactory senses don't take me back. I know this is his scent though, because my dad said he remembered him using Old Spice after his morning shave and that he used a hair product called Wildroot (a classic men's grooming product that was popular back then). I also remember that when my grandpa died, one of the things that was given to me was his old glass bottle of Old Spice. I don't think it was THAT old, I think it was the exact same bottle as in the picture which I believe was the design they used in the 90s and maybe into the early 2000s even. I also remember there being an older bottle with the old pirate style ship which must have been from the 80s. That was my first foray into Old Spice, and I liked it but fragrances really didn't move me the same way as they started to later on when I got into them when I was a teenager.

Anyways, fast forward to the present day and I'm so into fragrances, I've started to come around to all of these great sophisticated smells. Things like Dior's Fahrenheit which really got me into this hobby, Chanel's Platinum Egoiste which blew my mind and still blows my mind every time I smell it, Dior Homme which might be my all time favorite fragrance now and which also completely shocked me with how great it was. I've even got into some niche, stuff like Sultan Vetiver by Nishane which is so gorgeous and nothing really even comes close in terms of objective quality and overall beauty to that fragrance IMO so far in my journey. Yet, here I am, getting into Old Spice and really enjoying it more than I ever had. It's not even just Old Spice, it's all of those ridiculously cheap aftershaves and colognes that our grandparents, great grandparents and maybe our dads even wore. They're a lot better than what I'd really given them credit for, and the quality for the price is outstanding while the scents themselves are completely timeless IMO. What's more is that you can just almost mindlessly throw these things into your cart and just try them whether it's ordering online or throwing them into a literal cart at Walmart because you can buy a lot of them there, they're so cheap that there's hardly any guilt involved. Even vintage bottles are cheap for these types of things because most people don't really want them that badly that they're going to pay a lot of money and they turn up at estate sales and things and people buy them for a dollar and they turn them over for a decent but humble profit by selling them on eBay for $20-30.

So, with all of that said, what are my actual thoughts on the actual Old Spice scent? It's awesome. Even today it's awesome, even in the plastic bottles it's still solid and it still retains a lot of the character that I remember from that older bottle I had years ago. It's not as strong, the notes are little bit muted, but I think it's always going to have a spot in my rotation along with the other classics. I think anybody of any age can wear this, but maybe it's more of a 30+ scent, and maybe a lot of people would dismiss this as a "grandpa" scent. If you wear it with confident though, nobody's gonna think that but you might get the odd "you smell like my dad" comment, which you should take as a compliment because most people love their dad! You can wear this stuff anywhere, maybe not the sexiest date night choice but you could do worse. It's warm and fresh at once, and even though it's cheap it smells like a working man who pays his bills and who loves to take care of his family, like my grandpa.

"Dad" or "grandpa" fragrance labels are as irritating as "mom" or "grandma" are for women. I really like this, and find it to be timeless and endearing on a man.

I really love the spiciness of it all with this one, and the spice is indeed 80% of it. The uplifting melange of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and allspice is blended quite well, even if it does smell slightly lesser quality than other stuff on the market (this is a bargain of course), yet, it doesn't smell "cheap" at any point.

I do remember this having a slightly more vintage tone in days past (my dad used to wear this), did they change the aldehydes? My husband has the current version. Because of this, it smells different enough to be unique on my hubs, and not merely the same thing my dad wore, and it doesn't give me nostalgia or make things awkward. I also think this used to be even heavier on the spice, and more amped up in general?

I smell some resins and pepper (maybe that's the pimento, but carnation can be peppery), and also sandalwood (which isn't listed). Despite this being light in general, it does make quite the perfect skin scent without fading entirely, such is the nature of spices.

It's really cuddly and feel-good. A nice thing to snuggle up against on a man 😁 People who just bypass it because it's oldschool are missing out. 🌶

Bought this for my father. He says it smells different to what it used to. Surprised that there's ambergris in it. That's a bonus! Nice and cheap.

I remember in the late 70s, my uncle was a heavy wearer of Old Spice aftershave, I really liked it in those days, the dry down was musky and a bit woody, along with floral-spicy notes; I decided a few months ago to try it again and see if it was keeping some of its glorious notes from the old formula, I was deeply disappointed as Old Spice aftershave changed completely and this new reformulation from P&G rebuilt the scent into something very floral and flooded with tons of vanilla, leaving out the musky and woody notes in the dry down................. what a pity that reformulations very often destroy the wonderful and masculine scents of yesterday that were the morning ritual of the alpha male.

My latest bottle dates from 1950 - 1956 with stopper #2, and is by Shulton. This vintage was remarkably well preserved because the stopper broke off in the neck of the bottle and kept it airtight for years. It's the best preserved vintage (deep vintage, really) that I've ever smelled. It turns on the use of crisp, sweet, rich allspice, and a beautiful clovey-carnation-musk finish. It reminds me the most of P&G's formula, out of all the vintages I've smelled. The weird thing here is that the clarity of accords and note separation in this formula makes it much easier to distinguish the origins of P&G's version, since it's clear that this Korean War-era formula was similar. There are still the differences of a rich nitromusk note in the base and the vanilla is more prominent. Altogether a beautiful fragrance that I wish had never been pushed aside in the annals of time.

EDT review here. This is a photorealistic representation of a distinguished gentleman who doesn't bother trying designer scents out because he finds no reasons why. Very spicy barbershop scent, interesting given it's survived several decades and it's no wonder why. Give it a try since it's very reasonably priced though it definitely is a mature scent.

To Old Spice fans about the note pyramid here on Fragrantica:

The breakdown of notes above mentions pimento, with a picture of a red pepper. This is incorrect. The "pimento" in Old Spice is the dried berries of the plant known as Pimenta dioica, otherwise known as "Allspice." These dried berries, when ground up, smell like a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and black pepper. This is the core spice accord to Albert Hauck's composition. The plant and its fruit are native to Jamaica. This ties into the nautical theme of Old Spice quite nicely, but pictures of hot peppers associated with Old Spice are misleading and inaccurate.

My husband shriek in horror when he found that I had bought a shower gel and deodorant of old spice. He said something along the lines of this being antiquated or old school but I said to him to fear not, as the one I am reviewing today is not the original but the captain version.
Although I like the original too I can't see the problem in liking a classic.

Anyway, old spice captain is a new version fresher and smoother that the original old spice. I think is the kind of fragance that falls in the category of acuatics, like cool water davidoff or nikos sculpture.
I really like it and find it contemporary and also veering towards the unisex realm.
Now, I am not sure if they have produced a perfume per se, but the shower gel and deodorant smell really fresh, clean and nice.

First cologne I ever wore. I was 16 and needed something to make me smell good as I was going on a date with a girl I was crazy about.. I open the medicine chest and grabbed my dads old spice. He had stetson but I remember that smelled like my grandfather so that was a no go. She actually gave me a compliment and asked what it was and I told her It had a french name I couldnt pronounce..lol. If she herd old spice she was sure to know it was a "dad" cologne.hahaha

I just picked up a bottle of this today on my trip to the drugstore. 6 ounces for $14, you can't beat that! It's not as strong as it was back in the 70's and 80's and it does smell more unisex then I remembered it, but that maybe because our perceptions about fragrance have changed over the years. What I am smelling on my hand right now smells like a million bucks. Fresh orange, and lemon amped up w/ aldehydes, a beautiful carnation supported w/ star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pimento. Softened w/ musk, warm resins, ambergris and powdery heliotrope. I could swear there is ylang, ylang and bay leaf in this as well. If you put this in a fancy "niche" bottle and gave it some French name you could get a lot more money for it. This smells more expensive than many of the designer and niche fragrances I have smelled on my fragrance collecting journey that started over COVID. This classic cologne is a unisex fresh spicy amber that can't be beat. I should check out more of the Old Spice range, there maybe more unisex treasures to be found at an unbeatable price point....

@jg84 You just made me want to run out to the nearest drug store and pick up a bottle! This is my Uncle's signature scent and when I was growing up I wanted to wear it for myself! Back in the 70's and 80's that would've been viewed as strange but you are right today as Tony Bennett would say "Anything Goes!" I am going to have to get a bottle and soon!

Old Spice is the dark horse of the fragrance world. You may be surprised to learn that it's been around since 1938. You may also be surprised at how many floral notes are in it. In fact, if women started wearing Old Spice, they would garner reams of compliments on their new, fresh, spicy amber.
Old Spice opens with citrus notes, into which burst
carnation, peppery geranium, a sliver of capsicum and a breeze of jasmine. The spice soon melds into white fluffy soap flakes before heading for a warm breeze of musk and resin, finishing with a salty
flourish.
A fragrance that's been around as long as this is a classic for a reason.
Don't let the men keep it to themselves.

My first love; deep and abiding, wore this. It was the 1960s and he was a Mod, with a Who cut and he rode a scooter. I was obsessed, possibly in an unhealthy way. Who can say after so long? All I know is that my life seemed to revolve around his very being - and his smell. It was the original Shulton's version. What a memory it is to think of him now - and every memory is accompanied by that smell. I will take it all to the grave. The happy years, blended with the "misery" of teenage angst; Does he like me? Will he talk to me? Will he ask me out? What else matters at that age more than the unfathomable passion of the heart? That's what Old Spice is for me. A glorious memory that will never leave me and always makes me smile.

I have an after-shave lotion of Old Spice Original. Mine is 150ml and is made in Italy. The regular size in Europe is 100ml. I never saw the EDT version in grocery or pharmacy in Europe. I use it every time after I shower just to refresh my face with this magnificent classic scent. I love it because I can layer it with my other old-school perfumes. The scent is masculine and relaxing. I'm gonna be honest, when I was a kid I hated Old Spice Original. There was nothing nice, smelled too old to me at the time. Now I'm 24 and this one of my favorites grooming products along with Old Spice Original shower gel. I'm not sure but people are complaining about the 150ml version. They say it's not the same Old Spice it used to be. I can't really tell if it's true. But I can smell that the juice is pretty watered down because the scent is not intense and I believe it should be much stronger. Nevertheless, I suggest and highly recommend trying it out at least once.

I can't even review Old Spice as a fragrance. To me, it's just what Dads should smell like. I know it's been reformulated but I remember the 70s/80s versions as spicy, warm, unpretentious, classic. My Dad, who loved sailing, wore Old Spice regularly. Maybe he was just trying to use up all the gift sets he received from me, my sisters and brother for Christmas, Birthdays and Fathers Day? I have an old photo of Dad on his sailboat and when I look at it I can still smell the Old Spice. Gotta love it.

Old Spice, Brut, Tabac and Aramis are your quintessential masculine fragrances. They are not unisex - I cannot see a woman pulling off any of them successfully. Wearing Old Spice today for the first time in years, and I feel like a silverback. What a great, manly, old-school scent😎

I've decanted this, as well as the Old Spice Hawkridge, into amber coloured spray bottles I recently acquired, so I can spray them on now. My office smells of Old Spice, and made me realize I have shelved this gem for too long. It'll get some love soon. It performs so well in autumn and winter here so I better get wearing it before our hot Durban summers take hold.

There were three or four different pages in the Fragrantica catalogue for Old Spice, depending on the company/house that produced it. In all of this confusion I could not find the Procter & Gamble version, which is the version of Old Spice currently in production. So I am entering my review for the classic Old Spice here. Old Spice has been around since 1937 and more than 80 years later it continues to sell because:
1. It's affordable and very accessible.
2. It's a well established and known brand.
3. It smells good.
Some may turn their noses up against Old Spice due to it being a common and cheap fragrance, but for what it is it's actually a pretty good fragrance. Old Spice is an old barbershop scent and so it will appeal more to older men, but the fact that it is still sold on supermarket shelves everywhere after more than 80 years means that it must have some intergenerational users. There is a complex range of notes in Old Spice but in the opening I get spicy, citrus and woody notes. As the fragrance settles some floral notes come through but the fragrance continues to be warm, spicy and a little powdery. I love the classic barbershop genre so naturally I like Old Spice. There is no doubt that the success of this scent over the years has inspired other fragrances within this genre. The humble ordinary man's scent that has had more impact within perfumery and socially than what we perhaps realise. Overall I like Old Spice even though the current plastic bottled formulation is weaker and lacks the performance of the glass bottled classic of 25 years ago. I enjoy wearing it at home after grooming, it's not something I wear outside very often apart from maybe a trip to the supermarket or running errands. I tend not to wear Old Spice to work or to social occasions mainly because it is an older barbershop scent that many people would probably associate with their father or grandfather, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but I prefer to use more refined or contemporary scents when out and about. Nonetheless respect to this stalwart of the fragrance world.

This review is for the current Procter & Gamble EDC, in the plastic bottle.

Pretty much a barbershop in a bottle. It starts out quite strong, with lemon and warm spices (cinnamon and star anise stand out) the most prominent notes - accompanied by a burst of alcohol, yes, but that adds to the barbershop atmosphere. After a short time I start smelling musk and ambergris, adding some depth to the scent.

It's interesting to break this fragrance down and analyze it; in the past, I wouldn't have thought about individual notes when smelling it, as the whole thing read as a single scent, 'Old Spice,' to me.

I can't personally speak to the effects of reformulation on this fragrance, as I think the latest reformulation was in 2008, and I wasn't into fragrances at that time. My dad did have a bottle from before then - he probably bought it in the '70s - and I don't remember it smelling any different from the Old Spice of today, but to be fair I don't remember it that clearly because my childhood was some time ago and he rarely wore cologne when I was growing up. I'm confident in saying that it wasn't significantly different, at least. It might have been stronger.

I'll be frank: This is a very good fragrance considering it runs between 5¢ and 7¢ per ml (depending on where you buy it). The performance is good for an EDC, too. It's not my favourite scent in the world, but its quality is absolutely excellent for the price.

No matter your reasons for wearing a fragrance, this is likely to fit in your closet - it's reasonably complex, historically interesting, mood-boosting, evocative, and if not exactly crowd-pleasing then at least crowd-non-offending. And (at least if you live in the USA,) you can probably pick 188ml of it up from your local pharmacy for $10-12.

The funny thing about Old Spice reviews is that everyone of them is referring to a different version of it. Shulton, Procter & Gamble, the evasive indian version. Whatever, nearly never is specified what bottle they own .This happens with many other fragrances to be honest, with people writing about formulations not more on sale and so on. It is also misleading, just think of the poor beginner approaching Le Male today after reading marvels from someone owning a 1999 bottle. Old Spice variety tops it all anyway, and it's beautiful somehow to hear about so many details about childhood and pops now long gone but makes the reviews useless. I have a Procter & Gamble Classic version and my wife killed it comparing it to Mr Sheen. Nothing special, beware of the hypers.

Some sharpness in opening, but turns very fast into soapy-driven classic. Clean, crisp, reliable all-around workhorse scent. This is my choice for after shower in the evenings when air is hot and humid. It goes well in the colder days too. Also this is the only fragrance I remember my father used. And my daughter likes this ("You smell good").

Old Spice is the Hotel California of fragrances. Everyone's heard of it, everyone knows the scent, everyone knows someone who has it, and almost everyone enjoys it because it's a classic. Old Spice has been a staple in men's scents for almost 100 years and still stands the test of time. A warm spicebomb with a hint of vanilla, a little floral and musk to round it out, and a whole lot of history. It's hard to articulate the smell in a manner that captures it's real nature but seeing as it's available in basically every drugstore and department store known to man for under $10 it's easy to sample it for yourself. You've probably already smelled it a hundred times over though and if not what are you waiting for? If you want something in the same vein but different British Stirling aftershave is a good one as is Stirling Soap Company's Stirling Spice which is more akin to the original long gone Old Spice from decades ago. The current formula still smells relatively the same but the older stuff is superior in many ways.

This review is for the original, Shulton Old Spice cologne.
I have been using Old Spice longer than most of you have been alive. It is the quintessential, man's scent. The reformulations have unfortunately not been kind to OS, however, you can still easily find the original juice and its many flankers, on Ebay.
I used to own all of the flankers as well, but have kept only this and the original Lime.
Smell like a man and get yourself a bottle of the Shulton. Leave the others alone.
BTW, if I smell like an old man, then so be it. When I use Old Spice...I smell fantastic.

Love love love!!!
Reminds me of NOTHING, it is a standard on its own.
If you haven't tried it yet then your quest in fragrance world is incomplete.
If you like Brut this can make you switch, as for me I love both.
So cheap and classy you can't go wrong here.
Give it a new flashy bottle and label it Gucci, Armani, Versace, Dior etc price it $50+ and materialist lads will be drooling over it. Now that you know it's grandpa's scent you look at it as old and outdated but if granda wasn't here your existence would be a solid zero. Have respect.
Scent 9/10
Longevity 7/10
Sillage 6/10
Value 10/10

This fragrance has stood the test of time, and although I don’t have the older variations on hand, the newer one reminds me of CK Obsession but better. This is what Christmas should smell like. But it isn’t just a holiday fragrance. For $4.95 at my local Publix, you can’t go wrong. Even the atomizer sprayed great!

Good Old Spice.....

THE standard American male grooming brand invented by a German nose.
It has been around for so long which simply speaks for itself....it is a quality product.

The typical silly statement "smells like my grandpa" reaches to new levels for two reasons...
1. what does a grandpa smell like? More like John...with a hint of Bob and a whiff of Charles or the other way around?
2. It has been around for so long, that many appreciated and appreciate it for what it is and kept on buying it. So yes, older men as well as younger ones buy it.

Old Spice, Tabac, Brut, Blue Stratos and Jovan are in the same category of classic grooming products for men where the flankers of each range have never reached the same popularity as the original.

Old Spice Original has of course been reformulated a lot but it is still fresh, spicy, maritime and contemporary.

The only criticism i have is the change from the white porcelain bottle over to a beige plastic bottle.
Still very nice but not the same.

The ultimate American classic, in thin aftershave or cologne concentration. The world's first men's Spicy Oriental. If you want a classic Old Spice reborn as a fuller, richer, stronger, more fleshed out proper fine fragrance in EDP concentration, look no further than Paul Sebastian Fine Cologne. Its 90% there. Creed Viking may be in the ball park, and maybe on the same side of the stadium, but no closer. But Paul Sebastian Fine Cologne is not only on the same side of the stadium as Old Spice, it's in the same section, same row, and maybe the seat next to it! And sitting g next to Paul Sebastian Fine Cologne is Avon Wild Country. Both closer to classic Old Spice than Creed Viking, which smells closer to a bay rum to me.

This was the standard aftershave scent of my father, my uncles and a many other men who were around the house when I was young. Whenever I decide to wear it, I am flooded with nice memories of family parties in the 1970s. As such, I really can't review this scent--it is more of a personal totem than a fragrance for me. Put another way: no one ever asked Proust if he thought the madeleine was well baked in Remembrance Of Things Past.

So just a couple of thoughts: (1) this scent is a little bit cloying in hot weather and is better suited to cooler months than the peak of summer; & (2) it is a dated, old time fragrance for sure--another way of phrasing this thought: Old Spice is a classic.

Bottom line: memories in a bottle and a pretty good barbershop scent to this very day (although all aspects of the pre-P&G versions of this scent are better than the current iteration). If memories from those parties are correct, this scent layers well with beer, good whiskey, unfiltered Chesterfield cigarettes and the smell of gumbo and barbeque. Lazier les bon temps rouler!

Old Spice. The simple man's solution. Timeless and smells fantastic. Hot date? Old spice. Cover up cigarette smoke? Old spice. Roach infestation? Old spice. It is the ailment for all your issues. It is testosterone in a bottle. One spray and you are transformed into a rugged mustachioed strong man. Despite it's unapologetic masculinity, it is not obnoxious. I would never have thought that I would find such a refined scent in a cheap drugstore plastic bottle. It's nothing like the gaudy neon fruity crap old spice puts out today. Old spice classic is firmly rooted in vintage Americana. Gentle florals and hints of spice are the main players. It's the perfect old school fougere for a simple man.

Ratings:

Scent: 8/10

Originality: 8/10

Performance: 7/10

Not bad ye olde school ' Dads' spicy fragrance thats better than i can remember General Melchett would approve. the whitewater one is a more modern fresh version...all cheap as chips

Another Body Product Savior

(a different take on review)

--- Old Spice Deodorant Stick ---

I did a likewise review on the other "Dad Frag" Brut 33

If you're a freak like me for matching body products & can't find a matching deodorant for a favorite frag; Old Spice deodorant can be a reach-for.

When a frag gets older or discontinued, it's stable of body products are often killed-off first.

If your frag is of the oriental, woody, leather, animalic family, then OS can be the deodorant that gives protection without overshadowing or competing.

While not into mixing smells, I've paired OS deodorant with Aramis, Obsession, Hermes Bel Ami, & Antaeus & it's worked fine.

Nothing beats the real thing, but even if matching deodorants are available they can be a tactical mission afar. Or sometimes they're gotten for disproportionately high prices & as such are best rationed for certain occasions where the 'complete match' is appreciated.

On the other hand, OS deodorant stick is available 'everywhere'; supermarkets, pharmacies & servoes. (aka gas stations)

It's cheap, safe & doesn't contain aluminum.

FOOT NOTE: Brut 33 deodorant works with fougeres, chypres & even citruses.
Old Spice deodorant works with leathers, woody, oriental & animalics.

As I said before: Men fragrance layer too !

The fragrance of father in-laws everywhere.

I snagged a "vintage" bottle of cologne from 1993 off eBay. The bottle featuring the racing yacht. It's not Shulton but, since I love the current stuff, I don't care.

The 1993 stuff and the current stuff smell different but they conjure up the exact same feelings for me. They both make me feel like a kid and remind me of my Dad. The current stuff is very fresh and crisp with a spicy cinnamon and vanilla. The 1993 stuff is very warm and very cinnamon. It's very strong at first. I do have to admit that I love it more than the current. I can't stop smelling the bottle.

Since I had a feeling they have the same formula, I conducted two experiments.
One experiment: I splashed the current stuff on one bicep and the 1993 stuff on the other bicep. After one hour, the current mellowed and the 1993 stuff was still strong. After 5 or 6 hours, the 1993 stuff mellowed out to the point where I couldn't tell the difference between the two.

For my next experiment, the 1993 bottle was half empty. I pried the atomizer off the current bottle and poured some in the 1993 bottle. I shook it up and gave it a smell. It still smelled like cinnamon. Now the 1993 bottle is full and still smelling awesome.

I am partial to this scent because my dad wears it ❤️ Unfortunately that’s one of the main reasons I don’t find it sexy 🤣 it’s like the sweet little old man scent. I get a sense of safety and comfort whenever I smell it.

It's nostalgia for me. My grandfather. My dad. I keep a bottle when i feel that nostalgia. Keep it in my bathroom as an after shave when im just done shaving and im relaxing in the house. it's a relaxing smell, especially in the winter times when im reminiscing on less stressful times. it's cheap. it's not for everyone but everyone knows it. Anyone who grew up with this should own it for the history, experiences with it.

I have a newer formulation with a red atomizer. It's spicy, smooth, classic and very pleasant. I wear this as a cologne from time to time, it reminds me of my dad who has passed almost 20 years ago. This isn't quite the same juice, but it still brings back Christmas past. It might be dated by today's trends, but I still find it pleasant, warm and inviting. Just because it reminds you of a dad or grandfather doesn't mean it's always a bad or dated fragrance, it could be that they had good taste, lol. Or they bought it to remind them of their dad too! Keep the tradition going, this is good stuff.

Old Spice a OG Gold Jacket wearing classic. Some say its dated, I disagree. After reading several posts on various forums I have found that P&G had changed the original formula back in 2008 which upset a lot of their loyal users with that being said I will also be reviewing Meijers Spice Scent which is made by Vi-Jon. Many argue that the Vi-Jon version smells like the original Shulton version.

Reviews:
When I first bought these I did not think that I would actually be able to tell much of a difference between the two. Boy was I wrong.

The Vi-Jon version is definitely more spicer which reminds me of what my grandfather used to wear back in the day. The current Old Spice version smells more vanilla like and does not smell spicy to me. However I do enjoy the scent.
The current Old Spice version does last longer vs the Vi-Jon clone. Old Spice will last about 5-6 hours, Vi-Jon maybe 3-4 hours.

The Gents Ranking:
There is no doubt that P&G changed the formula and that it smells different. In the end I would rank the Vi-Jon clone as a 10/10 and Old Spice a 9/10. If you are able to find the Vi-Jon clone it will likely be a few dollars cheaper than Old Spice. However, Old Spice is only like $7 so it really does not matter much. I would highly recommend both if you enjoy a classic manly scent.

The Gents Aftershave Rankings:
1:Original Clubman
2:Vi-Jon Spice Scent
3:Old Spice
4:Clubman Bay Rum
5:Ogallala Bay Rum
6:Clubman Special Reserve
7:Clubman Vanilla
8:Clubman Musk
9:Clubman Lime Sec
10:Clubman Lilac Vegetal

I begin by saying I enjoy and like Old Spice, and I respect it. Is it my favorite scent? No, only the most complimented--by far. Some of the reviews of Old Spice puzzle me, actually are comical. I have worn this fragrance for almost 45 years, whether the Original or newer Classic version, and in the fall/winter/spring, is worn as much as anything else I own, which is approaching three dozen colognes. It is soothing, comforting, nostalgic, and has been complimented all these years more by others than ALL my others scents combined, even by people less than half my age. The cute twenty-something hottie who cut my hair last week sure enjoyed it. So, Old Spice dated? A decade from now when Old Spice is still on the shelf at the local store, and most of the current designer fluff at the arrogant department stores has gone extinct, ask yourself again.

News Flash: Per the website's owners here, UNBIASED reviews *are* allowed even if they don't flow with the status quo...

So...Hold off with the mob down-voting...Don't gang up on a review just because it differs from yours...

At least mkpunk, ke1th and FreddyK tell it like it is ...

With that said, I find that this fragrance is sorely outdated...It amplifies any unpleasant manly smell in the same manner when someone is very unwashed and tries to cover up the dirty odor by bathing in a sickly sweet, harshly nauseating, spicy scent...This cologne smells of a badly perfumed, moth-eaten, musty, wool blanket that has been sitting in a trunk for too many years...

As one previous fragrance member once expressed, "It smells like maybe what Louis XIV's wig musta smelled like."

I concur...

: )

Oh, Old Spice. I have a kind of love-hate relationship with it. One the one hand, it's a classic and love classics so I want to love it. On the other hand, I don't think it smells that great.

Maybe it smelled differently in its older formulations. In its current form, it's this sickly sweet that smells exactly like what it is - a cheap cologne. It starts out with a barbershop bite, definitely the aldehydes and clove. It dries down into a cinnamon-y cookie spicy sweet with some floral sweet, so you get the cinnamon and you get the carnation & jasmine. I don't get many of the base notes except vanilla, and maybe a slight bit of the cedar and incense, but not much of that. It smells cookie-ish for a long time.

Silliage is average but longevity is a beast. I still smell this at 10pm when I put it on at 8am. I never put fragrance on my clothes, only my skin, and with Old Spice it seems to transfer from my skin onto my shirt and last forever.

My wife hates this fragrance. Hate with a capital 'H' lol! She tends not to like colognes with too much sweet on me. So I only wear it on days I'm not going to be around her much, and I want to feel old school.

I like the aftershave better. Overall, this is a fragrance most people have smelled before, and it smells "cheap" and probably tacky to most older noses. Cheap is its saving grace - it's $8 for a 125ml spray bottle. At less than $2 per ounce that's about the cheapest cologne you can get. I really don't recommended it for regular wear unless you really just have nostalgia for it. It smells tacky to most people.

But I do think every man should own it now and then. There is something satisfying about shaving, finishing with Old Spice aftershave and then cologne. Makes me think of Captain America or something.

"Unbiased" reviews don't exist I would think, unless you have a knowledge base to make objective judgements about what makes perfumery perfumery on a technical level, that is, experience working in the field at a level where success or failure can be measured by a metric beyond your own POV. The rest is taste, regardless of how many bottles one owns. Bias literally means 'angle' or 'slant' and frankly we all have one. That's fine of course...we are talking about a product most of us associate with pleasure and possibly attraction; bias is the fun part to explore because we might learn a little about ourselves. But I do take exception to people claiming that they are unbiased (see RckChk's lost/found post above, in all caps, no less!) when it seems like they have mistaken arrogance for authenticity. Why assume that other people's reviews are somehow less objective than yours for whatever imagined/projected/assumed #reason ('member berries'?)

Anyway, discussing Old Spice, which has had so many iterations and so many intergenerational associations, is bound to be interesting. I never had a father, uncle or grandfather who wore it, but I think the aftershave splash was a very thoughtfully constructed composition when I first bought a bottle (1980's), and think that the current version of the same, though sadly not what it once was, is still worth spending time with for the reference if nothing else. Actually, it still smells good to my nose, washed out but legible. Like Pinaud Clubman, I'd sooner wear this (carefully) than a lot of other things that cost a good deal more.

Luna, I'm guessing an unbiased review is not someone looking back while chewing the "'member berries". I wanted to enjoy it since my father does but I just cannot. I do like retro scents but this just isn't pleasing to my nose at all.

I grew up wearing this. And I still love it! There's a reason it's still sold everywhere. It is a timeless masterpiece of men's grooming and shaving.

I've always like the warm sensation it produces on my face after shaving. (In my opinion, the new scents by Shulton are nothing compared to this; especially Wolfthorn. That stuff is awful). Also, I'm glad they still offer the classic off-white-colored glass bottle.

I haven't owned the original for years but decided recently to add a bottle to my collection--and use it, of course!

RATINGS:
Art/Design 7/10
Cost/Quality 10/10
Sillage 7/10
Odor Life 7/10
Buy again? 10//10
Recommend: 10//10
Overall Love/Like/Dislike? 10/10*

FINAL SCORE: 8.71 = B+ = Very Superior

-----

Rating Scale:
A = High Distinction! = 9.5-10
A- = Distinct! = 9-9.4
B+ = Very Superior = 8-8.9
B = Moderately Superior = 7-7.9
B- = Superior = 6-6.9
C+ = High Average = 5-5.9
C = Average = 4-4.9
C- = Low Average = 3-3.9
D+ = Poor = 2-2.9
D = Very Poor = 1-1.9
F = Fail! = 0-1.9

* Love = 10 <--> Dislike = 0

Fragrance always evolves in style. This classic is one of the earliest openly available scents for men. My grandfather had this and the ceramic mug with soap as his shaving ritual, he would slap the final remnants of the splash on my face, thus creating a scent time capsule. So while modern formulations have changed greatly through the years, you still get a bit of what this fragrance was about. The citrus, star anise, flowers (carnation) vanilla and tonka all come together and dry with a manly musk core. I recall a somewhat slick oily component, which exists to some degree in new formulations, I always assumed it to be a skin calming additive, but it might contribute to the fragrance longevity?

Many scents could be tagged as “Old Man” perhaps having Old in the title adds to this stereotype unjustly, or even the people associations we have it tied to, in any case this fragrance is fine, older in style, but if you try many updated brands making aftershave splashes today most borrow a base from the classics and they sell at optimum prices. I will always enjoy this scent, and will often include it in my casual wear after a fresh safety razor shave. If you have no memory to associate this with, it is likely not something to purchase. If you enjoy classic shaving and buy fancy post shave splashes give this a try, it still works.

Some of us oldsters will remember how the OLD SPICE of the 1960's and 70's had a different smell: It used to have a decided boozy, rum note to it, and it wasn't a fresh quality; rather, it was the stale/sweetish smell that hardened, unshowered alcoholics give off when they perspire... stale, old booze.

That rum note has been all-but-eliminated in recent reformulations. Probably a good thing.

Even so, I really can't wear it today at age 57. Not because I am a perfume snob (Hell, I'll wear cheap drugstore numbers like TABU, JONTUE and EMERAUDE, and sometimes even Pinaud CLUBMAN). But because I find it tends to "wear me", rather than the other way around. It never seems to settle and meld into my skin somehow, even after several hours.

But I am fully aware that there are still lots of women who love this august, homey scent on their men. As another reviewer here has stated, it is sure to remind them of men they've loved in their families.

What on earth is an unbiased review?

News Flash: Per the website's owners here, UNBIASED reviews *are* allowed even if they don't flow with the status quo...

So...Hold off with the mob down-voting...Don't gang up on a review just because it differs from yours...

At least mkpunk, ke1th and FreddyK tell it like it is ...

With that said, I find that this fragrance is sorely outdated...It amplifies any unpleasant manly smell in the same manner when someone is very unwashed and tries to cover up the dirty odor by bathing in a sickly sweet, harshly nauseating, spicy scent...This cologne smells of a badly perfumed, moth-eaten, musty, wool blanket that has been sitting in a trunk for too many years...

As one previous fragrance member once expressed, "It smells like maybe what Louis XIV's wig musta smelled like."

I concur...

: )

My latest bottle dates from between 1956 and 1967, with stopper #3. This formula is clearly aged and has had air in the bottle for some amount of time, as I bought it half-full. Judging from a light check on the bottle, the juice is a dark orange color. Stopper #3 is the final iteration of the conical-shaped stopper (without the star on top), and the front says "cologne for men." Sniffing the spout, the fragrance is a smooth, very mellow vanilla, similar to the seventies vintage, but a touch deeper, and not quite as musky. On skin the immediate accord is of malted nutmeg, clove, and then a very clear and smooth vanilla. The vanilla is significantly smokier than any other formula I've smelled. Sillage is nuclear - someone smelled it across a large room after I did just a tiny dab from the stopper on my wrist - and longevity (with generous application) is around five hours, possibly more depending on the weather. If a niche company released this today, it would sell out at $200 a bottle and be backlogged for months.

News Flash: Per the website's owners here, UNBIASED reviews *are* allowed even if they don't flow with the status quo...

So...Hold off with the mob down-voting...Don't gang up on a review just because it differs from yours...

At least mkpunk, ke1th and FreddyK tell it like it is ...

With that said, I find that this fragrance is sorely outdated...It amplifies any unpleasant manly smell in the same manner when someone is very unwashed and tries to cover up the dirty odor by bathing in a sickly sweet, harshly nauseating, spicy scent...This cologne smells of a badly perfumed, moth-eaten, musty, wool blanket that has been sitting in a trunk for too many years...

As one previous fragrance member once expressed, "It smells like maybe what Louis XIV's wig musta smelled like."

I concur...

: )

I'm 39 years old and I'd totally wear the original Old Spice if it was available! My grandpa in Cuba wore it during the 1950s. One of his bottles from that time made it all the way to the late 1990s. The juice was intact, and boy was the smell magnificent? ...Not dated at all like so many fougères actually smell like. Old school? Yes, Old fashioned? Not really. This doesn't smell like an "old man" either in my opinion, it smells like the old man when he was young, dapper, and desirable! A true classic, sadly reformulated today, stripped off its original splendor.

One whiff of this and you'll understand why this essentially defined 2-3 generation of men's cologne in the US. While certainly dated, it'll inevitably conjure up (hopefully) pretty good memories of grandparents and parents.

I've tried the cologne and the aftershave. You'll get 2-3 hours of performance and that's just about it. More if you splash a ton.

I'd love to see Old Spice release a "higher end/updated" designer/niche version of this. Something more rounded and less harsh.

Have to review this again...

I'm a 30 year old guy and I embraced my Dads routine from the 90s: Gillette shave foam, the Sensor Excel with Old Spice deodorant, after shave and cologne.

I may be a young guy, but I make no apologies for wearing this "old man" scent. I love this scent. I even detest the association of Old Spice with old men. It's a full-on working man blue collar masculine scent. If you wear a suit to work, you probably may not be into this a lot.

If you're like me who wears jeans and a black t-shirt or a flannel shirt with chest hair clearly visible (and that's another thing...as one reviewer said: you need chest hair to wear this scent right), this bad boy is for you.

It my not project well but, if applied liberally, you can still smell it after 8+ hours. It does it's job - keeping you smelling great all day.

Such a classic. I don't really like the scent but i can't say it smells bad. It smells like an old man. Young guys like me just can't understand the hidden magic in this.

Cinnamon, cloves and soapy aldehydes with vanilla, powdery carnation and a little citrus. There is some cedar and incense hiding in its soft, ambery base. I have the newer plastic spray bottle version. A soft and clean oriental barbershop fragrance. Once it dries it doesn’t project much past the skin, but it will stick around for 4+ hours. It’s almost impossible to experience Old Spice without any associations or preconceptions. Old fashioned? Yeah, any men’s fragrance with a strong aldehyde note feels old. Manly? Not overtly. Powdery and sweet with its more masculine notes subdued. Cheap? It's inexpensive. The bottle is cheap. I don’t think the fragrance smells cheap. I like wearing this, though it probably has a lot to do with my own personal associations.

HILARIOUS!

My original review was voted down, twice, so I'm gonna keep comin' back, folks...UNBIASED reviews should be allowed and not down-voted just because they don't flow with the status quo...

This fragrance is sorely outdated...It amplifies any unpleasant manly smell in the same manner when someone is very unwashed and tries to cover up the dirty odor by bathing in a sickly sweet, nauseating, spicy scent...This cologne smells of a badly perfumed, moth-eaten, musty, wool blanket that has been sitting in a trunk for too many years...

As one previous fragrance member once expressed, "It smells like maybe what Louis XIV's wig musta smelled like."

I concur...

:)

Wow...Where is the balance? Where are the opposing reviews of this fragrance?

I wrote one totally OPPOSITE of what is being said a few years back only to find the review gone...

Talk about BIASED! THIS is why down-voting of reviews is WRONG on Fragrantica!

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I've got an opinion that is worthy of expression just like anyone else's. Here goes.

I *loathe* this cologne. It is outdated and nauseating. Waayy too much carnation and ambergris...Younger guys beware...Don't believe the HYPE that all these reviews are putting out! If you want your date to end and end abruptly, then wear it.

The only good thing about this cologne is that none of the males in my family ever wore this monstrosity...Thank GOODNESS!

There. I said it. Fling those rotten vegetables! Go on...Have at it.

"Nothing brings to life again a forgotten memory like Fragrance"
-Christopher Pointdexter



Old Spice is such a clean, soft-spicy, soapy, and subtle timeless beauty that could be a gorgeous inexpensive signature scent with either gender. It's an absolute icon for a reason!

I have the current Indian production after shave. This is the smell of comfortable virtuous living. Splash some on after your early morning shave on Saturday and start doing the yard work.

A word about the two versions currently; the Indian version I am wearing is much softer overall and lighter on the carnation clove note. You might say more rounded. This is compared to the American version, which in my view is a bolder composition, but overall both are recognizably Old Spice. Since both are easily attainable its feasible to get both for comparison.

I've permanently borrowed a bottle of this stuff from my dearly departed dad's stash that I found at the family's lakehouse.

I remember him wearing it back in the 1970's. And I remember his dad wearing it too.

In many ways it reminds me of Tabac Original. Perhaps Tabac was inspired by Old Spice which came out two decades before it? They both have aldehydes and carnation in their formulas and share a similar powdery vibe.

Gotta say, I like Old Spice - mainly for the retro trip it takes me on.

I have a bottle purchased from India via ebay. Big thumbs up!
The smell is good, but best in cooler weather. Aldehydes and heliotrope brighten an otherwise warm scent. Peppery carnation, nutmeg, and cinnamon keep this interesting. The longevity is easily in the EdT range and better than most.

To me, this smells much better than the USA version. The scent just stays together and smells solid. It will neither overpower nor fade away early. The progression from top to drydown is not dramatic. Pretty linear on my skin. This is very pleasant and vaguely masculine, but would not smell out of place on a lady who enjoys it. It is a comforting scent and I prefer to wear it in the mornings.

I've got the original, Early American Old Spice, and I recently purchased the Toronto-made, P&G EdC in the plastic spray bottle (from a barain bin). Yes, this is not bad at all, and in fact I'd much rather wear this than a whole lot of recent niche releases! It does go on a little rough, so give it 10 minutes or so to come together. No, it's no longer a vintage great, but there's nothing especially terrible about it and you can recognize it as Old Spice. I expected worse, and now I can layer this with EAOS, which I think will work well. I'll update with a review of EAOS at some point. And with 3 sprays to the chest, it's plenty strong!

My latest bottle was issued after 1969, but before 1973, with stopper #4. It smells a bit oily and skunked for a few seconds, but evens out as it dries, with this beautiful vanilla liquor muskiness that hums quietly into the day. I've read that seventies Old Spice was kind of "funky" and musky, and that is manifestly true in my vintage. It smells less spicy than the new formula but I can tell the same structure is there. This has a stronger vanilla and nutmeg, and a very distinct base. Longevity is a solid 3 hrs. I prefer the new stuff but got vintage because I'm over the plastic bottles. I chose early seventies vintage because the bottle from the Vietnam era is truly gorgeous.

Old Spice has been a much beloved classic for the last three or four generations. If its popularity has waned, it's only because its use has diverted into it's sweet and fruity flankers like Wolfthorne and Krakengaard.

The predominant impression that original Old Spice gives is of a semi-tropical musk and spice fragrance. My wife refers to it as "Soft Spice", which is an excellent nickname for the current formulation. For me, both the cologne and aftershave are lackluster performers. I put it down to its lower price point. Stetson is a perfect example of what you get if go up one tier in quality. Perhaps Old Spice was once sold at that level, then it's current makers decided to slide it downmarket.

Beyond it's quality, my other issue with Old Spice is that I wish it smelled a little more edgy, a little more virile. I believe it used to be at some earlier point. English Leather, Jovan, even Brut all have a more masculine identity. I consider Old Spice to be more of a relaxation scent than an active one. I think it's a great pajama scent, but I don't think I'd wear it out of the house.

Still, I'd be curious to see what Stirling and Phoenix artisan accoutrements have done with their versions of Old Spice. Supposedly they celebrate a younger incarnation of the scent when it likely had better quality ingredients. Shulton supposedly makes a version for the Indian market that tries just a little bit harder and is sold in a ceramic bottle. I absolutely love dimestore classics and my journey is far from over!

I never really knew what it smelled like until I got a new in package vintage bottle that isn't plastic. And yes, I recall smelling this growing up. I agree it is unisex nowadays. My signature scent is Estee Lauder Youth-Dew (when the Florida weather allows me to pull it off), and if I can wear Youth-Dew and Opium, a lady can surely smell wonderful on this.

This was the scent my cousin always wore. I suspect he wore it because he always received a bottle from someone at Christmas. He wasn't into scents the way we fragheads are and this, and I think Aramis or Hi Karate (can't remember for sure but I know I'm dating myself here) were the only scents he used. That was many years ago, and I haven't smelled it lately, but then I thought it smelled great. I think a woman could pull off the original version I smelled if she was ballsy enough. Not sure about the latest version though. I'm sure, like most other vintage scents, it's been slaughtered. I really need to seek out a sniff the next time I'm out shopping to see if it resembles what I remember.

I’m a woman and bought a bottle to remind me of my late father, who wore this when I was very young. I honestly couldn’t remember the scent, but I know I used to love the cool ceramic life buoy bottle. Well, it’s luke warm plastic now but the smell - wow! Dad had a great nose. Maybe I inherited a little of his taste in fragrance along with his knocked knees.

Old Spice is Wonderful spicy and definitely unisex - Any woman who enjoys Orientals should give this a go - I have no hesitation in wearing Old Spice out in public. It is also very much like L by Lolita Lempicka which I own, with the sandalwood, cinnamon, musk, Tonka, citrus and vanilla so any of you who lament never having got hold of that Unicorn - try Old Spice.

the review is for the current EDT.
the notes more prominent to my nose are orange, aldehydes, star anise, vanilla, cedar, cinnamon and tonka bean. it's a unique, strange, pleasant blend and i truly love it because it's a bit retro style. it's a soapy, sweet, floral composition hard to replicate. i know many will disagree, but the smell reminds me puffs with chantilly cream. my grandfather was a fan of old spice(especially of the after shave) and my mother many times told me how good was the scent. i asked to her to smell the current formulation and she said "it's very close to the vintage one. the smell is almost the same but definitely weaker." i trust my mum as always. the performance is just ok, longevity 5-6 hours, projection good for the first hour then became almost a skin scent. good for every season, especially in fall and spring. only for casual situations, for 28 and up. the after shave has the same good smell, a bit fresher and stronger, at least on my skin. very happy to have it! un profumo un pò retro, a me piace molto ma non è certo quello delle grandi occasioni. da abbinare al dopobarba.

scent-8
long-7
sillage-6
uniqueness-8,5
versatility-8
bottle-7,5
compliment factor-7

my vote- 7,5/8

in one word-chantilly

Yes, Old Spice was the staple of everyone’s father’s and grandfather’s wardrobe... and for good reason.
It is a beautiful, sexy, velvety smooth,versatile fragrance that drives ladies of all ages wild!

It is still part of my rotation and always will be.

It opens with a fresh, clean, soapy blast of citrus, anise, and spice that quickly dries down to a creamy, woody, floral, vanilla and cinnamon spice.

It performs better than most fragrances on the market today, and I promise that it will get you noticed in a good way and garner compliments from everyone.

If you don’t have it, do yourself a favor and get it and make it part of your rotation.
You’ll be glad you did!

For the price, scent and longevity Old Spice has got to be one of the best splashes out there on the market. My father always used Old Spice and to match the bottle of splash, he had an Old Spice shaving mug and brush (from the '70s). Occasionally, I will buy a bottle of this classic fragrance because it reminds me of my dad and I adore the fresh coastal notes it acquires. I can picture an elegant yachtsman wearing Old Spice.

When people hear the name OLD SPICE it always seems to sway people away. But it's been used by many generations of men for the most part of the 20th century and beyond and will continue to do so and for good reason!! I kind of rediscovered the scent very recently and was ever glad I did. It starts out very clean and fresh with a touch of citrus nutmeg and other spices....a little soapy but in a good way. The soapyness kinda fades off leaving you with a delicious blend of cinnamon nutmeg vanilla and other spices mixed with a very nice woody background. It actually is a very nice scent. Quite smooth and well blended. I use the word nice because it won't blow people away but its not meant to. It's really quite honestly a great signature daily wear scent. Can be used at night time but really for something very casual. It's not flashy but still impressionable. It's something that you find yourself coming back to. It's more like OLD reliable to me.

Love the classic deodorant, always a staple of mine.
Odd thing though is wearing the splash-on (wore too much perhaps) out in public, and having seniors actually say you (or rather the cologne itself..) STINK. Same ‘league’ (price-wise, location on drugstore shelf-wise~) as Brut 33 but this one has bigger balls:) You can’t hate this classic, it’s some OG juice!!

Calling this manly is just associations. The scent wears perfectly on a lady. I love the looks on people's faces when they compliment me on my scent and I tell them it is Old Spice. Never underestimate a classic, and never claim gender on them. Just love them for what they are.

My review is for today's version.

Love it. It brings me back to my youth with my dad in his '73 Oldsmobile. My only problem with this scent is the cheap plastic bottle its decanted in. The old bottles had nice weight and made a well priced product feel more high quality. I'm still going to shamelessly wear this scent. Can't get enough.

The cinnamon, carnation, vanilla and cloves make me think of the docks and the ocean. Makes me want to become a clipper ship captain.

went off to try old cheapies.


And man is this the thing, projection is not incredible but the longevity is astounding 10+ easy.

I am not that much into floral compositions, but this vintage mix of spices and florals is spot on, this is manly but not overboardly manly like 70s beasts, girlfriend approves and these days not a whole lot actually wear this one so cud-dos for originality even though this is a classic.

No it's not designer, or niche, no it doesn't have a fancy bottle to brag about, but hey, the juice smells good and women still love it, again less than 20 bucks, you got no excuses every man should have one laying around.

Bought my husband this after he asked a delivery driver what he was wearing because he loved it (he's a bit of a perfume newbie despite living with me so long!). Gift set in Tesco, 100ml aftershave and spray deodorant, 4 QUID!
It is beautiful, so spicy and warm, and calming the way old fashioned things so often are. It blends so well with a man's natural fragrance
It smells so much more expensive than it is.
Longevity is a problem with the aftershave as to be expected, will give the cologne version a go, too. Too bad they don't do a proper EDT or EDP version, it's a gorgeous creation.

I haven't used this scent for a solid year, but I used to use it most days during the colder months. Old Spice is a typical "dad fragrance" but it can be so much more than that. It's not fantastic and there's no wow factor about it, but it's a pleasant scent and one that can be used in many situations.

This scent has a fresh and spicy, masculine smell to it. Great for everyday use during the colder months, I personally wouldn't wear it during summer but that's down to preference.

I think that everyone will own at least one bottle of this during their lives, I'm 24 and have my 2nd bottle, apparently I'm fortunate enough to have a ceramic bottle, didn't realise it was now coming out in plastic bottles. If you don't have at bottle, or are just starting to get into fragrances, give this one a shot, it's stuck around this long so it must be doing something right.

Old Spice (Original) is my father's fragrance of choice though he uses the after shave far more so than this. However for me, it just plain doesn't work with my nose. I've tried Old Spice and it comes off as a spicy old man scent. Luckily it just doesn't last, especially the modern formulations.

When I got a bottle of the cologne for my father's birthday two years ago, I got one for myself as well. I was still early on in my fragrance journey (well in a way I still am but I was totally novice then.) Despite me liking scents like say Stetson, Drakkar Noir, Passion for Men, D&G Pour Homme Intenso and English Laundry Windsor which are "old man like", I get an overbearing "old man" spice in Old Spice that just don't work with me at all. The spicy notes despite having notes I do like namely nutmeg and to extent cinnamon. I think the balance is off and isn't offset with other notes like those I mentioned.

Luckily Old Spice is if not an EDC, it's an EDC performing EDT on my skin. It don't really project and lasts about 4 hours tops. Seasonality is fall to spring during the day. Situationally it can be worn at work and casually, but that's about it. Well unless you love the aftershave.

Sadly I don't understand the love for this one. Maybe the aftershave smells better, but for me, it was a waste of a buy. Yes it was fairly cheap, but I'm not impressed and it is far too abrasively spicy to me.

The quintessential manly man scent.
Smells like my dad! <3
This would always be the aroma coming from my parent's downstairs bathroom every morning as I walked out the front door for school. Ah, memories! Now I have a list of fragrance notes to accompany the wonderful, comforting scent memory. Thanks, Fragrantica.com
It is a clean & fresh, yet warm & spicy-scented hug from your favorite male family member. Has been around for generations because it is that much of a universally appealing scent. Aptly-named.

The opening reminds me so much of Jagermeister, it's wonderful. Too bad it fades so fast. Needs an EDT with atomiser sprayer.

To user @Anita below, I think you married the wrong man LOL

LOVe this scent! It is the smell of a man for sure! It is old school, yet it smells just as beautiful today as it did in yesteryear! A TRUE classic that will never go out of style!

It is a true masterpiece of scent. It is a shame that the colognes or aftershaves only last for a split second before they completely disappear. They need to rerelease this with some power to it.

Wow - this is a real nose tickler. Old Spice opens up with a scent that smells like I just opened a jar of cooking spices for Christmas pudding but not necessarily in a bad way. This is a powerful EDT with lots of sillage and can be enjoyed for certain times of year. Not suitable for many occasions but pretty decent for 15€.

Any idea from where can we buy this and be delivered in Cyprus? Ths splash bottle

I am wearing the original/vintage for women in a ribbed bottle with a light blue bakelite cap. It is wonderful! Not what I remember my dad wearing. yes, it is spicey. I get the carnation, cinnamon, nutmeg, spices, pepper, anise, benzoin. I am so glad that I bought this little treasure!

Better than Creed Viking lol.

I love this scent. I definitely think the version that I have is unisex. There is a cologne called MAJA that smells just like this. The reformulated Maja is not as good as the original, however THIS OLD SPICE is awesome. I'm a woman and I wear it. I get compliments on it all the time. Whenever people ask what it is, I just tell them it's a unisex scent.
I think it is absolutely beautiful. I love getting some of the anise, vanilla and cinnamon. I like that there is no lime in it. I think that lime would make it smell cheap. BUt this smells like a rather expensive perfume I would wear that was from Spain- the old version of Maja. Girls, test it on yourself. Lightly. It is an aura of gentle spice. Not like obsession spicy, but like when you open a fresh container of anise cinnamon and want it to waft all around you. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

If you want to know what Chuck Norris, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood and John Wayne smelled like... it’s most likely Old Spice. There’s an old legend that says it was a gift, handed down from the likes of Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett & Daniel Boone.

When men were men, boys were boys and girls were girls, it's getting so mixed gender now what's it going to be like in another twenty to forty years?
If that's what the future holds then fair enough but please let there be Old Spice to remind us of the days when the water was safe to drink, please!
Get it from India, closer to Shulton recipe and not the standard P&G recipe although I don't really mind the later, more of a powdery note though.

I believe the reason why some people say Old Spice is unisex is because they are confusing the after shave with the cologne. Both smell totally different. The after shave is very light, pleasnat, lemony, and yes, I consider it unisex. The cologne, however, is much stronger, spicy, and very manly. No way in hell a woman should wear that. The only possible exception would be for a woman to wear it around the house (or on a pillow) in order to remember a man in her life who used to wear it.

I’m wearing the cologne right now and I love it.

This was, is, and will always be the quintessential man’s fragrance. I use the aftershave daily and the cologne regularly when I can’t decide. It offers a great balance between warmth, spice, and herbal floral. It’s simpy wonderful.

Smells like world war 2, and complete manliness. It's so manly, simply wearing it around a girl is enough to get her pregnant.

The reviews on here saying this is unisex... ridiculous, ludicrous, preposterous!!!

What are you waiting for?! SACK UP and spray some of this Gods nectar on Yourself and see what it feels like to be a REAL MAN!

haha, yeah everything nowadays it seems is a unisex to some people. Maybe the same people would say White Shoulders wears great on a man.
Anyways, Old Spice is indeed a classic and actually very good scent. It smells great in the evening and wearing a khaki sports jacket with slacks like the old guys did back in this scent's day. Another scent from this era is Caron's pour un Homme.
A more recent scent is Zino Davidoff whch has a somewhat similar but sweeter cigar type scent
I have a proctor and gamble spray bottle in glass from probably 1992 and it still smells great.

This is perhaps the most manly and memorable scent used by men for generations. Not much to say here about Old Spice, we all know what it smells like. But I just have to laugh about one reviewer saying this is "easily unisex." Are you joking? IMO there is nothing unisex about the original Old Spice. After all, it's an aftershave splash for men that shave there face, right? This was made long before the term "unisex" even existed from the PC crowd. Most of our fathers and grandfathers used this classic... I can't recall mom or grandma using it.

@miss moto - Your info is incorrect. Old Spice is not a woman's cologne like you claim. It was never called "Early American For Woman," Why spread false information? 'Early American' and 'Old Spice' are different fragrances.

The history of Old Spice began in 1934 with a man named William Lightfoot Schultz. Schultz, a soap and toiletries maker, decided to form his own company, which he named Shulton. Inspired by the scent of his mother’s rose jar, Schultz began developing fragrances. In 1937, Schultz released his first line of fragrance, a women’s *perfume* which he called “Early American Old Spice”. By 1938, Schultz released a second fragrance, this time an *aftershave* for men, simply titled “Old Spice”. This was the true birth of Old Spice as we know it today (Biebel).

A nice simple, spicy fragrance for guys who are starting out or don't want to pay for the bigger names like Dior or Chanel just yet who are obviously going to give you a better scent and quality.

But this scent is just a classic, and I can't see many people being disappointed with it's performance, especially for the price.

4/10

Yesterday I came across a full 2.5 OZ splash bottle of the vintage cologne version of this at the thrift store. Generally, I am not a big participator in the cult of all things vintage... IMHO, there is a lot of irresponsible writing out there regarding vintages that ignores very real issues such as maceration and note degradation. With that disclaimer brought up (and set aside:)

This is really, actually very lovely. I have a bottle of the vintage aftershave (approximately the same vintage, circa 1980-90's, same thrift store too) and wore them together. The cologne has high quality notes that are very well rounded and balanced in a way that keeps getting my attention over the initial, potent projection, lingering aura, and long-lived drydown. Maceration may have helped here too, but certainly the note quality of this bottle remains very clear... The dominant character of the cologne is cinnamon, carnation and clove, as it is in the contemporary aftershave formulation, but here it is supported by a deep, almost butter-rum blend of benzoin, nutmeg and star anise that is truly mesmerizing. Fans of resin-based scents will pick up on the authenticity of this richness. An identifiable stemmy green geranium adds its peppery edge to the analgesic clove, and stops the warmth from getting out of hand, these two accords together (buttery-resinous and spicy-floral) engendering a gutsy yet soothing impression of 'exotic' creamy sandalwood. The richness of the cologne nudges it closer to a bay rum vibe, but the woody and floral notes keep this impression powder-clean & restrained.

Please excuse my enthusiasm, but the clarity, naturalness and evenhanded blending of this composition are evoking responses (connections to nature, flights of memory, the desire to go for long walks and kick conkers, etc., etc.) that I normally only expect from something very special indeed. Though reviews praising vintages can seem a little precious, not to say elitist, I hope you'll forgive me this one given how easily one might stumble across a bottle (get thee to a thrift store!)

The scent of my dad, but not in a bad way. This smells like home to me, very nostalgic. An iconic fragrance for sure.

THE Sexiest cologne any guy could wear

A beautiful AS cologne which due to the strong note of cinnamon reminds me of CK Obsession for men except it's more pleasant for not having that old man scent that Obsession has. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just that the scent that OS has is more suitable for any age.

I still keep a bottle of OS in my frag collection. My dad wore it and I also have worn it over the years. I have developed my frag tastes quite a bit from that time but I still love to wear it on a cold crisp fall/winter day..for work or just hanging around or doing errands. It still works beautifully. Its truly a classic and I dont mind if someone thinks its an old man's cologne..their loss. Kudos Old Spice!!

Old Spice. I wish you could hear the sigh of longing in my voice. It's classic, timeless, and a little intoxicating now that I'm older. As others say, it is the scent every dad wore, and as a result it gives many of us a sense of safety. I had the unfortunate pleasure of knowing a man my age who wore it. I didn't know what it was when we were 25, only that it was the scent of HIM and therefore the scent of lusty infatuation. I learned later that the scent was Old Spice, and have since that time given a knowing raise of the eyebrow any time anyone mentions it as a favorite. Unfortunate pleasure? Yes, I'm married now, and recently got a sweet hug and "how are you" from that same man I knew 25 years ago. He'd been outside on his motorcycle all day, and there it was, on his neck, and in his deodorant, Old Spice and a bit of dirt for good measure! It still makes my knees weak; so I'll be buying some for my husband this Christmas!

I went to visit my uncle, whose house I hadn't been to in 20 years. While in the bathroom I noticed he STILL had a bottle of old spice there! The only cologne I've ever known him to wear all my life.

Since I was watching my 1 year old nephew at the time, I took some and put it on his lil baby neck so I could smell it later. I thought "This stuff isn't bad!" This time, being more into perfume I could actually smell some different notes and wondered how this old cologne that was so popular when I was growing up in the 70's, could still smell so fresh and current!

I guess it's classic for a reason.

Happy Father's Day

I'm not yet ready to be a dad (I know, over 30, what's up with that?) but this is the cologne I want my son or daughter to remember me by to pass on the tradition that has been passed from generation to generation. Old Spice is the scent of 'our fathers' with it's classic barbershop and splash aftershave aroma, clean, powdery but not overtly feminine, spicy and a tad sweet, musky and woodsy, a fragrance that suits a clean white dress shirt and tie, slacks, a great after shower body spray. I echo the praises and glowing reviews for this cologne. I will say that this is one of the most memorable and timeless men's fragrances of all time. If our mothers are best remembered for Chanel No. 5 our fathers are remembered for Old Spice. It's cultural.

Old Spice is a drugstore cheapie that came in a weighty white milk bottle the kind from the 1930's-1950's that milk men left on your front doorstep. Opens with anise and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg which by the way does smell milky, frothy like the cream atop a cappuccino and has an orange that indeed recalls the aroma of aftershave. It's most likely mean to be worn after you have showered while your pores are open and you shave in front of the mirror and then splash on some aftershave.

Old Spice's an extension of a man's aftershave but works out as a real cologne. The issue I have with it is the sillage-longevity thing which could be better. When the citrus and spices dissipate, I detect florals and vanilla plus wood and musk, though all these notes are clean and soft, even powdery.

Orange blossom, carnation, geranium, heliotrope, and I think a jasmine note is all thrown into the heart. For a man's cologne yes it is floral but it is not a big rose garden or a bouquet of flowers in the feminine sense. Rather the florals add a clean soapy and slightly sweet edge and are nothing to frown upon. These are the florals I can stand on a cologne actually. They are not headache inducers. They are soothing and very much like a vanilla floral scent. The whole thing revolves around vanilla.

Smells of a creamy vanilla frosting without going too far. It's a fragrance that smells good up close when you go for a hug. Nothing altogether unusual and reminiscent of similar vanilla based colognes for men like Stetson Coty Dana Canoe and Pinaud Clubman. As I have already said, this cologne while not a classic men's formula of darker deeper woods green notes or tobacco or spices, much less musk or leather, it's a masculine scent for a male who doesn't particularly care for cologne and would wear this after a shower to smell good for any occasion. Old Spice is gentlemanly and elegant without being effete though at times it does smell of a unisex vanilla or floral musk.

Old Spice has entered into our collective unconscious and has earned it's rightful place in the Fragrance Hall of Fame at least in my book. I do enjoy this cologne especially in the morning and wear it on spring and summer days when the powdery quality of the vanilla and heliotrope enchant the noses of girls next to me. This is not a panty dropper or pheromone neither is it sexy nor super manly but it does the trick.

Every time I wear it I feel gentler and more friendly. Old Spice is definitely a cologne of a mature and experienced man who has his life together and is free of drama and lives a peaceful quiet life. Old Spice can be found online in various sites like Amazon.com and eBay but also in rummage sales in neighborhoods across America and in drugstores that might still sell this cologne in the original milk bottle.

A winner a classic one of the all time great colognes for men.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there

very exciting and missing so much

This is interesting. It was my father's cologne every morning and what scents do I like now? Anything with cedar, vanilla, carnation, benzoin, or jasmine. Preferably with two or more of those. I'm sure someone must have researched this ;) xx

I have two versions of this, my dad gave me both. One appears to be from the 70's, it has the clipper logo and says Old Spice; After Shave Lotion; 4 3/3 FL Ozs. It says Shulton Inc. on the back. This one opens with alcoholic and lemon dominant citrus blast that quickly gives way to a flowery note with a nice burst of clove and fresh cinnamon sticks. The dominant note in this I believe it's the carnation. There are also some benzoin and vanilla notes present. This one smells very natural and is really light and airy and is still really fresh smelling for its age. It's an aftershave so it doesn't last very long.

The second bottle I have is a glass spray bottle that says Eau de Cologne Original with a sail boat on the front. it says 1997 on the back. This one is much more intense, yet not as fresh as the 70's aftershave. The citrus on top has more orange and some lemon peel and sticks around longer. The carnation is still there but it's not as floral and has more of a clove smell. Nutmeg is very strong in this one along with a slightly sweet cinnamon. This one has a heavier and more complex scent than the other one. I also get a slight bubble gum like scent with this. I notice some pimento and even a touch of almond. It lasts pretty good for an Eau de Cologne. It's not as fresh but definitely a richer scent than the other one. It is not as natural smelling as the 70s one, but still not too synthetic.

Overall I like both of them, but I prefer the 70's Aftershave scent more. However, I only have a small amount left in the Aftershave bottle. My cologne bottle is nearly full, so I guess it will have to do when I want this smell.

The new juice is sadly lacking the character of the original stuff. I just get a load of hay and a brief, nondescript spice. This is not the cozy, hairy, rugged cologne I remember. It's just a parody now.

I love seeing this in the fragrantica database. It was my daddy's signature scent, although he'd scoff at that idea - he was such an old school manly man. He put this on every day before he left for work - the aftershave smell could project feet, I swear- and go off to his garage. He was a mechanic and owned his own auto repair business. We lived in a small southern town. He'd come home after a long day at work, tired and covered in automotive oil and grease up to his elbows and all over his uniform, but you could still smell that spicy masculine barbershop Old Spice smell.

Sadly my dad died years ago. But the way he smelled - it's a memory as vivid as if he were still here with me. That's Old Spice. Thank God this is still being sold so that I can remember him.

I absolutely love this scent! The cinnamon with the beautiful anise, make this an exceptional fragrance. I finally bought a bottle of the classic, and periodically spray it on a facial tissue, just to give a certain ambience to my workspace. Love, Love, Love!!!

Old Spice: An American Fragrance

The most beautiful, beloved and timeless drugstore cheapie of all time. There is so much to love about Old Spice that I hardly know where to start. I have such fond memories attached to this cologne. The first time I laid eyes on it was a trip to the store with Dad. He saw it on a shelf, didn't test it, and bought it. I thought he had bought a bottle of milk, probably some special formula for older men. For the longest time as a kid I couldn't wear it. When I was in my final year of junior high and going through puberty, learning to shave, learning to drive, at long last I was able to wear Old Spice. I have worn it ever since. This is the quintessential American cologne, on a par with Stetson (Coty) and Canoe (Dana), all of which smell more or less the same. Oh, what images it conjures up! Sunday afternoons, Church, the feeling AFTER you come home from Church and can't wait to take off those restrictive Sunday suits and ties, baseball bats, junior league baseball, green grass, parks, the smell of the inside of dad's car, the smell of the garage, wooden tool boxes, TV dinners in front of the TV in the evenings. This is a fragrance of pure Americana: 4th of July, fireworks, American flags, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, ties, suits, jeans, hair cuts, shaves, barber shops, orange juice, and our dads. It is a fragrance of new and of old, the 50's and 2016.

The opening is aldehydes, most unusual for a man's cologne but it provides the scent with a startling freshness and invigorating zest. It also speaks of day wear and the day time, the morning. The citruses that follow the aldehydes are lemon and orange, just as delicious as drinking orange juice in the morning with breakfast. There is an instant spiciness to the scent as it begins to wear on your skin. I detected pimento, nutmeg, nondescript spices but a discernable note of cinnamon. The cinnamon appears to be what most people remember or have even listed as the dominant note. But for me it's not the major player. It's a good cinnamon, which, later, mingles with vanilla, but it is that subsequent vanilla that dominates the scent in my opinion. This is a well composed vanilla fragrance, possibly the first vanilla for men.

The citric notes dissipate and the florals make their appearance. For a man's cologne, the florals are generous. We have carnation, geranium, jasmine, heliotrope and a neroli with orange blossom. The orange flower is pretty good, but for me this is a heliotrope that stands out. Usually this floral note is commonly found in women's perfumes. As such this floral heart and middle note structure makes Old Spice wearable for women as well. Totally unisex. I do like these floral notes. If you wear Coty's Stetson and don't mind the floral notes on it, this one should be easy to wear as well. The carnation reminds me of carnation corsages on Prom Night. The florals are both powdery and spicy. There is a lack of greenery to the florals which makes them more artificial than realistic or oily. This is a clean and very polished no nonsense soapy floral aroma.

The dry down brings together notes of vanilla, musk, cedar wood, tonka bean and benzoin. They are not heavy base notes and in fact they are powdery and smooth, like a barber shop talc powder from the 19th century when men would go into the barber shop, get a shave and a hair cut and they would get some powder on their face and neck to finish the job. Again like I said this is all about the vanilla for me. If you're a fan of vanilla, this is for you. Everything else - the aldehydic citrus florals, nutmeg/cinnamon and woods, are bowing to the scent of vanilla that dominates the last part of the performance of this cologne. The overall effect is clean, fresh, sweet, but musky enough for a man. Absolutely perfect, one of the most well crafted drug store colognes ever conceived.

Like I said, this is a day time cologne. It has a casual air. It suits males of all ages from boys to old men. It's for you gals as well being unisex with the florals particularly the vanilla scent and heliotrope flower (which is a flower that smells like vanilla anyways) and with the nutmeg and cinnamon it passes for a gourmand fragrance. There is a finesse to it but it's not effete, nor too elegant. It matches up with a white polo shirt, slacks, or jeans. It is unassuming and raw, like a guy who doesn't really care about the social contexts of colognes, status, money, wealth, or materialism. This is a inoffensive, easy to wear men's cologne for the man that doesn't care for cologne. Wear it to the office or anywhere you work. It's not heavy, in fact it's talc powder. And I can't reiterate enough times: this is an American product and an American cologne to stand out among so many foreign overseas colognes in our world today. If one had to put only one cologne into a time capsule to describe the American male, it would have to be Old Spice, so that in the future, when mankind is long gone, an alien being from outer space can smell it and know what a man smelled like back on earth.

Soundtrack

AMERICAN PIE DON MCLEAN

Review for: Old Spice Original eau de toilette (Procter & Gamble)

What can I say for this scent. This is as classic as it gets. A fresh, spicy and warm scent you can wear anytime, anywhere. It brings back memories of ones father, grandfather, old barbershops or simply an image of a well groomed masculine man. It has moderate longevity (though it stays a day or so on clothes) and moderate silage (two to four sprays). Ladies seem to like this one. Also this tends to be addictive in the long run. Definitely a must have!

This (only the Original Scent) is a timeless memory maker. My dad and grandfather used it and some of my high school teachers did too. Im a youthful 69 yr old guy and i always make sure i have a bottle in my collection. Its a great winter fragrance in particular. Great for work or anything really...Never offends and it brings people closer to you as they say..either "what is that great fragrance" or "wow i remember that scent..brings me back in time" etc/...Yes today we are all aflutter about nieche stuff and lets not forget our warm/humble beginnings.....spread the love w/the Original mens group scent.

This was originally released as Shulton 'Early American'

For women!

Reminds me of Habit Rouge without the leather.

edit: To below (Rich Milton), I have 2 bottles of Early American, as well as Old Spice, both current and vintage. I can honestly say that Early American is absolutely Old Spice. If anything, it's much better than the current formula.

I've posted a pic here:

fragrantica.com/board/viewtopic.php?pid=3969483#p3969483

Edit again: Rich Milton (now posted above), what more can I say, you're just stubborn. "...You are sleeping. You do not want to believe"

I have a confession. I mix Old Spice with Estee Lauder Youth Dew. The combination reminds me of Grandpa and Grandma, a sweet, comforting hug of fragrances. I absolutely adore this powerful combination of spices and powder. A testimony to the power of fragrances that trancends time and allows you to carry love with you eternally. That's how powerful a simple bottle of Old Spice is.

My dad wore this, he had quite a number of fragrances but this was probably one of his favourites as he wore it a lot for day wear.

I have a vintage bottle as homage to him (he died when I was 19). I wear it from time to time and I am reminded of my father.

This fragrance is spicy, warm and easily unisex. On my skin it smells timeless, evocative and obviously reminds me of my youth.

I get my love of fragrance from my father who had quite a wardrobe - I do wish I had taken more notice of it because, now, I am a complete fume head and I am certain he had some gems. And I would say that Old Spice is a gem. If you can get a vintage bottle it is so superior to the later P&G editions.

Just tried it-it smells VERY good and UNIQUE! One of the best fragrances i've smelled! It's from 1938 but in no way smells worse than modern fragrances. So if you like warm scent it is for you-also inexpensive.

My aunt used to buy this stuff for me when I was in jr. high early teens. When I was in college, I moved into the high end polo sport, polo blue, polo sport extreme. However, there was always something about the original old spice cologne. I only use it around Halloween, sunday mass sometimes, thanksgiving day, Christmas eve, Christmas day, new years eve and new years day and through the end of winter. The smell reminds me of pumpkin pie, honestly. Not bad for an inexpensive cologne. I am 37, but do not feel like an old fogey at all using this cologne as many people say it is for older folks. Hope this helps.

I have the aftershave splash and I only use it after shaving.

I gotta admit, it does the job well for its purpose and kinda smell nice. Citrusy and minty. A very simple scent.

Avuncular.

This was my daddy's cologne. He wore this all the time. If he wore other colognes I will never know what they were. I do know that he wore this as his signature scent. I saw him putting it on along with an aftershave one morning when I was getting ready to go to school. It was around 1988. I was under 5 feet then. The scent was very nice, very sweet, soothing and a fragrance that is clearly meant for men to wear while a loved one hugs them. It's the kind of scent you don't mind being right at your face because it's not vulgar or too aromatic/strong. It's a fougere. It is missing the lavender opening but it still feels like it's got lavender. It reminded me of Dana's Ambush. It has some aldehydes which is very very rare to find in men's fragrances. There's a citrus as it starts very fresh and cool. I remember smelling the citric notes that are also there in the aftershave. There's a spicy pimento or pepper, but it's not too spicy. For a man's cologne it sure is floral. It has jasmine and geranium, and a geranium that wears like a rose. It also has powdery heliotrope. There's a powder that comes out of this scent which I think combined with aldehydes make it unisex and very easy for women to wear as well. The dry down is interesting because it really does progress into all the base notes namely the benzoin, which is like a warm myrrh, the cedar wood and the vanilla. Most of all it's a vanilla in the final part of the performance. It has only a little bit of musk. It feels youthful and not at all an old man smell. The association with "older men" comes from the fact that this scent is older and used to be worn by our dads or grandparents. This has a very relaxing feel and it's totally wearable for today, very modern. My father still wears it. I love it on him and will buy him another bottle for Father's Day. I love you daddy.

This one reminds me of my teenage years.
Every time I smell this classic and sweet fragrance, I travel back in time.

I avoid to use this fragrance at my job, since the scent might annoy the patients -because, in my opinion, it is a bit strong for a Hospital job. It gives me a night-feeling, so I usually prefer to use it, when I go for a night walk with my friends.


I hear that it is sold in plastic bottle and it does not last for long, as Krmarich said. Myself I still got the old classic glass bottle.

I give it 4,5/5 .

Old Spice "Original" aftershave (European version):

I've been a little bit familiar with this version over the last year or so, because for some reason you can buy the "Original" Old Spice deodorant stick here, but not the aftershave. The deo is significantly fresher and a little more citrusy than the American "Classic" formula. It doesn't really smell exactly like the US version, but close.

My parents brought a bottle of "Original" aftershave back from Ireland, and I really like it. It's an interesting variant of the P&G formula. It smells very similar to the American version in that it has a hefty vanillic powder accord in the base, but there's less clove - far, far less clove. In its place is a fresher orange citrus note, mated to a lighter and more transient version of the cinnamon allspice note in the Rubicon formula from India. It's less tenacious than the "Classic" aftershave, but only slightly, and it smells excellent. If you mix a third of the "Classic" with two-thirds Indian, you'll get European "Original" OS. Very nice. Also, "Original" has by far the best bottle, made of beautiful white glass. Feels a lot more like the Shulton version in this sense.

Old Spice is a fragrance I first smelled on one of my teachers in high school. Having to stay after class to work on difficult algebra math formulas I had to sit very close to the 40 something year old man who smelled so good! I once asked him what cologne he wore and he told me Old Spice for old guys like me. We laughed. If this is an "old man" smell then this is how I want to smell when I get old because it smells very nice. The original classic in the milk bottle design was the very definition of a drugstore cheap fragrance but the scent itself is not cheap or bad at all. A lot of drug store classics smell amazing and unforgettable. After all these years who can forget Emeraude (Shalimar is its dupe) Brut. Old Spice is a scent no one can forget. It automatically triggers a memory. I love the formula which follows the classic perfume pyramid. Very vintage and old fashioned but that's what makes it a masterpiece. I detected aldehydes but they are gone faster than you can say "aldehydes in women's perfume like Chanel No. 5 or No. 22". The aldehyde is fresh and fleeting. What you mostly get at the first spritz is lemon and citrus notes. That's usually the best way to open a man's cologne. Fresh and invigorating perfect to put on after a shower. The spicy notes of anise and nutmeg appear soon afterward. Then I smelled the soft floral notes of heliotrope, geranium. The stronger floral notes are clearly the carnation and jasmine. However the flowers are not at all strong and the subtle soft sweetness is what you most get. I loved these flowers so much especially the heliotrope that I went out and bought this fragrance for myself a couple of years ago. This is unisex to me. It's a floral. It's sweet and delicate and a scent you don't mind getting on yourself when you hug or hold the person wearing it. The dry down is warmed up by benzoin and woodsy notes and sweetened and lengthened by vanilla. This fragrance almost falls under a fougere category but it's missing one big ingredient: a top note of lavender. However to me this is still a fougere because the heliotrope is acting like a lavender. And like other fougeres this is a fragrance with traditional fougere notes of flower scents namely geranium which is typically found in other men's colognes, and bases of woods like sandalwood, cedar and that vanilla extract note (or Tonka bean which is vanilla at any rate). This fragrance is romantic, soft and smells like a teddy bear. It's a teddy bear you want to hold and cuddle up next to. I wear this and tell people I wear this. I love to scent my pillows with it and go to sleep with it. Old Spice is so nice. It will continue to sell and for an affordable price you get such a great aroma to be enjoyed by both men and women.

Ah, memories! I hated this as a child. After forcible bathing, we hapless children were involuntarily splashed and powdered with Johnson's, Nenuco, Tender Care or Old Spice before being dressed and presented to visiting adults. I liked the spritely, spritzy and lemony Johnson's way better than powdery and dour Old Spice. My sister absolutely loathed it and would often hide Old Spice but those danged maids would always keep finding it. LOL!

But as you grow up, you go let of childish things and your tastes start becoming more...ahem...discriminating. I finally started loving Old Spice after reading the Turin/Sanchez book. I didn't know what I was missing. So, thank you, Turin and Sanchez. Great job!

very nice semi sweet,spicy,powdery,citrussy,soapy scent. very nice i have the aftershave lotion which is the updated packaging of this. Although an aftershave it can be used every day just make sure your using some type of moisturising cream before putting this on.
I get an easy 3-5 hours lasting power. It will not project too much stays close to the skin after the first hour. can be worn year round day/night. I don't know if it's just me but a sense alight leather/suede touch in this.

If you are 30+ it is nice to have as an all round casual scent. I do not get a harsh synthetic blast with this which is always nice.
Highly recommended.

I grew up in the 60's, and most males wore this stuff. I can't stand it, it stinks like nothing else I have ever smelled before. When I smell this I think the person is very cheap and hasn't ever tried any other cologne in his life. I received it as a gift about 20 years ago, and I threw it away as soon as I got back home. I wouldn't want anyone to have worn such a terrible stinky odor!

Dan Aykroyd in "My Girl" (1991) wore this fragrance on his first date with Jamie Lee Curtis.

Just bought a bottle of OS aftershave from around '90-'92 for 20 bucks on eBay. 75ml early P&G.
But that's not what I recieved. Oh no. It was even better..

Instead, in the mail came a beautiful 150ml Shulton bottle of aftershave produced between '78-'84!

Happy days ;-)

Review of Old Spice by Rubicon Formulations, Ltd:

The Indian version of Old Spice is pleasant, but not nearly as complex as the current American version (Classic). It strongly resembles Vi-Jon's "Spice Scent" Dollar Store aftershave, in that it's creamier, brighter, fresher, and much shorter lived. It has a fruity pink pepper note absent in American OS. Keep in mind that Rubicon's formula is the recent iteration of OS in India, coming after years of the Menezes Cosmetics' formula under the "Shulton" brand name (although it was never actually made by Shulton there). Confusing, I know, but worth noting. P&G recently reacquired the licensing to OS in Asia, so what is sold now as Indian OS is actually a newer blend. Even more puzzling is that they didn't just take the easy route and put the American OS in Indian bottles, but instead opted to let the foreign formula remain fresher and simpler, perhaps to better comport with India's stifling heat. All told, I still prefer the American version. One good thing, though: the Indian stuff comes in glass.

Update:
On fabric, especially flannel, this scent does better. It has more depth and a mellow spicy-fresh drydown that lasts about an hour, maybe 90 minutes. Still, the American Classic version has more complexity and strength, and its darker clovey-powdery base is truer to Shulton. If the Rubicon formula had a better base with darker powder notes, it would be spot on the same as Shulton, although I still wonder if the top notes aren't too creamy. This weird soapy spice top is not how I remember the Shulton version smelling. For example, the Shulton had a strong cinnamon note; Rubicon's has a mild cinnamon. Classic's cinnamon is very prominent right out of the atomizer, and still seems closer to my memory of vintage. Indian OS = brighter, more blended spices. American OS = darker, more separable spices, plus powder. Both are very good, both are worth owning.

Love this, always have, can't help myself! I turn my nose up at almost other drug store men's colognes, but this classic... so masculine and "come hither" ;)

This is one one of the first aftershaves I ever bought as a teenager back in the mid '70's when I was 14/15 and had less hair on my face than my mother. When I use it now it takes me back to the bad old fashion days of flaired jeans, platform shoes and long hair, but as a fragrance it also brings back good memories of longer, hotter summers and a carefree Joie de Vivre. It has a freshness and spice thanks to the lemon, orange and clary sage, a 'middle' of cinnamon and jasmine and basenotes which include musk, frankincense and cedarwood. It costs very little but offers a great deal to the older man who will be fully aware of this fragrance anyway. As a cheap and bracing aftershave it works wonderfully and I happily recommend it.

Not a totally bed smell, but smokers have ruined this fragrance. I have nothing against low cost colognes, no matter the price if it's good, it's good, if it's bad, it's bad. You can't use cologne to cover up not taking a shower or washing your close. But people try and it usually with this cologne.

Yes, the reformulation is different than the one you may have grown up with. It is still smooth, but shallower and less creamy than before.

That said, for the money - you simply can't go wrong with this younger brother of the original. The herbal rosiness quickly dries down to a linear carnation/cinnamon/clove combo that channels a slightly sweeter and less dry version of Sex Appeal (a very good juice in its own right, despite the wretched name).

I can't comment on the aftershave strength, but I feel that the spray is better suited to the character of this Old Spice cologne. A splash would seem to require a really careful hand to avoid overdoing it. While this is a nicely balanced fragrance, overdoing it will likely do you in and those around you, at least for the first hour.

Nothing will compare to the vintage Old Spice, for all kinds of reasons. But for the price of a song: this reformulation is a willing and versatile companion that will happily accompany you to just about any occasion. I am appreciating this more and more.

Update:

After reading a recent (positive) review of the current spray-cologne rendition of Old Spice (sold alongside the aftershave, in a plastic bottle with an atomizer), I thought I'd gamble ten bucks and give it a try. As I commented in a previous review, the current (plastic bottle) formulation of Old Spice significantly lacks the creamy floral-and-star-anise opening and heart notes of the original. Here, this lack is made up for with the addition of more prominent orange aldehydes, which, with a very durable vanilla, produce a pleasant creamsicle-like tangy coolness over the bulletproof chassis of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and cedar, in the first fifteen minutes.
I am less fond of the dry down, as a very dry effect produced by synthetic Christmas potpourri cinnamon, a LOT of eugenol (clove) that to my nose sometimes seems a bit bitter and dark; this feels somewhat unbalanced in relation to the serviceable (even lovely) amber and musk in the far drydown. The reformulated aftershave 'sparkles' a bit more here, with a peppery note of dry cedar and less musk). I notice this wafts decently, smelling a bit better as an aura than in the skin. Longevity is good if you apply a lot (splashing on the aftershave works best in this regard), but you must be careful not to overdo it, or the sweetness of the cinnamon, carnation and clove in particular can get a little overbearing.

The overall effect - clean, creature-comfort oriental with a distinct spice cupboard/old book aura- still persists as the identity of Old Spice, and is great for cool weather. If you want more than a cheap thrill, find yourself an old bottle of the vintage aftershave online or at a thrift store and layer them for an effect that is lovely and not at all common. If you think of this not as your grandpa but as a work-friendly oriental (Opium over talc) it is actually quite companionable.

Love Old Spice! Now if they will only add Mennen's Skin Bracer to the database. I'd be interested to read the opinions of this group on that! Seriously, I would.

I like this stuff, old school but not the powerhouse old school of fougeres like Kouros and Brut. This one is smooooth! Its got a very milky feel which reminds me of Le Male but without being repulsive.

Scentsong> "All I have to do is Dream" by Everly Brothers. I know that 60s and not 30s but still...

My only qualm is with longevity, I literally have to douse myself with it to have some sort of staying power to last 15 min. Plan accordingly and decant some to travel sprayer.

I just bought the current spray version and I have to say I like it very much. It opens the aldehydes and spices, not being as sweet as I remembered it to be in the 80's. It smells vintage and rich. A must-have, absolutely!

It's funny because this classic perfume is perceived to be cheap when the actual juice most likely costs more than many of the mainstream perfumes sold under big name celebrities. Most do not realize that those with the fancy bottles and the fancy packaging and a $100 retail price tag do not realize that the perfumers had a $2 budget for total juice cost to work with. So really is Old Spice all that cheap? Most likely that plastic rather nondescript generic bottle and the "been around forever" packaging contain juice that ounce per ounce is far more costly and valuable than those in the catchy, gimmicky bottles. This perfume marketed mainly toward men has been around like forever and there is a good reason for it: it is a masterpiece. It is a beautiful masterpiece of perfumery that is timeless. Even Olivier Creed set the record straight in an interview when the interviewer tried to knock Old Spice, that it was a masterpiece he would be proud to have created. Of course with the plastic bottle and all we know that it's not made using top quality natural absolutes and tinctures but let's not forget that when we buy perfumes costing ten times as much we are not getting anything better other than the packaging and presentation, unless it's from a niche perfume house. But to me Old Spice is a perfectly agreeable perfume that is goes on spicy with a touch of citrus until the top notes burn off. Then you have the warm spices and carnation and geranium on the base of vanilla and amber. And it doesn't last all that long but at the inexpensive price a touch up splash before lunch is not going to cause anyone to go broke. It has reasonable sillage but you don't have to worry about clearing out the room. It's a nice, safe fragrance that I cannot imagine anyone finding annoying or offensive. Something that just about any man or woman could enjoy wearing once in a while, as I most certainly do.

@odormiris, cheers dude, that review was one of the best!

Quote from "Arizona Dream":

One thing I was sure of, that my uncle Leo was definitely the hero of my childhood.
The smell of his "Old Spice" cologne carried me back into that lost childhood more than the home movies did.
My uncle didn't know it, but It was the sweet, cheap smell of car dealers that took me back, and made me dissolve into a dream of the past.
Leo was the last dinosaur that smelled of cheap cologne.
And he believed in the American dream.
I was crazy about him, because he believed in miracles.

To me, having an Old Spice in a bathroom and to sniff it from time to time, means to be transported in times when father was young and my grandfather was still alive. Love the smell itself as well, very reassuring.

Smells like what beach sand would smell like if turned into perfume. Not harsh at all, pretty pleasant. It was a cheapy at the retail stores along with Brut back in the '90s which is what my bottle is from (which I got as gifts during the holidays).
This one actually goes quite nice in the evening with a suit coat and slacks. Gives and easy going mellow vibe and a rich smell.
I only spray it or splash the Brut when just going for a walk at night or something just to spray on when not doing much.

Recently revisited as I have a (sometimes regrettable) curiosity about old things, inexpensive things and democratic things as well... It's funny, but I can recall the older version (not some amazing ambergris concoction, but, say, eight to ten years ago) and while it is much better than the current formulation, I was never a devotee exactly, so I do not feel all that betrayed. The current (Proctor & Gamble) formulation smells much cheaper, sadly. The older Shulton formulation really did smell fuller initially, with a twinkling star of anise suspended in a creamy firmament of nutmeg, cinnamon, benzoin, jasmine and carnation. The glass bottle certainly helped, as it made the juice seem simultaneously (and winningly) hygienic, special and unpretentious.

The new version (the aftershave splash, in that awful plastic bottle - like a cheap hollow Easter Egg) smells very dilute and alcoholic at the start, and the nutmeg (always one of the more discernible notes), with less support from a thinner opening floral accord, tends more towards the 'wet dog' note that I personally find comforting but admit is an acquired taste...The carnation is mostly damp cardboard.

The good news is that the dry down is closer to the (recent) original, perhaps even indistinguishable, and is, on me anyway, surprisingly long-lasting for an aftershave. A little splashed on the back of my neck was still discernible five to six hours later and getting more comfortable, stabilizing and, yes, nostalgic all the time; a lovely, dusty base with traces of musk, cinnamon, nutmeg and whatever passes for sandalwood. For this reason, I won't throw it out, but will keep it around to layer with richer, warmer fragrances on chilly days. My only real complaint is the loss of affirming fullness in that opening-heart transition... This is a common enough feature of reformulations, but in the case of Old Spice, it really is sad; the whole point of a splash is that it wakes you up and makes you feel and smell and feel better than you deserve to (and that the first person to kiss your cheek experiences this too). This is still pleasant enough, but it's no longer that.

Update: found a 200ml vintage glass bottle nearly full at the Salvation Army...lovely stuff.

Today was a nostalgic day for me...I left the house looking at an almost finished bottle of Old Spice and remembering my youth...yes, it re-kindles memories, yes it is dated but damn, I do love it so! It represents every 2 week haircuts for men, shaving as an art, sacred weekends, comfort knowing Dad was in charge and the bogeyman could not cause any harm....
This is the stuff that gets splashed on (yes, no '4 sprays to the chest' business!) over the weekend when there is manly stuff to be done i.e. repairing 'stuff', mowing the lawn, helping children (in my case grand-children) with homework...a throw-back to times when men were men and smoking cigarettes was perfectly acceptable....even in the doctor's waiting room!
Spice and carnations, lacerations, stubbed toes, bruises, cinnamon and no knowledge of 'dry-down' are the major notes of this treasure. It screams great haircut, close shave and I'm here to protect you from the ills of the world....not a very good fragrance review, but a spot on description of what this juice is all about...Now cowboy up and go get a bottle!

Smells like me Da on Sunday mornin'.
Nostalgia, indeed! This scent is truly a special spice though...
Fun to wear once in awhile.

I had a Cool Shavin' Ken doll that came with a little bottle of this. I enjoyed the smell when I was seven. Now, it's more a matter of nostalgia rather than a real appreciation of the smell. Also, I'm not sure if it has been reformulated (probably) but it just doesn't smell the same. I wonder what scents the new Kens wear (my inner 7 yr old is curious).

This could be a pavlovian thing but Oooh Old Spice is warm cinnamon vanilla but manly comforting sexyness. Sometimes tradition became so for good reason. Wonderful scent.

Review of "Classic" version in spray form:

I recently picked up P&G Old Spice cologne in a spray bottle for ten bucks, and the difference between this scent and the splash is interesting. Misting it really opens up the spices, lending new dynamism to the nutmeg, cinnamon, carnation, anise, and citrus notes, while adding a more prominent aldehyde effect to the first fifteen or twenty seconds on skin. Also, it's significantly lighter, perhaps because the distribution on skin is more diffuse. Most significant is the drydown clove note, very, very prominent in the spray.

This resembles vintage a bit more than the splash, although aside from being more vanillic and somewhat denser, I don't think there's a huge difference between the current version and Shulton's, contrary to popular opinion. My gripe with vintage is that it only lasted a few minutes before becoming a ghost. Vijon Spice has the same issue. The P&G spray is almost as transient, but I still get a sturdy powdery amber in the finish, which extends an extra hour. If you hate the reformulated OS, try the spray version before closing the book on it. It might pleasantly surprise you!