Old Spice
Procter & Gamble (1937)

Old Spice is the reason why I love Opium and Cinnabar. It is the reason why I love carnation in fragrance. It was one of my Dad's staples. It was millions of Dad's staples. It was the smell of the clean shaven, well-groomed, ready for church, ready for supper. It is one of those that I can smell vividly in my mind. Unpretentious, sensible, yet delightful and comforting to the nose, splashed from a milk glass bottle, it is an American cultural icon, especially in its Shulton form. 

Green, herbaceous, classic men’s scent. Definitely some barbershop in here. Slightly bitter and with a medicinal alcohol that seems to never burn off during the drydown. While not my cup of tea, this is not offensive or a bad smell. Just too mature for me.

The performance is interesting, speaking to the current version sold anywhere these days. It's never loud but if you wear a good amount and get your body heat going, it does tend to radiate decently for a few hours.

[This article will certainly help resolve all the fuss about the various versions/reformulations as I have put serious effort so as to help you friends save time, money and effort enjoying this classic.]


This is the quintessential masterpiece and the Vito Corleone of men's colognes. A heritage most designer fragrances of today can't emulate, commercial success notwithstanding.
Few fragrances have managed to penetrate so deeply into the social fabric and the very collective psyche of our society as OS. This giant from the 30s has inspired (consciously or subconsciously) many other great classics over the decades; M&W Tabac, MEM English Leather, PS Fine Cologne, Obsession, Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur, Viking come to mind. I see OS as something akin to a pair of Levi's or a Clipper lighter (for eg.) something that can't and needn't be messed with because no embellishments could improve upon the standard already set up and put in place!

In 30 years of my fragrance journey I have found few fragrances that managed to touch deep and OS is certainly one such gem. Azzaro PH, Ralph
Lauren Chaps and Kouros are the only ones that have ever managed to invoke such depth similar to OS, rest of the stuff is just fragrant alcohol as far as I'm concerned.

Now, the versions clutter:

As many have pointed out, Shulton OS is next level stuff compared to anything else out there but, let's be honest, nothing is like it used to be in the good old days! If you can get a Shulton at a reasonable price go for it. However, you don't have to spend ridiculously high cash to experience this gem in its best form.
There's three versions of Old Spice currently being made around the world (just like the multiple versions of Brut Original, which is another favorite that has been 'almost' destroyed by the Corporate Hyenas):

#1
The US/Canadian Old Spice 'Classic' in "plastic bottles" , in Aftershave and Cologne variants which are both okay particularly the cologne is pretty good. If it works for you, enjoy it.
MYTHBUSTER: P&G switched to plastic bottles in the US, so what? Even the Shulton original in the 80's came in plastic and glass bottles. Plastic bottles are only for profits nothing to do with the formula as many would like you to believe!

#2 The European version called Old Spice Original in frosted glass bottles, in Aftershave and Eau De Toilette variants. Now, this is really good juice friends, way better than the US versions. The aftershave variant is really complex and very smooth and evolves nicely for an aftershave. The only issue is that it doesn't project and is so watered down that one can only enjoy it for a couple of hours. IMHO it's so well blended, reapplications every 2-3 hours is worth the hassle!
The EDT version is a bit sweeter and longer lasting version than the aftershave (but very hard to find).

#3
The Indian version is also called Old Spice Original and comes in glass bottles which are enameled in ivory color. The juice is quite similar to the aforementioned European version but much stronger and potent, which is both surprising and amusing! This is, according to me the best version of the Old Spice Original currently produced on the planet in terms of performance (in particular) and fragrance (in general). And it is very potent (I know I mentioned that once already!) This is certainly nothing like Shulton OS but it is the closest rendition that Proctor & Gamble has produced so far. And honestly speaking it works pretty good if you are looking to rekindle the old memories and wish to take a nostalgic trip down the memory lane through a scent.


Conclusion: If you can get European version (made in Germany is what I have) Made in Italy or UK, go for it. And if you can get the Indian version at some local shop that sells Indian stuff, get it quickly! And if you can find a Shulton OS at some local mom&pop store that's evenbetter! (I personally don't recommend getting Shulton online because of ridiculously high prices and high possibility of fraudulent sellers selling spurious or spoiled stuff).

Happy hunting and happy smelling!




(Friends at Basenotes, my new account as I couldn't retrieve my previous account:
"sam da indian" )

Nice scent, spicy oriental with strong soapy aldehydes at the beginning and a floral scent that persists throughout its (good) duration. The version in my possession is the EdT, which to my nose is more sweet than spicy with a note of vanillin that I clearly perceive from beginning to end. For me it doesn't resemble Viking by Creed but, if I really had to indicate some fragrance that reminds it, I would be inclined to say Habit Rouge, Sandalwood Cologne or even Musc Ravageur in the base notes, obviously with the necessary differences and bearing in mind that the aforementioned they have no aldehydes. Mine is a bottle from the early 90s and it is, I repeat, a great perfume; For what it costs, I don't think you can expect better. The duration is also more than acceptable given that it lasts 5 - 6 hours on the skin, where it remains with its sweet and musky base. Discreetly separated, it quickly approaches the skin and remains perceptible in the vicinity for some time but it is not a scent for a wake or to get noticed. Reading here and there on the various overseas forums, I discovered that initially, in the 1920s, the perfume, same formula today, was called "Early America Old Spice for Woman"... ehhh yes, it was a woman's perfume. Subsequently, during the Second World War, it was supplied to the American troops stationed at the front to allow the men a minimum of comfort. Upon returning from the war, of course, the men who had used that perfume at the front found it in drugstores now renamed "Early America Old Spice for Man". The name was eventually changed to "Old Spice". A classic in the United States, less known by us but definitely worth hearing and, perhaps, owning.

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 original, Shulton Old Spice cologne.
I have been using Old Spice since most of you all were born. 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.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up.