Classic Aftershaves that still hold up

The topic of classic aftershaves came up in a local Facebook group I participate in.
Even though I was a young man in the classic era of aftershaves, I didn't try many of them, and others, like Old Spice I just don't remember what they smell like.

As a teen, young man, English Leather was my favorite. The really 'loud' ones like Brut I didn't and don't like at all.

Now at 55, revisiting the classics, Aqua Velva has been my favorite by far.

Today I was gifted a bottle of Mennen Skin Bracer, the good stuff in a glass bottle. Most reviews on the classics by fragrance people seem to rate Skin Bracer as the top of the classics, so I was excited to try it.

Sad to say, it's not my scent, in fact this is the first time in my large AS collection, that I get what people mean by, 'You smell like my Grandfather'.

Curious how do you rate the classics, which ones hold up for you, which don't and why?

It's tough but what is old is new.

Vintage Old Spice is still tops for me paired with Reserve Spice. I think most in the community still revere that scent and why there are so many clones soaps.

Brut exists because of the many Fougeres available. A clone doesn't seem to work (looking at you Reef Point Intrepid).

I have Skin Bracer over Brut and AV. There are a few busts with SB like burnished leather but scents like Wild Moss are still unique enough to have a spot in use occasionally. In my order I have the classics listed with OS with a great lead over the others.

OS
SB
Brut
AV



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I have and enjoy Clubman, Skin Bracer and Brut, but my favorite is Barrister's Reserve Spice. I know, not the original, but by all accounts is pretty much an exact match to Shulton Old Spice. Not including Reserve, these classics don't have all the skin care goodies that we enjoy in our modern aftershaves, but I do like the bracing alcohol hit and the scents.

For me:


Pinaud Clubman - the original
Clubman Musk
Aqua Velva

I like Brut, but use it when I won't be around others since its so strong.
I like the scent of Lucky Tiger Bay Rum. Unfortunately, the chemical they use to denature the alcohol has the worst taste in the universe. As careful as I have tried, some finds its way to my mouth - it seems to spread like poison ivy.

I still like the powdery scent of Mennen Skin Bracer although I don't use it much these days. I like Tabac aftershave (soap too) a lot although I try to be aware of what I'll be doing and who I'll be around when I wear it

I never acquired a taste for Brut or Hai Karate - just seemed overpowering to me. Its possible that I made negative scent associations depending upon who was wearing it when I first smelled it too. Brains are weird that way.

The first classic I tried about 3 years ago when I started traditional wet shaving was Pinaud Clubman and was immediately taken by the scent. To me it was something that reminded me of a barbershop even though I have little recollection of barbershops because my mother would cut my and my brother’s hair when we were kids. I don’t get an “old man” smell from it is my favorite of all the classics. I also find. That I like Aqua Velva Ice Blue as well as AV Musk. I recently bought the version of Old Spice that you can find in stores like CVS and when I put it on immediately did not like it. I’ve tried it several times since and still don’t like it. I find it to be too sweet without any redeeming scent to go with the sweetness. AV Musk is sweet but the underlying scent is really quite pleasant in comparison. I’m of the same vintage as the OP at 56 and will probably buy some more of the classics like Skin Bracer and Brut. But I have no desire to try English Leather or Stetson. Not sure why. Of all the aftershaves I now have, there are 12, Pinaud Clubman, Aqua Velva Ice Blue, AV Musk, Clubman Citrus Musk and Clubman Lime Sec are my favorites.

I have and enjoy Clubman, Skin Bracer and Brut, but my favorite is Barrister's Reserve Spice. I know, not the original, but by all accounts is pretty much an exact match to Shulton Old Spice. Not including Reserve, these classics don't have all the skin care goodies that we enjoy in our modern aftershaves, but I do like the bracing alcohol hit and the scents.

I really have to try the B&M reserves. They're a PIA to get in Europe, but my next trip home, I'm going to have to.

I still like the powdery scent of Mennen Skin Bracer although I don't use it much these days.  I like Tabac aftershave (soap too) a lot although I try to be aware of what I'll be doing and who I'll be around when I wear it

I never acquired a taste for Brut or Hai Karate - just seemed overpowering to me.  Its possible that I made negative scent associations depending upon who was wearing it when I first smelled it too.  Brains are weird that way.

Yeah I think you really nailed it, Mennen smells exactly like my Grandfather's BO, not trying to be insulting, it just is too close to the way he smelled after a long day at work.

Brut and that other stuff makes me think of the playboys and jocks of our day.

Interestingly the Spanish classics are all a big hit with me, love Floid and Myrsol.

+1 on Clubman original. I haven't tried any of the other Clubman scents. The original is on the shelf most anywhere around here plus all these classics mentioned are super cheap.

I have Aqua Velva ice blue, Skin Bracer as well as Pinaud Clubman, VIBR and lime sec.

Have liked the scents of the first 4 I mentioned since I was a kid and still enjoy them. Not sure how long lime sec has been around? If anyone knows let me know as I'm curious.

Also have Speick. I assume it's been around for a while. Just not on the store shelves at the drug or grocery stores here in the USA. I think it's the best performing aftershave I have in my den.