My dad requested colognes like the 60's and 70's. Do you have any suggestions? Something new that resembles that era is ok too.
modern buys that smell like 60's and 70's?
- Thread starter joec22
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Basenotes lists the date that fragrances were initially released; unfortunately their site is down for upgrade right now. From memory of the 60s and 70s, Old Spice in its several original forms come to mind; British Sterling which I saw in Walmart this past week; Puig Aqua Brava and Aqua Lavanda (sp?); tons of bay rum including St. John's; Brut; and now I am out of memories. Tabac was undoubtedly around then, but not sold in the U.S. that I recall. Are you looking for a Christmas gift?
The original Aramis is from that era. I wear it from time to time. Have since high school.
Are you speaking strictly Colognes, or including After Shaves as well?
I am not really a cologne kind of guy. Aftershaves suit my purpose and the only time I really wear a cologne is when the SWMBO spritzes me with some selection she purchased for the purpose before we go out to some event.
I am not really a cologne kind of guy. Aftershaves suit my purpose and the only time I really wear a cologne is when the SWMBO spritzes me with some selection she purchased for the purpose before we go out to some event.
When I read your title what immediately came to mind was Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent. It smells like it's something from the late 70s or early 80s but it's from 2003! It's great, inexpensive and longevity is phenomenal.
I need basenotes.com, too. English Leather, Canoe, Royal Copenhagen (sp?), Jade East, if you could find it or Hai Karate, for the 60s, along with British Sterling, Brut, Aramis, and all the others named. Especially, Aramis.
For the 70s you have an entire universe. Pierre Cadin Pour Homme, Halson Z14, for sure, Halston I-12. I forget when Polo came out. When did Perry Ellis 360 come out.
For the 70s you have an entire universe. Pierre Cadin Pour Homme, Halson Z14, for sure, Halston I-12. I forget when Polo came out. When did Perry Ellis 360 come out.
+1
I think any of the American Classics (which have the added benefit of being budget conscious items since they have been around for so long) would be great choices.
You might consider Avon Wild Country as well (although to my nose it smells very similar to Canoe, and Clubman).
Jovan Musk for sure
I'm also thinking:
YSL Pour Homme
Eau Sauvage
I'm also thinking:
YSL Pour Homme
Eau Sauvage
Would guess that a number of the Caswell-Massey fragrances go back to the 60s and 70s.
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Yes Christmas gift. These are excellent suggestions, and I know nothing about colognes although I have my own list now. I might also consider some of these unique scents since everything today is of the "fresh, candy" variety.
Yes, there seems to be a lot of junk these days. Many of these older colognes are still sold at major department stores and/or drug stores if you want to smell before you buy.
Brut comes to mind.
I need basenotes.com, too. English Leather, Canoe, Royal Copenhagen (sp?), Jade East, if you could find it or Hai Karate, for the 60s, along with British Sterling, Brut, Aramis, and all the others named. Especially, Aramis.
,You beat me to it-exactly my list from the 60's. Would add the classics of Bay Rhum, and lilac vegetal-old scents but often a starter scent for kids in the early 60's.
Although it didn't come out until 1981, you might want to consider Stetson as well.
Aramis
English Leather
Jovan Musk
English Leather
Jovan Musk
And what about our beloved Tabac? 
Add Christian Dior Eau Savage and Givenchy Gentlemen.
If I could only pick one fragrance that represents that time, it would be Aramis. You can pick up a set of AS balm and cologne at a very reasonable price at a local department store. While it's not my thing, I think it still smells great--it recalls that era without being a caricature of it.
British Sterling, English Leather and Old Spice are also available in AS/Cologne combinations and would make a nice present. For whatever reason, all of them seem to have changed to varying degreees over the years. I was particularly surprised to smell British Sterling recently. My dad used to wear it, and I remember it very fondly. However, I thought that the new aftershave smelled harsh and metallic. Quite unpleasant really. Maybe that particular bottle was off, or my memory is hazier than I thought.
British Sterling, English Leather and Old Spice are also available in AS/Cologne combinations and would make a nice present. For whatever reason, all of them seem to have changed to varying degreees over the years. I was particularly surprised to smell British Sterling recently. My dad used to wear it, and I remember it very fondly. However, I thought that the new aftershave smelled harsh and metallic. Quite unpleasant really. Maybe that particular bottle was off, or my memory is hazier than I thought.
Aramis indeed. I'm not a fragrance historian, but I think Aramis was probably one of the first department store scents that got a real foothold with men in the 60s. There were other high end scents available like Habit Rouge and Guerlain Vetiver, but I tend to think those were fairly pricey for the time, harder to find and probably bought by men with fairly sophisticated tastes. Aramis came into department stores and was pushed aggressively. Aramis likely broke a lot of men away from drugstore scents like Brut, English Leather, British Sterling, Old Spice and Brut.
YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme and perhaps Pens Sartorial are newer "fougere" style releases that are sort of cut from the 60s cloth of scents like Brut. They don't exactly smell "like" Brut, but the gestalt is similar.
Habit Rouge is a great 60s scent, but as an "oriental" it might not be what your dad expects.
YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme and perhaps Pens Sartorial are newer "fougere" style releases that are sort of cut from the 60s cloth of scents like Brut. They don't exactly smell "like" Brut, but the gestalt is similar.
Habit Rouge is a great 60s scent, but as an "oriental" it might not be what your dad expects.
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