My Introduction To Old Spice AS

[OV1kenobi]

Thirty-four years ago, to this exact day, I entered U.S. Coast Guard basic training with the rank of Seaman Apprentice as a lad that had just barely turned seventeen. I am 51 years old now, but I remember that time as if it had just been yesterday.

My "Drill Instructor" was a Senior Chief Boatswains Mate with the last name of Dille (pronounced "Dilly"). He was a thirty year man. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1945 and was among the last of the WWII Coast Guard veterans remaining in active service. He trained many a Coastguardsman over the years, and I just happened to be a member of his very last training cycle. He retired immediately after our cycle graduated from basic training.

It was a privilege and honor to have served with such a man, and he helped to mold me into the kind of man that I am today, for better or worse!

However; I vividly remember, thirty-four years ago today, some of his very first words when we recruits formed up on The Quadrangle Parade Ground at Cape May, New Jersey.

Chief Dille said: "Go to the Base Exchange and get yourself some Old Spice aftershave. It's salty!" Meaning, I suppose, that it was very seaman-like.

Believe me, probably every recruit in that company bought some Old Spice AS once dismissed! For the rest of the training cycle, our company left a fragrant cloud of Old Spice wherever we passed!

That first purchase of Old Spice eventually led me to many years as an OS user. In turn, that led to spinning off into Royall Spyce and Royall Bay Rhum.

I got away from Old Spice for several years, chasing after snootier products, but just recently got re-aquainted with it via the V-Jon clone that I bought at a local Family Dollar store. Thanks to members of this forum for getting me back on track!

Those were some interesting times. May God Bless the soul of Chief Dille. If he did nothing else after all these years, at least he impressed upon me a sense of duty, honor, comradeship, a love of the U.S. Coast Guard and an appreciation of Old Spice. For that very reason, OS will always have a special place in my AS rotation.

How did you get introduced to Old Spice?

Semper Paratus & Warmest Regards,

David

 

[crocto]

i actually got my first old spice aftershave when i first started shaving with a double edge. i had just finished all of m canned stuff, fusion blades and aqua velva. so i was ready to go with my col conk bay rum soap. i was reading some stuff on here and figured i'd give old spice a try.

so now i have some old spice in a glass bottle with a grey top and yatch (as opposed to the older style bottles), a new plastic bottle and a thing of c.o. bigelow bay rum cologne.

 

[mretzloff]

My father used to wear it and I could always smell it in the morning. I started really liking it and once I started shaving, I made sure to purchase some.

 

[MrGuy]

My first bottle of Old Spice AS was given to me when I was about 14 by my mom because it's what my Grandpa (a Navy man) used. I don't think I liked it at the time. I didn't use it much, heck I didn't even shave much. I didn't give it another shot until about 2 years ago (I'm 30 now) when I decided to take a break from working in hospital settings, no scent rules were strictly enforced. I don't remember thinking it was different, but I didn't like it again. Too "powdery", not really "manly". Then I found some vintage OS cologne and thought I'd pick it up, if for no other reason then to give to my grandpa to see if he noticed when P&G changed it. Well, it never did make it to him. I loved the stuff and didn't want to let it go (I did take the bottle to him and said he could have it, but he declined.) Then, after hearing so much about the Family Dollar (V-John) AS, I picked up some of that. Much better than the P&G version.
I have to do a little convincing to myself to use the vintage cologne, you know when it's gone it's gone type of thing, but I think today should be one of those days. I've been wanting to do an OS day, SS, AS, and cologne, for a while, and your story just put the idea over the top.

 

[The Cockroach King]

most introductions to old spice compare to that famous scene from home alone:

 

[Walt Whitman]

My first exposure to Old Spice was from my Uncle Chuck, a thoroughly sweet and unassuming gentleman, and a WWII vet; he wore it when I was a young lad.

When I moved out at the age of 21, I bought 3 Old Spice colognes: original, lime and, I believe, a sport-type scent (I wish I had them back). Loved every minute I had them on.

 

[xbostonirishx]

I had always heard of it when I was younger, in jokes and such, but never in good terms. I remember seeing it in the drug store when I was young, but never tried it.

My first introduction to it was when a friend of mine, a fellow IBEW member, from my home local came down to New Orleans to work after hurricane Katrina. He brought along with him his regular toiletries, and a bottle of old spice. he didn't stay for too too long, but when he left he left his old spice behind. That was a little over three years ago. I started wearing it regularly about 18 months ago. I used the last remaining old spice in that bottle about 4 months ago, and threw the bottle away, and bought another one. he has since then passed away. I now wish I kept the bottle.

 

[Sharpj74]

My dad always wore Old Spice. It was his only scent. As I grew & became my own man, it seems I intentionally steered clear of Old Spice. Maybe I was trying to prove something, maybe not. Dad is gone by a few years now. I have a young son of my own, who never knew his grandpa & how infectious his laugh was or entertaining his stories were, however embelished they may have been. But on certain mornings laughter fills our house, the house I live in now, which is the same house my father raised his children, and I tell embelished stories of my own as the smell of Old Spice foats its way through the hall & into my sons room. Just like dad.

 

[ClubmanRob]

My great uncle, a sailor, was an Old Spice man through and through. My dad used it occasionally while I was growing up, and I loved everything about it. I used the aftershave (regular and Lime) quite a lot when I was a teen, until my girlfriend told me I smelled like a dirty old man. I still can't wear original Shulton without smelling like said dirty old man, but the Vi-Jonn is perfect.

 

[Sharpj74]

I still can't wear original Shulton without smelling like said dirty old man, but the Vi-Jonn is perfect.

Sorry to hijack. Rob, not familiar Vi-jonn. can u enlighten?

 

[ClubmanRob]

Sorry to hijack. Rob, not familiar Vi-jonn. can u enlighten?

Vi-Jonn/Ivy Club/Reatta Club/Flag and Sail is an Old Spice knock off by Phoenix Labs that greatly resembles the original Shulton formula. It is widely available as a store brand, and most commonly found at Family Dollar for a big 1.60. You'll find that a lot of guys prefer this "fake" Old Spice more than the current "real" formulation. Here's the review, and if you do a search you'll find lots of interesting talk about this unsung brand:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=O&t=74858

Heck, I'm wearing it now as a matter of fact.

 

[norman931]

Vi-Jonn/Ivy Club/Reatta Club/Flag and Sail is an Old Spice knock off by Phoenix Labs that greatly resembles the original Shulton formula. It is widely available as a store brand, and most commonly found at Family Dollar for a big 1.60. You'll find that a lot of guys prefer this "fake" Old Spice more than the current "real" formulation. Here's the review, and if you do a search you'll find lots of interesting talk about this unsung brand:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=O&t=74858

Heck, I'm wearing it now as a matter of fact.

I picked some up today. Not sure if I will like it, as I usually use stuff with menthol, but it does smell nice!

 

[TorzJohnson]

David -

I invite you to check into the Veterans Roll Call thread (where you can pick up a Veteran tag), and also check out the B&B Military Veterans Social Group.

Just a heads up from another OLD COASTIE.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

My Dad of course introduced me to Old Spice. The heady scent of the Shulton formula was ever present and now I try to carry on that tradition as well. I wish I had all the empty bottles he went through.... my folks are such packrats I should ask him....LOL.

The other day I was at my folks house in one of their bathrooms and I spotted a tube of HERMES Aftershave Balm that looked quite vintage. I asked my Dad where it came from and he explained I had given it to him on Christmas Day 1976!!! Dude doesn't throw anything away!

 

[OV1kenobi]

David -

I invite you to check into the Veterans Roll Call thread (where you can pick up a Veteran tag), and also check out the B&B Military Veterans Social Group.

Just a heads up from another OLD COASTIE.

Thanks, Jim, for the invite!

I'll do just that. I would be honored to be counted among your number as a fellow veteran.

David

 

[Topgumby]

Ahhh, Old Spice...I'm sure my first encounter was when I was too young to recall, as my dad used it. Heck, maybe the Doc who delivered me did!

I do remember seeing those white bottles in my dad's bathroom as I grew up, and that combination of Old Spice and Vitalis came out of the past and blasted my memory banks recently when I went to clean out his leather "Dopp Kit" so I could make use of it.

 

[JEEP]

OV1kenobi: What a cool story! Thanks for sharing.

My first experience with Old Spice was a deo spray given to me for christmas when I was 12. I kept it for quite a few years without using it, untill a girl I really liked told me that she loved the scent of it (I think I was around 16 at the time), then I started using it It didn't help me though - and maybe for the better, she turned out to be bonafied crazy (with papers and all)

But, the Old Spice has stayed with me since.

My girlfriend is not that fond of Old Spice - but at least she is not crazy (except from offcourse the fact that she is with me - and that can't be a healthy decision).


Regards.

Jakob

 

[scoopster]

My first old spice experience came only recently. I decided I had to check it out since I've read so many threads about how old school this stuff is and how different all the variations are (Shutlon, early P&B, OS clones, etc). So I scored on a lot from the Bay. It had two fairly full but used bottles of the vintage shulton, two NOS bottles (cologne and aftershave) of the early Proctor & Gamble and a bottle of NOS Old Spice Leather. I think I got the whole lot for forty bucks shipped. I shortly thereafter scored a bottle of the early versions of the Lime.

The Shulton aftershave is very heady stuff, very different even compared to the early Proctor and Gamble versions. It comes on strong and last the whole day. The lime is my favorite and unfortunately that stuff is pretty hard to come by.

The wife - she doesn't care for any of it so its a put it on when I leave the house for the day kind of an experience for me.

 

[The National Razor]

My dad always wore Old Spice. It was his only scent. As I grew & became my own man, it seems I intentionally steered clear of Old Spice. Maybe I was trying to prove something, maybe not. Dad is gone by a few years now. I have a young son of my own, who never knew his grandpa & how infectious his laugh was or entertaining his stories were, however embelished they may have been. But on certain mornings laughter fills our house, the house I live in now, which is the same house my father raised his children, and I tell embelished stories of my own as the smell of Old Spice foats its way through the hall & into my sons room. Just like dad.

That's a very touching account.

 

[bladebuff]

OV1 -love the story.

My first Old Spice memory is of a close uncle who used it. I remember fondly when visiting on summer days after helping out in the garden my uncle would wash up and shave using Yardley Soap and finish off with Old Spice after shave. My Dad was a Mennen Skin Bracer user and I still remember my "Home Alone" moment pretending to shave.

It is good to see these classics still around today.