Starter Aftershave

[WilliamIam]

Anyone have a good, cheap, recommendation for a starter aftershave? I'm a student on a tight budget, and can't afford $20 bottles of aftershave.

I used some antique (looks like 60's bottles to me) Old Spice Aftershave, which was great, but the new stuff is little different from the old.


I'd like something that's a little more than alcohol and scent, but I'd like to avoid a balm that takes a long time to dry.

William

 

[luvmysuper]

Tons of good, inexpensive scents out there.

Aqua Velva
Just about any of the Pinaud line - Clubman, Lilac Vegetal, VI Bay Rum
Old Spice clone from ViJohn. It smells like the "old" Old Spice and you can buy it in the Dollar Store.
Skin Bracer
Brut

Don't let the names of these old standbys put you off. There is a reason they have sold so well for so long, and that is that they are good products for a good price, from a dollar to about 7 or 8 max.

 

[ek.310]

Just ordered D.R. Harris Pink Aftershave..$36 FREE shipping on amazon.com

 

[moonshine44]

+1 For Aqua Velva Ice Blue. The big bottle is about $6 or $8 at Wally World, and it's huge. Smells good and has a nice menthol kick...

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Tons of good, inexpensive scents out there.

Aqua Velva
Just about any of the Pinaud line - Clubman, Lilac Vegetal, VI Bay Rum
Old Spice clone from ViJohn. It smells like the "old" Old Spice and you can buy it in the Dollar Store.
Skin Bracer
Brut

Don't let the names of these old standbys put you off. There is a reason they have sold so well for so long, and that is that they are good products for a good price, from a dollar to about 7 or 8 max.

Also, Booster's from Canada are huge bottles for under $10, usually. I am very fond of the Mosswood and Jickey.

 

[Alacrity59]

+ 1 on the Aqua Velva and Old Spice. Your local drug store may have a bottle of witch hazel hanging around. For many years I used nothing but now I'm here and I'm enjoying a fair few . . . nothing yet that is more than $20 a bottle.

 

[DirtyDave]

I will also add Mennen Skin Bracer.

Skin Bracer, Aqua Velva, Brut, Pinaud, and others have been classics because they are good and good values. Test of time kind of thing.

 

[cvac]

Under $10 and more than just alc. and scent:

Earth Essentials After Shave Skin Soother (check whole foods or online)

Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner (comes in different scents and can be used as aftershave, thought not marketed as such, also buy at whole foods or online)

 

[Deltaboy]

The Barbarsol line at Dollar General will set you back $1.25.
Walmart has the 7 oz bottle of AV Ice Blue for $5 bucks and change.

 

[BroJohn]

The Barbarsol line at Dollar General will set you back $1.25.

. . .And the Barbasol Brisk is as good as it gets for a cheap AS. I paid $1.50 for a 5oz bottle.

-- John Gehman

 

[sandmountainslim]

Any of the ViJon Dollar Store aftershaves are good particularly their Old Spice clone.
Wp

 

[shamus]

IMO…get some Old Spice knock off from the dollar store and mix it with Witch Hazel…..60/40. Do the same with some Aqua Velva or knock off generic brand….60/40. Do the same with some Florida water which is really inexpensive….60/40 to WH. The smell of the AS will give you enough fragrence and you’ll have the added benefit of Witch Hazel to heal any razor burn or nicks you may have. This is a nice cheap alternative…..make sure to also get your witch hazel at the dollar store or the generic at Wally World. Then you’re set.

 

[David in Boston]

Any of the ViJon Dollar Store aftershaves are good particularly their Old Spice clone.
Wp

+1

If you have a Dollar Store near you.

The Old Spice clone can be had for less than $2.

It is outstanding!

 

[TwelveBravo]

You may want to try Aqua Velva Ice Sport Cooling Aftershave. Has all of the benefits of Ice Blue AV, but with a "younger" scent. It closely resembles Cool Water.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Tons of good, inexpensive scents out there.

Aqua Velva
Just about any of the Pinaud line - Clubman, Lilac Vegetal, VI Bay Rum
Old Spice clone from ViJohn. It smells like the "old" Old Spice and you can buy it in the Dollar Store.
Skin Bracer
Brut

Don't let the names of these old standbys put you off. There is a reason they have sold so well for so long, and that is that they are good products for a good price, from a dollar to about 7 or 8 max.

This right here is the gospel of good, cheap aftershaves.

Just ordered D.R. Harris Pink Aftershave..$36 FREE shipping on amazon.com

Maybe a nice choice once you find out what you like, but you could fill your shelves with inexpensive aftershaves for the price of one bottle of Harris Pink.

 

[A-Man]

If you're looking at Aqua Velva, check out the Musk as well.

 

[M. McCord]

If you have a large beauty supply store close by chances are you can find all of the Pinaud line as well as all of the Master's line of AS. About $6 a bottle for a pint size.

 

[xillion]

. . .And the Barbasol Brisk is as good as it gets for a cheap AS. I paid $1.50 for a 5oz bottle.

-- John Gehman

True, at $1.50 Barbasol Brisk is the go to.

 

[Topgumby]

1. Dollar Store Old Spice clone...It's like having a time machine that takes you back to the heyday of wet shaving for a couple bucks.
2. Aqua Velva...Been around since 1929 for good reason. Get a real glass bottle before they disappear.
3. Pinaud Virgian Island Bay Rum...A classic scent that goes back to well before the turn of the last century
4. Barbasol Brisk...A menthol bomb for a pittance.

That's the bare bones list, but it goes on and on...Brut, in moderation. Lilac Vegetal, if you have the nerve for it. Witch Hazel is dirt cheap and a great aftershave, with no scent to speak of. Skin Bracer is good. Afta by Mennen is a decent balm. Florida Water is a good Summer splash.

Let's put it this way. If you went out once a month with ten bucks in your pocket to buy a different inexpensive, quality aftershave product, at the end of the year you'd have a shave den stocked with good stuff and plenty of dough left over.

 

[WilliamIam]

Under $10 and more than just alc. and scent:

Earth Essentials After Shave Skin Soother (check whole foods or online)

Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner (comes in different scents and can be used as aftershave, thought not marketed as such, also buy at whole foods or online)

1. Dollar Store Old Spice clone...It's like having a time machine that takes you back to the heyday of wet shaving for a couple bucks.
2. Aqua Velva...Been around since 1929 for good reason. Get a real glass bottle before they disappear.
3. Pinaud Virgian Island Bay Rum...A classic scent that goes back to well before the turn of the last century
4. Barbasol Brisk...A menthol bomb for a pittance.

That's the bare bones list, but it goes on and on...Brut, in moderation. Lilac Vegetal, if you have the nerve for it. Witch Hazel is dirt cheap and a great aftershave, with no scent to speak of. Skin Bracer is good. Afta by Mennen is a decent balm. Florida Water is a good Summer splash.

Let's put it this way. If you went out once a month with ten bucks in your pocket to buy a different inexpensive, quality aftershave product, at the end of the year you'd have a shave den stocked with good stuff and plenty of dough left over.

Any of the ViJon Dollar Store aftershaves are good particularly their Old Spice clone.
Wp

Thanks guys. In particular these are the ideas I'm looking for. I'm not sure I've ever seen colognes at the dollar store, but I'll check next time I'm there.
I'll try out the witch hazel for sure!

I do have a "real" bottle of old spice aftershave, but it doesn't seem to be very much more than alcohol and scent.

Thanks
William