Valcan by Kanebo

[The Nid Hog]

I've been traveling for a couple of months and I thought that it might be time to get something to alternate with the one bottle of Dunhill 1934 that I brought with me. I decided that I would try a fragrance from one of the same ranges as the Japanese aftershaves that I've been hoarding. Sadly there doesn't seem to be a MANDOM EdT. I've had the Eroica EdT in the past, but it is just about a dead ringer for Tabac, so I decided to skip that too. I've noticed EdTs for both Auselese and Valcan in the store, but the department store that I visited today only had Valcan. That makes the choice easier, doesn't it? They had both a EdC and an EdT. The EdC was very light and citrusy, but I opted for the EdT.

It comes in a chunky square glass bottle, clear with a gold cap. The liquid itself is a light golden color and the label of the bottle is gold block letters on an amber background. Overall, the impression is as old school as you would expect from one of these traditional Japanese lines. The bottle has the same plastic shaker insert as lots of Japanese aftershaves. The price is about 2400 yen for 120 ml.

Here's what Basenotes has for the composition of the fragrance:

Top Notes: Green Notes, Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Aldehyde

Middle: Jasmin, Cedarwood, Sandal, Carnation, Rose, Basil

Base Notes: Musk, Moss, Tonka, Amber.

Out of the bottle, I definitely get the citrus notes and the jasmin. It dries down quickly and the muskier, mossy notes come up. I get a particularly strong feel for the coumarin and a slight hint of the rose too. It stays close to the skin and is not overwhelming at all. My first day trying it--I'll report back on any changes.

The funny thing is that compositionally it's a close kin to the Dunhill. However, in execution it feels very different. Still, nice for a hot and humid day.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I just wanted to add a bit to my comments about Valcan. I've been wearing it for a couple of days now. It's been very hot and humid, so you should take that into account too. After first application, the fragrance settles down quickly and keeps a light presence for several hours. I would say that it's like a strong aftershave. Not as persistent as Harris Sandalwood, of course. Still, I'll think that it's disappeared then get a subtle whiff of the fragrance. It's certainly worth trying if you come across it.

 

[Rory1262]

This has apparently been discontinued. I wonder why. I was hoping to obtain it (family members will be visiting Japan).

 

[xillion]

There is one bottle available here.

Oops, the above is the aftershave.

Here is another, I think it is the edt.

 

[banditman]

I've been traveling for a couple of months and I thought that it might be time to get something to alternate with the one bottle of Dunhill 1934 that I brought with me.

The funny thing is that compositionally it's a close kin to the Dunhill. However, in execution it feels very different. Still, nice for a hot and humid day.

This sounds pretty good. Especially since I just scored a vintage bottle of Dunhill for men a couple of weeks ago. I like the Dunhill a lot and it's not like anything else I have. At some point I have to get a decant of the current formula just so I can compare the two.

 

[Rory1262]

I asked my wife to see if the product was still on the market in Japan while she was visiting.
However, she was busy with assorted things and did not get a chance to check.
She said, however, that it is famous.

 

[Rory1262]

My wife traveled to Japan again...and this time she found me some Valcan!
It's nice, and she likes it too.

It's regarded as something of a throwback product these days.
The grocery stores carry brands with a newer image, but the old-line pharmacies still have it.

 

[Rory1262]

I should clarify that what I have is the aftershave lotion, not the fragrance.
However, the chunky square glass bottle and gold cap are similar.