Vintage Aqua Velva? and Walgreen's Brand AV.

[Quantrill]

I had been looking for a vintage AV bottle to store my AV from the cheap plastic bottles in. Well I lucked out and found a couple on eBay for a decent price (well below the $50+ that most people seem to be asking for them over there). Looking at the pics, the AV in the bottles seems to be a lot lighter in color. Is this the way the older AV looked or has this stuff just faded? Can it still be used? If it's usable, can I expect a difference between it and the new stuff?

Also, I decided to give the Walgreen's brand of AV a try. Don't like it near as much as the real deal. Doesn't seem to cool as long and the scent fades really fast. Anyone else tried it?

Thanks!
David

 

[michiganlover]

I have tried the Walgreens/ ViJohn version of Aqua Velva. (it's sold in many places, including Kroger, as the house brand). It's a weaker version of Aqua Velva all around: the scent is not as complex, and the menthol content far far less. Considering that a big bottle of AV can be had for less than $5, I don't really see the point of it.

I have purchased a few bottles of Vintage AV, and I would say chances are quite good the fragrance has turned. I had one of those mini gift set bottles, and the fragrance smelled nasty: it was nothing like AV, and had obviously spoiled.

That's why I don't understand the people who pay $50 for Aqua Velva Frost Lime: depending on storage conditions, there is a good chance you are getting nothing more than a fancy bottle, and colored alcohol.

 

[Quantrill]

Yeah I didn't pay $50 for TWO bottles. I didn't think I'd actually find any at a decent price on ebay. I must have lucked out. I ended up dumping the Walgreen's stuff down the drain. It sucked! I want to try adding some menthol crystals to the AV. I'm sure it can only get better! After using the Sage all last summer, nothing else is cold enough LOL

 

[mistercitizen]

I don't know much about vintage AV, but I just got a couple of bottles of Williams AV made by the Sara Lee Corp. from Barbiere Di Figaro and it is lighter in color, scent and menthol content compared to the current U.S. version of AV made by Combe. Both are good stuff.... just a little different. I wouldn't mind finding an old vintage bottle of AV on eBay as well, but I'd have to find an empty one because I don't know if I could bring myself to use the old juice in it. Not because I would be afraid that it would have turned or be bad or something like that.... but mostly just from a historical standpoint. Using up something that someone else thought to save for the last 50 years..... I probably couldn't do it. If the price is on the vintage bottles though and you don't mind using or dumping the old stuff.... I'd pull the trigger and buy them. I just bought a NOS glass bottle of the current AV a couple weeks ago on eBay.... just to have the glass bottle for the future. It's NOS though so the juice is very usable.

As far as the CVS or Walgreen's versions of AV.... I've never tried them.

 

[OkieStubble]

I have a vintage glass bottle of the Williams Aqua Velva that I purchased about a year ago for $8. The juice inside had definitely turned and was unusable. Cleaned the inside out with dish soap & water and then rinsed it out good with water and then 91% alcohol to displace the water. Filled it with classic ice blue and it smells so much richer and stronger in the glass bottle compared to the plastic.

 

[Quantrill]

One of mine (the 3 oz) should be here tomorrow! I asked the seller if he had opened the bottle to take a whiff, just out of curiosity, not that it mattered because I mainly wanted the bottle. He told me he had bought up a bunch of NOS AV and he was using one of the other bottles from the same batch so, that's a pretty good sign. Not sure when the bigger 6oz bottle will be here. nice to know the seller is also a wet shaver!

 

[LouBarraza]

Im gonna cheat and wait until one of my Nivea splash bottles run out and transfer the AV label on it.it may not be original but oh well. Lol

 

[dpm802]

Im gonna cheat and wait until one of my Nivea splash bottles run out and transfer the AV label on it.it may not be original but oh well. Lol

Nivea makes a splash? I've never seen it in any of the drugstores around here.

Is this what you're talking about? If so, where can I get some?
http://www.en.nivea-me.com/products/Mens-Care/silver-protect/silver-protect-after-shave-lotion

 

[michiganlover]

Nivea makes a splash? I've never seen it in any of the drugstores around here.

Is this what you're talking about? If so, where can I get some?
http://www.en.nivea-me.com/products/Mens-Care/silver-protect/silver-protect-after-shave-lotion

No, this is what he is referring too. Brand new product that was just released a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nivea-For...99870&sourceid=1500000000000007346330&veh=cse


There might be a $2.50 off coupon available through Facebook as well: https://www.facebook.com/NIVEAFORMENUSA?sk=app_278638332193814

 

[scoopster]

I have some mid to late 80's AV that was purchased in really good condition. I couldn't tell the difference (scent, color & performance) between that older stuff and the current stock that I tested it against. At the time I did the testing AV was still selling in glass bottles.

 

[Quantrill]

Well, both bottles (to me anyway) smelled like a cross between turpentine and varnish. Oh well, at least I've got cool bottles to decant into.............

 

[the_edski]

come on...who doesn't love splashing their face with colored alcohol? ... I agree, AV (and in the same boat, Skin Bracer) are cheap enough that you don't need to go even less expensive and buy the house brand.

 

[michiganlover]

Well, both bottles (to me anyway) smelled like a cross between turpentine and varnish. Oh well, at least I've got cool bottles to decant into.............

I have experienced that smell before too with both vintage AV, and vintage Skin Bracer. Likely a result of adverse storage conditions, or being exposed to a large amount of sun light. Either way, the product has most certainly turned.

 

[michiganlover]

come on...who doesn't love splashing their face with colored alcohol? ... I agree, AV (and in the same boat, Skin Bracer) are cheap enough that you don't need to go even less expensive and buy the house brand.

House brand Skin Bracer (made by ViJohn who also makes Barbasol Brisk) is in a different boat. I actually think it may have more menthol content than the original!! I also think the house brand Skin Bracer is pretty spot on in terms of fragrance, but it should be: ViJohn makes Skin Bracer for Colgate!! Pretty easy to make a clone of something when you have the super secret recipe for the original!! lol.

 

[the_edski]

I never knew that, I stand corrected!

House brand Skin Bracer (made by ViJohn who also makes Barbasol Brisk) is in a different boat. I actually think it may have more menthol content than the original!! I also think the house brand Skin Bracer is pretty spot on in terms of fragrance, but it should be: ViJohn makes Skin Bracer for Colgate!! Pretty easy to make a clone of something when you have the super secret recipe for the original!! lol.