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Seeking a better version of Old Spice. Any suggestions?

post #1 of 31
3/1/10 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
Loved Old Spice when I was a little kid. I tried revisiting in my late-20s and found it weirdly chemical, kind of a tragic chemical miasma. Had a tough time believing it was the same after shave I first found in the early '60s. In the eighties I bought a cologne-strength version from a drug store. Pretty horrible stuff, too. I even tried the deodorant. Really, b.o. would be preferable - it's terrible, leaving an odd plastic/glue aroma that lasts for hours. Eau du Hefty Bag, as I recall. I tossed it pretty quickly.

All that said, I still have a soft spot for essence of Old Spice. The newest versions capture it only fleetingly, before they turn into yet another atrocious chemical meltdown. Is there a better version of this out there? Surely some enterprising fragrance house has figured out that this would be a prime one to rip off and improve. . .
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post #2 of 31
3/1/10 at 5:43pm
They reformulated this years ago and it was never the same. Your best bet is to go for the EDT version, its a shame as they took away the spicy bite to this fragrance.
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post #3 of 31
3/1/10 at 5:57pm
Maybe try out some Bay Rums and old fashioned aftershaves. I'm not too familiar with them but I've seen others vouch for: Pinuad Clubman, Pinuad Bay Rum and Royall Bay Rhum. C.O. Bigelow makes a good product too.

Does anyone know if Orvis or Ogallala is any good?
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post #4 of 31
3/1/10 at 6:23pm
I've seen the argument made that Creed's Ambre Canelle is sort of like a high end version of Old Spice. I don't know...I tried it and I think it's such a slow seller at Nieman in Bev Hills, the tester bottle was pretty played out. Didn't get much out of it. But it might be worth a sample. It's unisex or a female scent, so at my Niemans, they had to run get it out of the main Creed section and bring it up to the men's section.


Pinaud Clubman is sort of in that neighborhood, but it reminds me a lot more of Brute.
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post #5 of 31
3/1/10 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
I bought Ambre Canelle online, and my bottle of it is a little stale, too. Still, pretty good stuff. Gotta say, though, doesn't remind me too much of Old Spice. I'm looking for something with a bit more vanilla than Ambre Canelle.
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post #6 of 31
3/1/10 at 6:54pm
Rive Gauche by YSL perhaps?
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post #7 of 31
3/1/10 at 6:55pm
Yeah...I wasn't sure, but some better noses than me thought it was like Old Spice. It dissapeared pretty fast on back of my hand, and while it was there, I didn't get the Old Spice vibe.
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post #8 of 31
3/1/10 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
I like Rive Gauche, but no, doesn't hit the OS vibe for me either. OS - I'm getting the warm-spicy-vanilla accord.
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post #9 of 31
3/1/10 at 9:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cannotavoidtrite View Post

Rive Gauche by YSL perhaps?

not even close .... OS is in another stratoshere
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post #10 of 31
3/1/10 at 9:44pm
PS by Paul Sebastian is a super-strong powdery oriental that smells a lot like Old Spice to me, only much more complex and long lasting. It's better than Old Spice (and I love Old Spice).
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post #11 of 31
3/2/10 at 5:22am
I found Zizanie somehow an amped out version of Old Spice. Of course, I can't generalize on this perception.
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post #12 of 31
3/2/10 at 11:57am
I haven't tried any version of OS for a couple of decades, but others have said that Versus Uomo by Versace is a more refined OS with a lemony twist.
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post #13 of 31
3/2/10 at 11:58am
I have the alcohol free Old Spice. I don't like it.
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post #14 of 31
3/2/10 at 8:28pm
Old spice is just a cheap, overly synthetic bay rum now. Look for a vintage (pre 1980) bottle on eBay. Ambre Canlle is ok, but the Cinnamon was too strong for me and it was far too soapy.
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post #15 of 31
3/2/10 at 8:48pm
Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax (which is basically a spiced tonka frag...)
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post #16 of 31
3/2/10 at 11:19pm
Creed BDP gave me that 'Old Spice if They Made It for George Clooney' vibe
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post #17 of 31
3/2/10 at 11:36pm
There is no substitute for Old Spice, IMO.
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post #18 of 31
3/6/10 at 9:25pm
I always found similarities between OS and Obsession
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post #19 of 31
3/6/10 at 9:43pm
I've heard some of the house brand variants sold at Family Dollar and such stores are closer to the original Old Spice. I've not tried any. I was going to pick up a bottle of the Family Dollar variant the other day because it was so cheap but didn't have any cash on me at the moment so I didn't bother. Pinaud's Bay Rum has too much clove, its spicy but not like older Old Spice.
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post #20 of 31
3/7/10 at 3:55am
The Family Dollar store sells their own version of Old Spice. Made by Ivy Club (white bottle/black cap). According to another Forum, that specializes in shaving/aftershaves/shaving creams...etc... this is the only aftershave that is the closest to the original Shulton Old Spice.
The price for this bottle is $1.39.
I bought myself 2 of those yesterday...
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post #21 of 31
3/7/10 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by adonis View Post

Creed BDP gave me that 'Old Spice if They Made It for George Clooney' vibe

Well said. I feel the same way about Guerlain Heritage.
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post #22 of 31
3/7/10 at 10:11am
Marks & Spencer has cologne that says Old Spice too I think.
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post #23 of 31
3/8/10 at 9:06am
Quote:
PS by Paul Sebastian is a super-strong powdery oriental that smells a lot like Old Spice to me, only much more complex and long lasting. It's better than Old Spice (and I love Old Spice).

+1, absolutely on the money. Michael Edwards lists both as classical soft orientals, for whatever that's worth.
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post #24 of 31
3/8/10 at 9:41am
PS is a nice suggestion. If you're looking to get something that has a similar scent, PS is a great way to go. For a similar effect in a different scent, I might suggest Royal Briar, which has the powdery goodness of Shulton Old Spice but with some wood instead of spice.

Alternatively, you could order the Shulton Old Spice currently made in India from someone who caters to wetshavers. For instance, Connaught Shaving out of the UK sells it very inexpensively (and has the lime and musk versions, too). The stuff sold at Family Dollar is better than the current P&G product, but it still isn't quite as potent nor as well-made as the old Old Spice.

Regards,
T
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post #25 of 31
3/31/12 at 2:35pm
Parfums de Nicolai New York ?
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post #26 of 31
3/31/12 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by man114 View Post

I've heard some of the house brand variants sold at Family Dollar and such stores are closer to the original Old Spice. I've not tried any. I was going to pick up a bottle of the Family Dollar variant the other day because it was so cheap but didn't have any cash on me at the moment so I didn't bother. Pinaud's Bay Rum has too much clove, its spicy but not like older Old Spice.

That is the Rumor on a shaving forum. I bought one from I think Familar Dollar or a similar store based on recommendations that it smells closer to the original. I haven't smelled the original in probably over 20 years but I think this statement is true.
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post #27 of 31
3/31/12 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdeC View Post

Parfums de Nicolai New York ?

Imo Parfums Del Nicolai New York smells nothing like Old Spice. Unless you refer to both having a dated smell lol. Just joking but I don't get that connection.
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post #28 of 31
3/31/12 at 4:18pm
Rive Gauche Pour Homme by YSL
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post #29 of 31
3/31/12 at 5:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmm150 View Post

Imo Parfums Del Nicolai New York smells nothing like Old Spice.

Agree.
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post #30 of 31
4/1/12 at 12:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by perfaddict View Post

There is no substitute for Old Spice, IMO.

I hadn't smelt Bois 1920's Vetver Ambrato then. Certainly a good substitute, but it is on the niche side of the fence.
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post #31 of 31
4/1/12 at 1:59am
If you're looking for an exact replica, good luck. If you want a more sophisticated and sexy Old Spice, you might give Creed's Bois du Portugal a sniff.
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Seeking a better version of Old Spice. Any suggestions?