Any Perfumes that Smell of Vintage Flex Shampoo

[Michelle_H]

Does anyone know of a perfume that smells of the Revlon Flex Shampoo popular in the late 70's/early 80's? It is a comforting memory for me, and it smelled so good! Sometimes I like to depart from the complex fragrances and have a little nostalgia!

[tiffingirl]

Yes, I used Flex back in the day and loved the scent. Here are two perfumes that come to mind:

Coty Wild Musk Oil (apparently now discontinued but check on ebay) and the drydown of Estee Lauder Private Collection Amber Ylang edp.

I have both and they remind me a great deal of Flex!

[David Ruskin]

The original Flex shampoo fragrance was based on Shalimar (as was the Original Mr. Sheen).

[donna255]

I remember it from the 80s, and it did have an oriental vibe.

I own Coty Wild Musk Oil, and no. Not Shalimar either, it is too amber. Flex was more spicy.

My mum used Mr.Sheen never thought about it supposing to smell like Shalimar. I use the wipes now and they are lavender.

[teardrop]

l used Flex back in the day, too! l only have a vague memory of the smell though. l am intrigued to read that it was based on Shalimar; l never made that connection myself. But now that l come to think of it, l think it did have hints of amber & vanilla, & maybe citrus... l will be interested to see what other answers you might get.

Welcome to basenotes, Michelle!

[Michelle_H]

Thanks for your replies! Wild musk, in it's current incarnation. (I guess it has been reformulated?), does not smell like Flex, but it does smell like the mid 80s, to me. Perhaps the discontinued oil had hat special scent. I think of Flex as a mix of amber, soft musk, vanilla, sandalwood, and perhaps orange? I never really thought Flex smelled like Shalimar, but now that you mention it I can see how they could relate in the ambery vanilla notes...but Flex definitely had a different signature, in my memory...less vanilla, more sandalwood? It was a great shampoo scent in that it was warm but had that freshness that felt clean and cozy!

I will have to see if I can smell the Estée Lauder Amber Ylang sometime!

Thanks everyone. It's funny how a scent pops into memory and I want nothing more than to relive it!

[Michelle_H]

I kind of wonder if the old Wild Musk and Flex could have one of the "banned" musks in common, and that is why the current Wild Musk does not smell like Flex?

[Alityke]

I wish Flex was still around. It was the bet shampoo and conditioner range for curly hair. It's the only hair care range that ever gave me shiny looks.

Welcome Michelle. Great post

[Michelle_H]

I wish Flex was still around. It was the bet shampoo and conditioner range for curly hair. It's the only hair care range that ever gave me shiny looks.

Welcome Michelle. Great post

Thanks Alityke. I have curly hair too, it is so hard to find good products! I like Lush Cynthia Silvia Stout, even though it smells like beer and patchouli and not ambery sandalwood!

[donna255]

Coty Wild Musk oil was one of the first fragrances I ever worn. About 8 years ago a friend managed to get me a bottle from the US, I still have it.

[jujy54]

Thanks Alityke. I have curly hair too, it is so hard to find good products! I like Lush Cynthia Silvia Stout, even though it smells like beer and patchouli and not ambery sandalwood!

There's a product names for a Shel Silverstein poem? That is hilarious.

[KeLLsTar]

LOL I have Flex shampoo in my shower for nostalgia! I can't remember the early 80's scent however

[Galatea8]

LOL I have Flex shampoo in my shower for nostalgia! I can't remember the early 80's scent however

Where did you get it? I loved that shampoo.

[Ivan D' Great]

It was great! I've never pay attention u till a friend pointed it out. Maybe, just maybe try Amarige by Givenchy, veeery light sprayed. Spray in the air once, and then walk into it, it's very strong. You'll get florals too, but there's something there that reminds me of Flex.

And please share your findings, I'm interested too!

[KeLLsTar]

I got it from a Revlon warehouse sale a few years back, they had crates of it.

[sumug]

Does anyone know of a perfume that smells of the Revlon Flex Shampoo popular in the late 70's/early 80's? It is a comforting memory for me, and it smelled so good! Sometimes I like to depart from the complex fragrances and have a little nostalgia!

Hi Michelle,

I realize your post is 3 years old but I just saw it and wanted you to know that yes, there is a perfume that smells almost exactly like Flex, and I'm wearing it right now. It's Prada's Infusion d'Iris. I used to love Flex in the 80s also. Try it out, it's definitely a very close match!

[David Ruskin]

As I wrote in 2012, Flex smelled a lot like vintage Shalimar. No doubt you completely missed that.

[Sea Roses]

As I wrote in 2012, Flex smelled a lot like vintage Shalimar. No doubt you completely missed that.

Thank you David.......I remembered that and apologise I didn't thank you at the time!

Flex was one of those shampoos my mother used to wash my hair with!

[Cook.bot]

As I recall, Flex smelled of balsam. In fact, I think it said "balsam" right on the bottle.

Now I'm eager to check out the Infusion d'Iris connection and see if that's true.

[Zealot Crusader]

As I recall, Flex smelled of balsam. In fact, I think it said "balsam" right on the bottle.

Now I'm eager to check out the Infusion d'Iris connection and see if that's true.

OMG I miss this shampoo! I still use Prell cuz it's the only thing that rinses clean and doesn't dry me out. I like separate leave in conditioning so I prefer simpler shampoos.

[Cook.bot]

OMG I miss this shampoo!

We are legion.

There are Facebook groups dedicated to glorifying the beauty that was Flex shampoo. Revlon is missing a huge marketing opportunity.

[Zealot Crusader]

We are legion.

There are Facebook groups dedicated to glorifying the beauty that was Flex shampoo. Revlon is missing a huge marketing opportunity.

I honestly don't see Revlon's name on anything but makeup now. I think they've been fully assimilated into the Capitalist Borg Corp.

[Ebenas]

Another woman here who can't move on after the loss of Flex (the green cap) shampoo ...

Sometime last year I picked up a bottle of Melvita L'Or Bio on sale for a tenner in a L'Occitane shop. It isn't a ringer for Flex but it does bring me back. Below are my impressions from last year - I've been spraying it all day and I still like it.

Anyway, it's not exactly classic material, but it's stirring memories of the '70s and '80s. It smells like any number of shampoos, cosmetics, etc - somewhat balsamy - notes listed as bergamot, jasmine, fig leaves, tiaré flowers, and cedar, and describing itself as a perfume of light and of life! I keep sniffing it as it reminds me of Flex shampoo, Neutrogena Rainbath shower gel, herbal toothpaste, and especially of these little circular moist pads that came in a plastic box like a compact, which my mother and friends used to carry - probably a precursor to the cosmetic wipes of today - actually I wish today's wipes smelled like those. It's a little like a scent made to cover the acetone of nail polish remover - somewhat chemical (although it's actually all natural according to box) but addictive, and not a green apple or coconut or other fruit anywhere in the mix. Flex was my favourite shampoo for years, and no wonder when I think of the fashion in the 80's for abominations such as green apple shampoo.