Non old man aftershave?

[Rumwood]

I would ask the people who say you smell like a Grandpa what they think is a youthful aftershave. These judgments are so subjective that I really think one person's opinion is just that, one opinion. Look on ebay for the vintage ads that are sold. A lot of these "old man" scents feature either sexy women or young men. Other ads are endorsements from middle-aged celebrities, and Madison Avenue wouldn't pay these people to advertise without expectations of a huge volume of sales.

What I have read is that the target population for most advertisers is Ages 18-54. That is a 36-year range. That means Old Spice and other scents are trying to sell the same product to high school seniors that they are trying to sell to people well into middle age.

I am 58 and the only criteria I have ever used for fragrance is how good it makes me feel. If I feel good about myself, I figure that I'm using the right product.

You have to realize those ads are vintage for a reason. The times have changed. Those scents and products were popular with the younger crowd back in the day, but do you ever see a modern English Leather commercial? How about CLASSIC Old Spice? Look at the Aqua Velva facebook page - it's all about how dad passed the aftershave on to his son. You don't see ads for these old products, because they don't market that to the kids anymore.

The general marketing age is NOT 18-54. It's 18-34. That's why Gillette isn't marketing a safety razor. That's why Old Spice has new products like Swagger and Denali. Classic products are called classic for a reason.

 

[MegaBullfrog09]

I'm younger than most of you at 22. I usually wear stuff with no lingering scents. I like Barbon, Krampert's Frostbite, Captain's Choice Lime, Captain's Choice Bay Rum, Floid Blue, and Clubman (sometimes.)

I love the skin care that Clubman has, but my girlfriend doesn't like the scent.

 

[luvmysuper]

I think what women want (unless they are really weird) is not to kiss a guy that smells like their dad.
Don't wear what reminds her of her dad if you want her to kiss you.
That's going to be different on each woman, unless your dating the circus quintuplets.

Go to the deepest of the Amazon and ask the most aboriginal tribeswoman if the Aqua Velva you are wearing smells like an old man.
I have no doubt the interpreter will inform you that she says it does not.
Frame of reference. Aqua Velva is associated with old man smell because some people are used to smelling it on older men and have associated that smell with older men, not because it, in and of itself smells like an old man scent.

 

[Chadao]

My dad smelled like clean sweat and cigarettes.

Yesterday I was getting my boarding pass at American Airlines, JFK. As I stepped up, the lovely young woman asked, "Oh my god, what cologne are you wearing? I love men's cologne and yours is fantastic." I was wearing Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme. This made me smile. And the sillage is good.

 

[Dave_D]

To a certain extent, its all subjective. Go with what you dig and avoid letting someone else define what's 'cool' for you.

 

[mrb7]

Frankly, as far as "my old man" goes, what's wrong with smelling like a member of the tribe?

 

[Lamb Root]

Old men are old because they tend to last for a long time. They are usually wise too. Who told you that you smell like a grandpa? One person or more of them? Fashion in scents changes from year to year. People don't. Be confident in yourself and wear whatever you like as long as it doesn't bother your neighbor/friend/colleague/spouse/relative/... too much.

 

[dcc]

Adidas,STR8

 

[gus1942]

Well, I'm late 30's, so not far off from an old man.
Anyway, I normally use Clubman, Fred's Spice, Old Spice, and Avon Excalibur.
Been told that I smell like Grandpa or an old man several times.
Anything easily avalible and not expensive for a "young" guy like me?

Another "juvenile" post about us old guys. Just kidding, but someday you will be old, or maybe you won't.

 

[guerreit2]

Im partial to the 'old man scents' myself(and luckily for the most part so are the ladies)... I find a lot of stuff like gillette cool wave, adidas etc.. to be too much like 'kid stuff' honestly. It reminds me of what high school guys who just figured out what cologne is always pour all over themselves. I really like the Taylor of Bond Street ETON COLEGE as somewhat of a happy medium. It is almost a classic scent blended with something modern and while it's not my favorite, I find that it is not offensive and has a very pleasant smell.

 

[FaceScraper]

Ive seen the white bottles at wally world, did you get this there also?

I see the Nivea Energy everywhere in NYC. Easily obtainable, nice clean modern scent that fades fast. However, i much prefer the Aqua Velva Ice Sport. A MUCH nicer scent (to my nose). Its still similar aquatic scent like the Nivea Energy, just nicer. Also its not so easily available so you wont smell it everywhere. (I bought from Amazon). Supposedly it smells like Davidoff Coolwater (ive never tried that so cant comment)

 

[infotech]

I have a different opinion on this. The Proraso splash (at least the old formulation) for me was a pungent 'old man stink' par excellence -- complete with notes of stale sweat and sour urine. I can't imagine how this could be described as 'light and fresh' but then again, everyone's skin chemistry (and nose) is different.

Different indeed. Sour urine and sweat? I have not detected any hint of either of those scents.

If you still have your old bottle and want to get rid of it, please PM me and I"ll send you my address. The old formula is a bit better than the new, but both are great.

I came up with light because it disappears about 10 minutes after I apply it.

I came up with fresh due to the menthol notes. I guess refreshing would be better. My shave isn't complete until I've splashed on a liberal amount and my wife loves the stuff. I can say for sure she doesn't like sour urine...

 

[Jerry-built Hustler]

I came up with light because it disappears about 10 minutes after I apply it.

Our noses tend to tune out scents to which they are continually exposed. I'm constantly amazed by pronouncements on this and other boards that a given aftershave "disappears" after a short while, when my experience is the opposite. I suspect it's because when applying a scent to the face, the nose eventually tunes it out, such that it seems to the user like it's gone, when it isn't. Any time I want to test the longevity of a scent, I always put it on the back of my hand, then sniff it at various intervals. That way, my nose isn't constantly exposed to it and thus desensitized. When I do this with the Proraso splash, I find it lasts quite a long time, with a fair amount of potency. I would never recommend it as a "disappearing" scent, or one that can be used without fear of clashing with another scent.

On a side note, I came across a man at the store the other night who was unmistakably wearing Proraso, and I didn't have to get that close to him to know it. It's got more potency than you (or he) might think.

 

[mikey]

and they will probably respond with 'Axe'.

Thanks,
Mike

I would ask the people who say you smell like a Grandpa what they think is a youthful aftershave...

 

[Tarheelboy]

"Old Man Smell?" I don't know if I like your tone.
I love the smell of old men marching out of the barbershop on a Saturday morning... it smells like victory!

Pinaud original all the way, baby!

 

[infotech]

It's got more potency than you (or he) might think.

It is a potency I welcome as much as you detest.

 

[Jerry-built Hustler]

It is a potency I welcome as much as you detest.

Despite the differences in our preference for the scent, it sounds like we're in agreement that it is potent, and is not a "disappearing" fragrance.

 

[Kwikrp]

Truefitt and Hill 1805 great scent

 

[Gissy]

I would second the Floid black. Modern, but with a classic touch.

 

[ricpac]

I am young i think(25), and i wear what i like. Floid is what i use and it smells very barbershop like which some may find "old man" smelling but in the end, it is whatever you like. What you smell like doesnt describe who you are. Plus most "younger" smells stuff is either high-priced because its all these big name brands or smells like a bunch of fruits. Smell like old leather and barbershop i say. Wear what you like and be damn proud of how you smell.