Thread: Old spice classic aftershave

But considering how few people other than us internet weenies care, in other words, a tiny fraction of OS buyers, why on earth would they flat out lie? I know it's popular to hate corporations but I don't believe they actually have an incentive to flat out lie to customers. There's not enough of the old stuff to compete, even a little, with their market. There's absolutely no doubt that perfume changes over time and the stuff you think is Shulton as it smelled in the 1960's (or 70's, etc.) is not. It's old, somewhat stale product as it smells now.

Look, I've got a bottle of the old stuff (1960's) and it smells different in the bottle than the new stuff. The new stuff has more of an alcohol smell until it's applied and evaporates. Then, they both smell so close (considering the age of the Shulton) it's not worth arguing about (but I do anyway because I think this whole subject is total myth and a misunderstanding that the old product has aged and is not any longer what it was when new).

So I believe my own nose and P&G over self-proclaimed internet posters, like the late Clubman Rob, who's disappeared or died. He made declarations without any evidence and a lot of people simply took it as fact. It wasn't.

If you take nothing but this away from the discussion, I'll feel at least like what I'm trying to say was heard and understood - the vintage Shulton you smell today is not how it smelled when it was brand new and the alcohol was more pronounced before it evaporated over the years. The fragrance oils have also aged and changed and are not like they were when the bottle was fresh. It's really no different than wine on most levels. Old, aged wine has mellowed compared to new wine. Old, aged Shulton has done the same thing. That's not something that P&G can do anything about. There was NO reason for them to change the formula to save a few cents a bottle when they could have simply raised the price a few cents. Would you not buy OS because it was $5.50 instead of $5.25?

Originally Posted by CSG

Why on earth would they flat out lie? I know it's popular to hate corporations but I don't believe they actually have an incentive to flat out lie to customers. There was NO reason for them to change the formula to save a few cents a bottle when they could have simply raised the price a few cents.

To preserve their bottom line, namely charging the same amount while skimping on ingredients, then telling customers it's exactly the same formula. If there was a series of reformulations (as Blix has outlined for us) I'd be willing to bet the reason was due to cost savings, nothing more. I would also think that if they didn't they would have to pass the increase on to the customer, likely more than a few cents. Old Spice is part of the "cheap aftershave/cologne" market, and if the price rose too dramatically people would simply abandon OS and instead buy Brut or Aqua Velva etc.

(I would still prefer a reformulated OS to the other cheapie brands, regardless )

Well, you can believe what you want. I don't buy your argument for a minute though.

I also love old spice after shave ! but find it drys my skin out alot ... I recently tried Burt's bees aftershave lotion and really liked it! The reason im posting this under the old spice thread is because i found the scent of the cream to be almost the same as old spice, with a little hint of Gin in there haha my two favs all wrapped up in one package ! So if your lookin for a change giver a go for $10 bucks ya cant go wrong.

Hi guys felt like i had to throw my 2 cents in here...

I recently polished off a 10-12 year old bottle of the stuff and went to the shops to purchase a fresh supply. When i got home and cracked the bad boy open i was rudely shocked at the fact proctor and gamble had the audacity to package this fine product in a plastic bottle with a red cap, it just blew my mind. I wasn't overly offended by it as i was expecting a product of the same nature as the 10 yr old bottle i had just finished, this was not the case.

The new stuff smelled much more alcoholic, not as strong, and the texture was thin clear and watery as opposed to my old stuff which was thick, creamy and had a milky sort of colour. The old stuff was far superior in every way shape and form, however i have noticed once you let the new stuff set in on your face for a bit it does become more similar in smell to the old stuff which leads me to proclaim these 2 theories:

1: as has been previously suggested in this thread, the formula actually improves with age and has remained exactly the same since the glass bottle era

Or

2: proctor And ganble have indeed changed the formula depriving future generations from enjoying this fine aftershave experience thus somewhat destroying the fabric of society.

I am going to hope and prey that theory 1 is correct and purchase 3 bottles of old spice to brew over time and just keep buying a fourth bottle for everyday use. Each time i finish a 4th bottle i will use the third for one application to see how much the scent has changed compared to each new bottle leaving the other 2 completly unopened.

Any feedback/comments appreciated lets keep this thread alive

Well folks, we may finally have an answer....

This might not be new news for many of you, but the other day I was lurking at "the other forum" and right on the home page was an interesting link. It seems one of their members took it upon himself to do a somewhat scientific experiment with different versions of Old Spice, and the conclusion indeed points to a reformulation by P&G. I'm in no way enorsing this study as definitive, but it is the first physical experiment that I've seen on the subject, which is likely more objective than relying on both old memories and suspicious corporate claims. It also concludes that someone at that forum has too much time on his hands....

As much as I hate to steer members to "the other forum", feel free to check it out and comment.

Love OS as long as it remains similar enough to spark the memories that it brings back. I think that is the real reason I use it. The nostalgia of the generation of my grandfather when men were different than they are now

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Yup, I think you hit the nail on the head. That's the common theory about Old Spice, English Leather etc. It likely applies to men as well, as we usually start off using the same stuff as our Dads or Grandfathers. I know I did, and these classic scents still bring back fond memories of my youth.

When I first started dating in high school ( Mid Sixties ) I can remember using my Dad's Old Spice as I didn't have money for my own. I know he had been using it for as long as I could remember...............Kinda takes you back..........

Originally Posted by OldSpice03

The new stuff smelled much more alcoholic, not as strong, and the texture was thin clear and watery as opposed to my old stuff which was thick, creamy and had a milky sort of colour.

I don't know about the new stuff, but I do have 2 bottles of Old Spice...both in glass, and
both were purchased at least 10 years ago.

One bottle is labeled "After Shave" only....it is fairly "watery" and clear.
The other is labeled "Sensitive"....it is somewhat thick and milky colored.

There is a detectable difference in the aroma between the two, but not a dramatic difference,
except in texture.

My younger co-workers call it "foo foo". I guess that means that I'm not metrosexual enough...or
something.

ObNothing: Mama Bear Soaps' "Aged Spice" shaving soap smells (to my nose, anyway) identical to vintage Shulton Old Spice (of which I still have 2-3 bottles of AS and a puck of the mug soap left).

Aged Spice Glycerin Shave Soap Aged Spice Glycerin Shave Soap [shvso38] - $9.99 : Mama Bears Soaps and Gift Shop , Mama Bears Shaving Soaps and Bath Products for the Discerning Gentleman and Lady