10 Reasons Women Prefer Old School Mens Cologne

(Reading time: approx. 7 minutes)

Manly-smelling aftershaves that will speak to her womanly instincts!

Old school men's cologne is back in fashion - and women love it! In fact, I'd personally go so far as to say that it never really went out of fashion, having remained one of man's secret weapons of the bathroom cabinet while the popularity of modern aftershaves has waxed and waned.

Vintage men's fragrances like Hai Karate, Old Spice, Aqua Velva and Brut are now regarded as classics but are, in some cases, difficult to find. Harking back to an era when men were men and hairy chests were irresistible, men's cologne popular during the 60's and 70's remains unpretentious, raw and, quite simply, the essence of manhood.

You'll have no trouble finding these manly-smelling colognes on this site though. My following reviews of the aftershaves of yesteryear explains why modern men should switch to classic men's fragrances, and are my 10 reasons women prefer old school men's cologne.

Vintage men's fragrances in this article...

Skin Bracer by Mennen
Hai Karate Aftershave
English Leather Aftershave and Toiletries
Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Blue Stratos
Old Spice Aftershave and Toiletries
Tabac Aftershave
Aramis
Brut Aftershave and Toiletries
Denim Original

#1. Mennen Skin Bracer Original Aftershave

When smelling good just isn't enough

Mennen Skin Bracer or, to put it correctly, Skin Bracer by Mennen, is a light and refreshing aftershave. Like some of the other aftershaves presented on this site, it's quite hard to find in stores but is readily available for sale online. It's got a great, clean smell to it that's reminiscent of barber shops and tightens the pores without any drama - in other words, you won't be pulling faces like Macaulay Culkin in the movie Home Alone!

Because Skin Bracer aftershave is so light, the crisp fragrance fades nicely throughout the day. This doesn't mean that you need to splash more on to make your man-smell last, as the key to wearing aftershave is all in its subtlety. A woman should be able to smell it when she's up close, not at five yards away - and for that effect, Skin Bracer by Mennen is just perfect.

#2. Hai Karate Aftershave for Sale

Hai Karate - be careful how you use it!

Hai Karate is the rarest of aftershaves, for a number of reasons. It was originally launched in the late 1960's and had a very successful run of sales throughout the 70's and 80's, competing with other brands such as Aqua Velva, Old Spice, English Leather and Brut. However, in recent decades the increasing sophistication of a man's self-image and the increasing sophistication of aftershave marketing have left Hai Karate on the shelf. I'd have liked to have added the word "literally" at the end of that sentence, but I can't. You see, Hai Karate is rare because you can't find it on the shelves anymore. So, if you're looking for Hai Karate aftershave for sale, then your only option is online.

Hai Karate is also rare because its marketing broke the mold. Commercials for Hai Karate were often comical, and each bottle came with a small self-defense instruction booklet on how wearers could fend off beautiful women. Because of this, Hai Karate aftershave is probably the most fondly-remembered vintage men's fragrance. But let me assure you, there's nothing comical about how it smells. It always has been, and still is really nice. It's an absolute classic and don't forget - be careful how you use it! You can check out a classic Hai Karate commercial in the Video Collection on this site.

#3. English Leather Aftershave Splash

A man should wear English Leather or nothing at all

English Leather is one of those aftershaves that men stick with for years and years, often passing their fondness for the brand down to their sons. So, if you're a man of tradition, then English Leather aftershave is certainly the traditional fragrance for you.

I always love the styling of aftershave bottles. In particular, I like the logos that are used to evoke a sense of the lifestyle that wearing the aftershave brings. The English Leather logo is a saddle - always leather, always classy, always timeless, always mature. A true old school men's cologne.

#4. Aqua Velva Ice Blue Aftershave

There's something about an Aqua Velva Man

Known as America's first aftershave, Aqua Velva has quite a heritage and remains an extremely popular vintage men's fragrance. In fact, at the time of writing this article, the Aqua Velva Facebook page has over 170,000 likes. That's hardly surprising, because it's another aftershave that's enjoyed by one generation to the next.

Like Blue Stratos, which you can see next, the color and the description are reassuringly cool. That's exactly what you get with Aqua Velva Ice Blue - something cooling and something fresh for that clean-shaven face. They say there's nothing like an Aqua Velva man, and I can believe it. It's another one of those classic male fragrances I think will never go out of style.

#5. Blue Stratos Eau de Toilette

Free as the wind... confident... ice cool

What's in a name? It's a good question, and more so when it's asked of aftershave marketeers. I've no idea what the word "stratos" means. In fact, I've even Googled it and have pretty much drawn a blank. However, that's not the point. Whether they're made up or not, the names of aftershaves are often used to evoke feelings - the feelings you get wearing them. Suave, sophisticated, sensual, or possibly just as cool and as fresh as the stratosphere. Aha - that's it!

With its logo of a soaring bird, the bottle (and the contents) of Blue Stratos aftershave evokes freedom, action and the great outdoors. The smell is a combination of oak moss, sandalwood and cedarwood, blended with hints of musk and vanilla. It's an old school men's cologne that's simply gorgeous, and another oft-remembered classic that you can see advertised in the Video Collection.

#6. Old Spice Classic Aftershave Lotion

Old Spice - the mark of a man

Old Spice, in its various incarnations you can see here, has been accompanied by some great advertising slogans like: "Smell is Power", "Believe in Your Smell", "If your grandfather hadn't worn it, you wouldn't exist." Such is the power of advertising in creating successful brands of aftershave lotion and associated products.

For me, the classic campaign for Old Spice aftershave included the 1970's surfing commercial (seen in the UK, and which you can see here). The music featured in the commercial is Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" from his masterpiece "Carmina Burana". As well as that particular piece of music being extremely rousing, maybe there was an intention to suggest that fortune favored those that wore Old Spice...

#7. Tabac Aftershave Lotion Original

Dare you try a touch of Tabac?

Clean, crisp, discrete, light, sharp. There are many adjectives that have been used to describe the smell of Tabac, and it's a popular aftershave. But, it's not quite to everyone's taste. The fragrance notes for Tabac mention lavender, citrus and warm florals. Lavender? Warm florals? For men?

Don't be put off by the merest suggestion that you might smell like a baby while wearing Tabac, because in my opinion you won't. Yes, it's a little sweeter than some of the other men's aftershaves presented here, but it's this composition, subtlety and uniqueness that makes it a real hit with both men and women. First introduced in 1959, Tabac certainly qualifies as one of my top 10 best smelling colognes and still comes in its iconic ceramic bottle.

#8. Aramis Aftershave for Men

Classical elegance for the established man

Ever heard of Rene d'Herblay? No? Well, he's 'Aramis', one of the Three Musketeers in Alexandre Dumas' classic novel of the same name. One of the personality traits given Aramis in this book, is that of loving and courting women. Hmmm... we're definitely heading into the realms of aftershave being used to attract the opposite sex here. Could this be a case of fiction meeting fact?

Sadly, Aramis aftershave isn't named after Aramis the musketeer. But let's not spoil a good idea and say that the leather and sandlewood smell with the warmth of spices and cloves, combine to create an unmistakable air of distinction and masculine adventure. Now that certainly sounds like fact to me! Like some of the other old school men's fragrances featured on this site, Aramis aftershave also comes in a classic heavy glass bottle. You know when you've got it and you know when to wear it.

#9. Brut Original Fragrance

Make today your Brut day

If you're new to the world of vintage men's fragrances and are looking for something uncompromisingly manly, then forget Hai Karate and forget Denim, because Brut is what you need. Since the late 1960's men have been splashing it on all over, much to the delight of women the world over. Brut has also enjoyed endorsement from such sporting luminaries as football player Joe Namath, baseball player Hank Aaron, basketball player Wilt Chamberlain and boxer Muhammed Ali.

The smell of Brut aftershave is often described as awesome, or words to that effect, and I have to agree. It's also long-lasting, but not overpowering and it mixes well with the fragrances of other brands of shower gels and deodorants. All in all, the experience of wearing Brut is very solid, down-to-earth and well... manly. It does exactly what it says on the bottle (and pretty much what is says in the commercials as well).

#10. Denim Aftershave Original

For men who don't have to try too hard

Denim is another vintage men's fragrance that plays to the requirement to make a man effortlessly attractive. The name itself is rugged, casual and easy-going. Just like slipping on a pair of jeans or a denim jacket without really thinking about what you were going to wear.

With spicy advertising that accentuated the masculine, Denim aftershave is the quintessential men's fragrance of yesteryear. Denim has a great smell to it, yet is not overpowering. Again, it's quite hard to come by, but online you can still buy it either in the original fragrance or a number of its variations. You can see the Denim aftershave commercial in one of the videos here - what a classic.