So in my effort to thin the burgeoning herd of fragrances I've pulled out some of the old forgotten classics from under the sink and put them on the "ready line". The idea of course is to go through the gaggle of "almost gone" aftershaves. Why? well, so I can go out and buy some more of course. Once you think about it, it's no more ridiculous that mowing your lawn and then watering it so you can mow it again. But I digress.

Speaking of cheap stuff that's great, a classic long lasting scent available anywhere for next to nothing. I pulled out the familiar green Brut bottle this morning and applied a liberal dose of the Brut Splash on after my shave. It's a really great and very long lasting scent. Many would call this an old man scent but to be honest, it brought back memories of high school.

I think my attempt to thin the herd will fail miserably. Despite my best intentions, I find myself pulling out the seldom worn aftershaves and falling in love all over again. The same thing happened with English Leather (realistically I don't ever see this leaving the rotation). You see English Leather (and British Sterling) were my father's go to fragrances. English Leather always reminds me of him. Although, I've successfully purged AV Musk and AV Iced Sport, I think when I finish up the English Leather, I'll probably go out and buy another bottle. Ditto for Brut. Perhaps this thinning the herd craze has run it's course. What I really need is more AS and more cologne. Even as I promised myself to not buy more AS/Cologne until I used up some of my current reserves, I couldn't make it through the weekend without cracking. I bought a 7 oz. bottle of Aqua Velva (this one doesn't really count against the fragrance allocation though does it?) and some McGraw ASB and cologne. I think the best I can hope for is to have a plan and keep it sane. Variety is indeed the spice of life. OK, no more until the Brut and English Leather are gone (yeah right )

While I've never been a fan of Brut or English Leather (and my wife hates both anyway), I am a big fan frugral fragrances. My rotation is centered aroud Old Spice, AV Ice Sport, AV Ice Blue, and Pinaud Clubman. I also love British Sterling. As a matter of fact, most of my A/S's fall in the under $10.00 category. I pondering adding Pinaud Lime Sec and Special Reserve someday. Adidas also makes some good, affordable, fragrances.

We've got a tobacco ASL here in Austria/Germany. It's about 1,50-2€ and its a great splash.

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I have Jovan musk, Clubman VI Bay rum and recently purchased AV blue. I hate to say it for fear of losing my standing in the community here, but I really don't care for the AV. I bought it because it seems that the majority use it and like it, a definite front runner in the arsenal of AS. Maybe its that the Clubman Bay rum was my first. Love the smell and the cooling it has and the toning. AV does too, but the scent disappoints me. I'm going to start ducking from the booing and hissing.lol

My favorite cheap ASL's now are the Master Line. Topaz,Spice, Lord and Master, Focus,Challenge, Iceland Breeze , got'em all for $5 each from Appleton's. Master has been around since 1935 and I think these barbershop ASL's compare well with the Pinaud line. To me though the Master seems to have a tad more glycerin . The scents are loud and traditional barbershop in the great old fashioned shaker bottles.

I love Master's Bay Rum. Not my favorite Bay Rum, but the price is right and it is great for daily use. AV Ice Sport Cooling Blue is a favorite right next to Clubman.

My current cheap favorite is Barbasol Pacific Rush purchased at my local Dollar General for, of course, $1.00. This AS has a burn worthy of St. Charles' Blue Line and a nice light fragrance.

I was going through Wal-Mart last night, and found English Leather aftershave balm. Soothing, and smells good. And like you, 1OLDGI, it reminds me of my father.

Mennen green tonic.....it's called skin bracer fresh lime in the USA I think

Brut Alaska....I don't know if this stuff is available in USA

I bought them in France, and they are cheap, 5€/100ml....7$/3,3oz

In Spain Floid and Myrsol are as cheap as nice stuff....the problem with Myrsol is the size: 1 litre

English Leather, Brut and British Sterling were my Dads go to aftershaves too, back in the 1960's. I used to like the sets they had available at Christmas time - aftershave, cologne, deodorant and soap on a rope. Brut was my favorite when going on a date. And they had a much better scent in glass bottles.

It's great that you mentioned Mc Graw ASB. The regular Mc Graw fragrance is pretty good and the Southern Blend is even better. My mom brought me the Southern Blend and it's the best woodsy scent that I have used in a long time.

My favroite cheap aftershave though is, as anybody can probibly guess, is Origional Sport AV followed by Old Spice AS. Old Spice is the most popular aftershave. If you are wondering where Ice Blue AV is in popularity it's in third place. That's the aftershave that remindes me of my father since when I was growing up thats the aftershave that he used usually.

Dry Lime Skin Bracer is no longer around in the US .

I really like

I really like after shaves now. at first I did not use them, then I read about skin bracer and had to try it. all I can say is wow. this stuff burns like hell but it has a cooling fresh reward. I went out and bought some new cologne this week (polo explorer) it came with some aftershave. It smells great but it burns without the cooling effect. I probably will not use it much.

I smelled some of the Adidas fragrances at the local swap meet this weekend. I really like the Pulse fragrance.

The best Adidas fragrance is Victory League.

One of my old favorites is Polo. I still have a bottle of the aftershave and cologne in the cabinet and only use it sparingly. It reminds me of my Dad. I don't know if you can still find the green bottles anymore, all I see is the black Polo Explorer sets. Of course English Leather is a classic and I hope it's around for a long long time!

So what's second place if Old Spice is first and AV is third??

KS

If you want truly cheap, quality after shave, get Superior 70 Bay Rum. It's available at Walgreens for under $2.00 for 11 ounces. It comes from Puerto Rico. It's in the ethnic products section rather than with the shaving stuff. It's true classic bay rum and will last all day. A dab of cool water on the face will bring it back as the day wears on.

Aqua Velva

All this talk about aftershaves makes me think of Aqua Velva and my odd experiences with it. Back when I was in high school, in the mid '90s, they had Aqua Velva Ice Sport in the small bottles, that light blue stuff. I really liked it. Then it disappeared and I read in various places online that it had been relegated to the European market only. But recently I see it back in stock at Stop & Shop, just like it never went anywhere. Still looks the same, same bottle design. Kinda weird.

In the meantime I bought Aqua Velva Musk. Eh.