The Avon Collection and Information Thread

[babybrie]

Here are some I have.

 

[Spider]

Nice collection!

 

[Spider]

Here are some I have.

Be sure to head over to the newbie forum and introduce yourself!

 

[DytheGOD]

From the late 1950s, up until the early 2000s, Avon produced a myriad of different Aftershave Splashes in Decorative special shaped decanters. If you have found any of these decanters or love collecting them..... this is the thread for you!

If you have found a new decanter, or saw a good selection of them at an Antique Store or Thrift Store, post them! If you have questions about a certain decanter's age, or what aftershave might be in it (if the label is missing), please ask. I have a good reference book for Avon collectors and can probably answer most of your questions. Many decanters were made for only a span of 2-3 years, and some were unique to a given year, so finding Birth Year aftershave decanters is actually a thing!

If this is all new to you, and you are wondering why anyone would use aftershave that is up to 60+ years old, listen up. Avon was made in abundance. Since they were made in different shaped decanters (well over 300 different shapes), these were often given as gifts to the man of the house. Many of these were put on display and never used. As a result the secondary market is near saturated with them. They are super easy to find at antique store for anywhere between $1 - $10 each. Bottles range from 1.5oz all the way up to huge 8oz bottles. Yes, I have bought many 8oz bottles of aftershave for just $1-$2 each! That's a super bargain. And the quality of the aftershave is near unrivaled by its modern counterparts. Pleasant, masculine scents, with great feel and performance, and good longevity. Alcohol is a natural preservative, so there is little fear about the aftershaves going bad or rancid over time, unless they have been kept in extreme heat or direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. I have purchased hundreds of Avon decanters and have only come across 2 that were bad.

Avon did continue to produce aftershave up until just recently, but not in special shaped decanters. Unfortunately, now, they only make an aftershave balm.


Avon Scents
Not all inclusive of every scent made, just what I've come across and can remember. General notes about scents are not all my words, but were also taken from others impressions. Always looking for help in making the scent descriptions better and filling in some blanks.

Common
Bay Rum - In my opinion, the best Bay Rum ever made!
Black Suede -
Blend 7 -
Bravo - Kinda sweet and fruity in a masculine way.
Clint - Leathery, woodsy. (Akin to Aramis?)
Deep Woods - nice green woodsy scent
Everest - crisp junipery scent
Excalibur - Leathery, woodsy. (English Leather clone?)
Island Lime - In my opinon, the best, truest, and longest lasting lime scent ever made.
Leather - just pure rugged leather scent.
Oland - Leathery, Smokey, Spicy (Aramis clone)
Sea Zone - Aquatic
Spicy - Nearly perfect Schulton Old Spice clone (see Brisk Spice)
Sure Winner -
Tai Winds - Oriental blend: citrus, musk, spice. (In the same vein as Hai Karate, Jade East, Oriental Jade, Kuros)
Tribute -
Wild Country - inspired by Clubman. To me, it's a bit sweeter and less powdery.
Windjammer - Light, citrusy. (similar to Canoe?)

More Rare
All Purpose Cologne -
Avon Original -
Blue Blazer -
Brisk Spice - Spot on Schulton Old Spice clone
Cool Sage -
Cool Seas - Light Aquatic
Cordovan -
Friktion - Bergamot, Balsam Fir, Musk.
Gallant -
Granite - Minerally aquatic.
Light Musk -
Sports Ralley -
Trailblazer - leather and tonka bean chypre
Trazarra -
Triumph - Cool Water clone?
Weekend -
Wild Country Musk -


Most of my Avon is still packed up from my recent move, but just to give you an idea, all of these boxes are full of Avon......

View attachment 348

What can you tell me about the glass/crystal? used for the Avon 1851 colt revolver, 1760 dueling pistol, bluderbuss pistol 1780, derrienger decanter, pepperbox pistol 1850. Is the glass theyre made of toxic or possibly toxic?

 

[Spider]

@DytheGOD welcome to The Cadre! Be sure to head to the Newbie Forum to introduce yourself.

What can you tell me about the glass/crystal?

The glass used in the bottles was made by several different companies throughout the years, and it's nearly impossible to tell what bottles were made by which company.
Among them are:
Wheaton Glass Company, Millville, NJ
Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Fairmont, WV
Carr-Lowrey Glass Company, Baltimore, MD

Is the glass theyre made of toxic or possibly toxic?

I doubt it, since they come from well-known glass companies. Why do you ask?

 

[JanJosh]

Seeing all this info about Avon Decanters, I wonder if any of yall ever had the interest for other brands decanters. I know Mennen had a few, Jovan rarely did, and I think Coty had some

 

[MarkB]

I have several of the Mennen Skin Bracer special decanters; the Construction Worker, the large Hand, the Flask and Clock Tower.

Old Spice had several back in the day as well of which I have several.

 

[JanJosh]

I have several of the Mennen Skin Bracer special decanters; the Construction Worker, the large Hand, the Flask and Clock Tower.

Old Spice had several back in the day as well of which I have several.

Could you post some of those old spice ones or dm me?

Also, I know some folks are selling the mennen golf club if you ain't got it. I'm not a golf guy myself but it's by far my favorite for some reason.

(Edit is i said jovan instead of old spice on accident lol)

 

[MarkB]

Could you post some of those old spice ones or dm me?

Also, I know some folks are selling the mennen golf club if you ain't got it. I'm not a golf guy myself but it's by far my favorite for some reason.

(Edit is i said jovan instead of old spice on accident lol)

Here's a selection of some of them.

Not pictured: Ship's Bell, the "Magic-1870" commemorative bottle, the Lighthouse, the Glass Ship, & the Ship's Flask.

 

[JanJosh]

Here's a selection of some of them.

Not pictured: Ship's Bell, the "Magic-1870" commemorative bottle, the Lighthouse, the Glass Ship, & the Ship's Flask.

View attachment 151401

So did they only make decanters and sold them empty to be filled later, or did they come filled like Avon?

Being empty would be interesting so you can fill them with your own aftershave or splash cologne

 

[MarkB]

So did they only make decanters and sold them empty to be filled later, or did they come filled like Avon?

Being empty would be interesting so you can fill them with your own aftershave or splash cologne

They came filled.

 

[Spider]

I have many Skin Bracer, Old Spice, Amway, etc. but those do belong in their own thread, which we should have for most brands.

 

[JanJosh]

Hey @Spider , have you ever updated that list of fragrances and their profile descriptions? I have a few I'm willing to give some opinions and descriptions of

 

[Spider]

Hey @Spider , have you ever updated that list of fragrances and their profile descriptions? I have a few I'm willing to give some opinions and descriptions of

I haven't. Go ahead and post whatever you've got.

 

[JanJosh]

Hey all! Got in some avon decanters and will try to give brief, accurate descriptions of their scents. The ones I got are Brand New, Old Stock, meaning they're vintage but unused. I'll be giving my own impression/interpretation of each, but note that some of the notes may have altered or vanished over time, and everyone's noses are different.

The list I'm going to refer to is from the very first post here by Spider:

Avon Scents
Not all inclusive of every scent made, just what I've come across and can remember. General notes about scents are not all my words, but were also taken from others impressions. Always looking for help in making the scent descriptions better and filling in some blanks.

Common
Bay Rum - In my opinion, the best Bay Rum ever made!
Black Suede -
Blend 7 -
Bravo - Kinda sweet and fruity in a masculine way.
Clint - Leathery, woodsy. (Akin to Aramis?)
Deep Woods - nice green woodsy scent
Everest - crisp junipery scent
Excalibur - Leathery, woodsy. (English Leather clone?)
Island Lime - In my opinon, the best, truest, and longest lasting lime scent ever made.
Leather - just pure rugged leather scent.
Oland - Leathery, Smokey, Spicy (Aramis clone)
Sea Zone - Aquatic
Spicy - Nearly perfect Schulton Old Spice clone (see Brisk Spice)
Sure Winner -
Tai Winds - Oriental blend: citrus, musk, spice. (In the same vein as Hai Karate, Jade East, Oriental Jade, Kuros)
Tribute -
Wild Country - inspired by Clubman. To me, it's a bit sweeter and less powdery.
Windjammer - Light, citrusy. (similar to Canoe?)

More Rare
All Purpose Cologne -
Avon Original -
Blue Blazer -
Brisk Spice - Spot on Schulton Old Spice clone
Cool Sage -
Cool Seas - Light Aquatic
Cordovan -
Friktion - Bergamot, Balsam Fir, Musk.
Gallant -
Granite - Minerally aquatic.
Light Musk -
Sports Ralley -
Trailblazer - leather and tonka bean chypre
Trazarra -
Triumph - Cool Water clone?
Weekend -
Wild Country Musk -

 

[JanJosh]

All are going to be vintage aftershaves versions. Wild Country - Citrusy Herbal Musk. Smells similar to the modern formulation of Pinaud Clubman but with no Oakmoss, with slightly more sweetness.
Spicy - Citrus Talc Spice. Smells like a simpler, mellower copy of vintage Shulton Old Spice, with amber added in.

Everest - Woody Aromatic Fougere. A very strong, refreshing spicy wood scent. Similar to classic Irish Springs soap and Vintage formula Cool Water. Very cologne-like.

 

[JanJosh]

Sure Winner (Bracing Lotion) - Soapy Herbal Leather. Smells like Sensitive Skin Dove bar soap with vague underlying notes similar to modern formula Brut splash on. Possibly intended to be unscented.
Blend 7 - Spicy Floral Incense. A complex blend of Anise, Florals, and woods. Smells like a soapy, simplified vintage Azzaro Pour Homme without cardamom.

Öland - Woody Leather Spice. Sweetened Bayrum, slight leather, with a touch of patchouli and tobacco. May be a simpler clone of vintage English Leather but lacking any citrus and replacing the rosemary for Bayrum

 

[JanJosh]

Windjammer - Aquatic Woods. Smells like an initiation of vintage Canoe by Dana, adding dizzying overdose of oakmoss and a touch of pepper. Cool and refreshing.
Tribute - Musky Aromatic Citrus. Lavender heavy and full of civet musk and a touch of citrus. Smells similar to vintage Zino Davidoff and 4711 Original, but much simpler and muskier.

Clint - Woody Floral Musk. A near exact copy of original Aramis, with slightly more leather. Lacks any listed notes of musk, but is certainly musky.

 

[JanJosh]

Tai Winds - Aromatic Talc Musk. A powdery barbershop scent that smells very similar to Pinaud Clubman Musk, or original Brut Faberge. Not much similar to Hai Karate and other oriental scents.

Deep Woods - Citrus Aromatic Fougere. A unique, interesting woody herbal smell that smells like lemon iced tea and sandalwood incense.

Leather - Citrus Leather Fougere. A very masculine, rugged, and powdery leather scent drenched with Bergamot and Oakmoss. Smells like a combination of Modern formula Old Spice and English Leather.

 

[JanJosh]

Well that's my 12 bottles and 12 interpretations. Shockingly Everest is my favorite of the bunch, it's so distinct and uplifting, while Clint is my least favorite, as i really dislike Aramis and it's nearly one to one. Might give it away or sell it, honestly. Don't like tribute much but my grandpa does so it stays.