Manufacturer: |
Williams |
Fragrance Name: |
Aqua Velva Ice Blue |
Year Introduced: |
1935 |
Gender: |
Masculine |
Strength: |
After Shave |
Notes: |
Top notes of bergamot, lavender, peppermint, petitgrain and lemon; middle notes of clary sage, jasmine, vetiver, sandalwood and cedarwood; and base notes of labdanum, musk, amber, moss and leather.
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Advertising Slogan: |
There's something about an Aqua Velva man. |
I found out a fascinating story about Aqua Velva that I had never heard. In information I got from various sources on the Internet, when Aqua Velva aftershave originally hit store shelves in 1937, it was the color of straw and had a fairly high alcohol content (pure alcohol). In fact, during World War II, military base PXs couldn’t keep the product on the shelves. Apparently, soldiers were buying it to drink because it was cheaper and more readily available than liquor. The Ice Blue variety was a result of WWII abuse. The government asked JB Williams to add something to their product to discourage soldiers from drinking it. A bitter note was added that turned the product bright blue but the soldiers didn't stop drinking it. They simply poured the after shave through a slice of bread before drinking to remove the bitterness. Civilian males actually started buying Aqua Velva because of that cool blue color.
The scent of Aqua Velva has stood for masculinity, strength and attraction since 1935. In an ad for the Ice Blue version it explained that it was "a new, unique scent prolonger called M-10 that made the icy blue aroma. And the girls love it. A new skin conditioner Humectin gives your skin a drink. It refreshes in a new way."
When the product first debuted, their advertisement read:
"New aroma! A unique scent-prolonger, M-10, makes the ice blue aroma of new Aqua Velva really last. 1500 men tested leading after shaves. New Aqua Velva won hands down. And their girls loved it.
New action! A new skin conditioner, Humectin, in Ice Blue Aqua Velva “gives your skin a drink. It restores skin moisture removed by today’s closer shaving razors and skin-parching push-button shaves.
New feel! Ice Blue Aqua Velva refreshes in a new way. It cools without bite—tingles without sting. 60 cents and $1 at drug and food stores. Made by Williams – world leader in fine toiletries for 117 years."
Aqua Velva Ice Blue is still available for purchase and is distributed by Combe, Inc.
This is the original after shave version of the fragrance. We are decanting out of a trophy-style bottle.
