In the Union there was no such thing as men's perfume. Practical colognes were produced for the stronger sex. They were created to perform sanitary and hygienic procedures. Colognes in the USSR were very cheap, and they were used everywhere. And not only men, and not only after shaving. After reading this article, those who were born in the USSR will feel nostalgic, and younger readers will learn something new from the history of the Soviet Union.
Triple cologne from USSR
It cost mere pennies. The cheapest cologne was smeared on the face after shaving, used to disinfect hands, and compresses were made. Some motorists wiped car parts with them when repairing. Well, and, the fact remains that colognes in the USSR were made from natural alcohol, so they were often simply drunk. One bottle of such a “drink” was equivalent in strength to a bottle of vodka.
Where did men get the idea that cologne can be drunk? The fact is that everyone knew about the guide to the meansof a type that was written back in the 18th century. The instructions suggested that in case of heart palpitations or headaches, drip 30-40 drops into a glass of water and drink in one gulp.
Do you know where the name "Triple" came from? Manufacturers associated the history of its creation with Napoleon. It was he who gave the task to his perfumers to create a product with a triple effect. The emperor, who spent most of his life on campaigns, wanted the liquid to have three qualities:
- refreshed;
- disinfected;
- had healing properties.
Reviews about Triple cologne are generally good. The smell was harsh, but everyone got used to it, and it quickly disappeared. Given its multi-tasking and very low cost, few have used it as a perfume. It was perfect for hygiene procedures and was used by the whole family. Grandmothers greased their knees and wrapped them in scarves. The tool was pleasantly warm. Mothers rubbed their chests and backs for colds.
Chypre Cologne
A more expensive analogue of "Triple" cologne is a product called "Chypre". The history of its creation was allegedly connected with the island "Cyprus". When creating a brand, the name was beaten, and it turned out "Chipr".
In the aroma of this product, notes of exotic plants and sandalwood are felt. Men's perfume contained a lethal percentage of alcohol - 70%. Despite this fact, it was rarely taken internally. Apparently, the perfume composition inclined the male sex more to perfume them.
Colognes from France to the USSR
Finding a good imported fragrance for men in the Union was very difficult. Fashionistas who did not have connections used the means of joint production of the USSR and France.
They were produced by the New Dawn factory. Cologne "Commander" in the USSR was wildly popular. There was also Consul, which had a lovely fresh scent.
Cologne "Myth" in the USSR
The manufacturer of this product was the Latvian perfume and cosmetic factory "Dzintars". It was created in 1980 and belonged to the Extra group. The packaging was aesthetic. The bottle was rectangular. The round cap is screwed on. The cologne was packaged in a red and black cardboard box.
The perfume composition of the cologne from the USSR consisted of invigorating citrus and cool green notes. They were scented with oakmoss and musk.
Top notes were:
- lemon;
- bergamot;
- orange.
Middle notes:
- patchouli;
- neroli;
- sandal;
- vetiver.
Base notes:
- musk;
- galbanum;
- oak moss.
This perfume is still on sale today. The factory produces a line of colognes "Myth" under the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. The aroma of each copy is different. Those who remember colognes from the USSR say that the modern "Myth" is nothing likeSoviet.
Reviews about this tool are wonderful. Of all that could be obtained in an era of scarcity, this was the best option.
"Rizhanin" factory "Dzintars" - Brezhnev's favorite remedy
They say that Leonid Ilyich was still that dandy and understood fashion. All the years that Brezhnev ruled the USSR, his favorite cologne was "Rizhanin". And this aroma hovered in the Kremlin. The information was provided by the head of the Dzintars factory and other people close to Brezhnev.
The perfume was launched in 1960. The legendary cologne was presented to Brezhnev by his daughter Galina, who was a fan of Dzintars products. The girl was friends with the perfumers who worked there, and often visited the factory. The specialist who created the Riganian perfume was Bronislava Abramovna Shvartsman.
Colognes "Dzintars" in the USSR were definitely the best, and "Rizhanin" was also a terribly scarce commodity. The perfume was a regular participant in foreign exhibitions. "Rizhanin" had a lot of awards. The men who used it were delighted. It was said about "Rizhanin" that it had a signature foreign flavor.
Perfume composition "Rizhanina"
The perfume had a velvety start. It was a little sweet. It smells like good cognac and dried fruit. Middle notes: leather, cigars, musk. The base notes are reminiscent of modern Mitsouko. They are fluffy and soft. In terms of concentration, "Rizhanin" belonged to the colognes of the "Extra" group. The product was produced in bottles of 148 ml.
Thisfragrance for men who have this type of temperament as a sanguine optimist. With him, life in the Soviet Union seemed brighter to a man. The stronger sex, having perfumed with "Rizhanin", felt more confident.
Perfume for men had only one type of bottle - in the form of a cylinder with grooves. The lid was in the form of a transparent washer. Its diameter was equal to the diameter of the vial.
"Rizhanin" is a quality perfume that was loved all over the world. He was on the wave of popularity for several decades. Reviews about it are wonderful. Many grown men are nostalgic for him. They look for a vintage original on the Internet at special auctions. Now it is not easy to find "Rizhanin" in the CIS countries, because even then it was in short supply. Those who are not looking for simple ways order cologne from the B altics.
Conclusion
Today, you can become the owner of a vintage cologne from the USSR if you use online auctions, contact collectors or shops that specialize in products from the Union.
It's amazing that perfumes that were released 40 years ago still fully retain their aroma and properties. The point, most likely, is that the components from which the colognes of the times of the USSR were made were completely natural and of very high quality. Production was strictly controlled. Failure to comply with GOST requirements was unacceptable.
We have long been accustomed to the fact that a well-groomed man should smell of good cognac, a quality Cuban cigar and exquisite eau de toiletteproduction in France. In the USSR, every member of the stronger sex smelled of cologne. We have long forgotten what a deficit is. Now store shelves are lined with perfumes for every taste and budget. It is not difficult for us to buy good toilet water for ourselves or as a present. The era has long passed when a real hunt was organized for quality goods, but many people cannot forget colognes from the times of the USSR and touchingly store bubbles in lockers.
