1. Hai Karate Aftershave
Hai Karate hit the shelves in the ‘60s, promising men an irresistible scent that required a full self-defense guide to ward off admirers. The commercials played up the joke, showing average guys being tackled by women who couldn’t resist the spicy, musky aroma. But in reality, it was a little too strong—like a mix of cheap cologne and your uncle’s aftershave, with a headache-inducing punch. The scent lingered long after application, sticking to clothes and furniture like an overenthusiastic guest shares Daily Express.
Despite its overpowering nature, it gained a cult following and was a staple in many medicine cabinets through the ‘70s. It eventually disappeared, but not before leaving behind a legacy of eye-watering potency. Some collectors still track down old bottles, either for nostalgia or as a prank. If you ever get a whiff of Hai Karate today, you might suddenly feel the need to open a window—or learn karate to fight it off adds Flashbak.
2. Aqua Velva
Aqua Velva was the aftershave of choice for men who wanted to smell like they had just doused themselves in a vat of menthol and alcohol. The bright blue liquid had an unmistakable scent that was crisp, cooling, and slightly medicinal. It was a favorite of dads and grandpas everywhere, lingering in the air long after they left the room. Some found it refreshing, but others thought it smelled like a mix of mouthwash and window cleaner says Aqua Velva.
The formula was so strong that it could double as an emergency antiseptic, and there were even rumors that people tried to drink it during Prohibition. While it’s still around today, the scent hasn’t changed much—meaning it can still transport you back to a time when men finished their shave with a sharp slap to the face and an overpowering wave of Aqua Velva continues Sports Illustrated.
3. Old Spice (Original Formula)
Old Spice has been around forever, but the original formula was something else entirely. It had a bold, spicy scent that announced your presence before you even walked into a room. Some loved its warm, musky notes, while others thought it smelled like a ship captain’s cologne cabinet exploded. It had a lingering quality that clung to everything, from bathroom towels to car upholstery.
The bottle design only added to its old-school charm, with that iconic buoy logo and a shape that looked straight out of the ‘50s. Though it has been reformulated over the years, the original scent still has a way of transporting you back to barbershops and dad’s bathroom counter. For some, it’s a comforting classic; for others, it’s a scent that should have been left in the past.
4. English Leather
If you wanted to smell like you just walked out of a tack shop, English Leather was the cologne for you. It had a strong, leathery scent that was both rugged and aggressive, like a cowboy who accidentally knocked over a bottle of aftershave. The name alone made it sound fancy, but in reality, it had a sharp, synthetic edge that could make your eyes water.
Men who wore English Leather were either confident or completely oblivious to how overpowering it was. The scent was bold, lingering long after the wearer had left the room, sometimes even outlasting the memory of them. It had a devoted fanbase, but it also had its fair share of critics who found it a little too intense. Let’s just say, if you wore English Leather, people knew it.
5. Brut
Brut was for the man who wanted to smell strong—really strong. Marketed as a bold and masculine fragrance, it had a mix of musk, lavender, and an odd, powdery undertone. The scent was so powerful that even a small dab could fill a room, and wearing too much meant you’d be carrying a scent cloud with you for hours. Some swore by it, while others swore to stay away from anyone wearing it.
It was a popular choice in the ‘70s and ‘80s, often gifted in holiday sets that included deodorant, cologne, and aftershave. If you got one of those sets, you knew you were going to smell like Brut for months. It’s still around today, but it’s safe to say that its heyday of overuse has passed.
6. Avon’s Wild Country
Avon’s Wild Country was meant to be a rugged, manly scent, but it often came off more like an aggressive mix of baby powder and artificial wood. It was sold in collectible novelty bottles shaped like cars, guns, and cowboy boots, which made it a popular gift. But once you opened that bottle, you were hit with a wave of scent that didn’t quite know what it wanted to be.
Some men swore by it, claiming it smelled like confidence, while others thought it smelled like a dollar store cowboy. The powdery dry-down lingered for hours, making sure you never forgot you had it on. It may have been called Wild Country, but the real wild part was how polarizing its scent was.
7. Tabac Original
Tabac Original had a scent that could only be described as “barbershop in a bottle.” It was a mix of tobacco, citrus, and spices that somehow smelled both sophisticated and like something a grandpa would wear. It had a sharp, almost soapy quality that made it instantly recognizable.
The strength of Tabac was undeniable—it didn’t just fade away, it settled into your clothes and skin for the long haul. Some found it nostalgic and comforting, while others thought it was a relic of the past best left behind. It’s still sold today, so if you ever want to smell like a vintage barber, you know where to find it.
8. Jovan Musk
Jovan Musk was supposed to be seductive, but it often smelled more like someone had spilled a bottle of musky cologne in a hot car. The scent was rich, heavy, and had an almost animalistic quality. Some found it alluring, but others thought it was just too much, lingering like an uninvited guest.
It became wildly popular in the ‘70s and was heavily marketed as the ultimate scent of seduction. If you wore Jovan Musk, you probably thought you were leaving a trail of mystery behind you. In reality, you might have just left a scent trail that wouldn’t go away.
9. Canoe
Canoe was supposed to be a fresh, sporty cologne, but it had an oddly soapy quality that made it smell more like an old-fashioned shaving cream. It had notes of lavender, citrus, and vanilla, creating a scent that was clean yet strangely cloying. Some people loved its nostalgic barbershop vibe, but others thought it smelled a little too much like something their grandfather would wear.
The issue with Canoe wasn’t just the scent itself—it was how strong it was. A little went a long way, but too much could make you feel like you had just bathed in a vat of cologne. It’s still around today, proving that some scents refuse to fade into history.
10. Drakkar Noir
Drakkar Noir was the cologne of choice for bad boys in the ‘80s. It had a dark, musky scent that was supposed to be mysterious and masculine, but it often came off as way too intense. With notes of lavender, citrus, and leather, it had a complex smell that could either be alluring or overwhelming, depending on how much was applied. Unfortunately, many guys took the “more is better” approach, leading to scent clouds that could clear a room.
If you walked into a high school in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, chances are you’d be hit with a wave of Drakkar Noir. It became so associated with teenage overuse that some people still flinch when they catch a whiff of it today. Though it still has fans, its reputation as the go-to cologne for guys who tried a little too hard hasn’t quite faded.
11. Royal Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen sounded fancy, but it smelled like a confusing mix of powder and spice. It had an oddly sweet, almost baby-powder-like quality, mixed with musky undertones that clung to skin and fabric for hours. Some people swore by its “sophisticated” scent, but others thought it smelled like an old-school pharmacy.
One of its biggest issues was that it didn’t seem to fade gracefully. Instead of mellowing out over time, it would just sit there, stubbornly lingering no matter how much you tried to wash it off. It had a devoted following, but for those who weren’t fans, it was an unmistakable scent they never wanted to smell again.
12. Pierre Cardin Cologne
Pierre Cardin’s cologne came in a sleek, futuristic bottle, but the scent inside was anything but modern. It had a sharp, spicy scent that smelled like a mix of citrus, musk, and something vaguely metallic. It was the kind of cologne that made a statement—whether you wanted it to or not.
A little went a long way, but some men didn’t seem to get the memo, dousing themselves in it before heading out the door. It had a way of sticking around, soaking into fabric and lingering in the air long after the wearer had left. While it still has a niche fanbase today, it’s mostly remembered as one of those colognes that defined an era—for better or worse.
13. Stetson Cologne
Stetson was supposed to smell like the open range—rugged, adventurous, and unmistakably masculine. Instead, it often came across as an overpowering mix of leather, spice, and something vaguely synthetic. It was the cologne of cowboys (or at least those who wanted to smell like one), and its marketing leaned heavily into that image.
The problem was that Stetson didn’t just fade nicely into the background. It announced itself loudly and refused to go away, sticking to clothes, skin, and anything else in its path. It was a staple in many men’s grooming kits, but for those who weren’t fans, it was a scent that was hard to escape.
14. Wind Drift by English Leather
Wind Drift tried to be a lighter, fresher take on English Leather, but it still had that signature punch of scent that made it impossible to ignore. It had an aquatic, citrusy vibe at first, but as it dried down, the leathery undertones came through strong. Some men appreciated its boldness, but others thought it smelled like someone had mixed cologne with a cleaning product.
Like its English Leather sibling, Wind Drift was not subtle. It had a way of lingering on jackets, pillows, and car seats, ensuring that its wearer was remembered long after they left. It was marketed as breezy and adventurous, but for some, it was just another overpowering cologne from the past that refused to be forgotten.
15. Chaps by Ralph Lauren
Chaps by Ralph Lauren was meant to capture the rugged, outdoorsy spirit of the American West. It had a heavy, woodsy scent with leather and spice notes that made it smell like a cowboy’s cologne of choice. While that might sound appealing, in practice, it was often overpowering and clashed with just about everything else.
The problem with Chaps was that it had a thick, almost syrupy quality that made it linger way too long. One spray too many, and you’d be stuck with the scent for the entire day—and possibly the next. It had its die-hard fans, but for those who didn’t love it, it was another cologne best left in the past.