A Scent of Nostalgia

In this episode, A Scent of Nostalgia: Old Spice . . .

Empty!

Here’s an odd question: Is there a particular scent that instantly transports you back to childhood? For me, it's the unmistakable aroma of Old Spice Aftershave. It was my dad's go-to, or perhaps the only affordable option at Kroger when Mom did the grocery shopping.

This got me thinking; I wonder when Dad started using Old Spice?

I distinctly recall the opaque white glass bottle from the 1960s on his shaving shelf. The front featured a sailing ship illustration; the "Old Spice" branding was in red script below it. The bottle's tapered shape narrowed toward the top, culminating in a small aperture secured with a gray stopper.

Did you know that Old Spice has a fascinating history? It all started in 1937 when the Shulton Company, founded by William Lightfoot Schultz, introduced a unique fragrance. Interestingly, this original product was meant for women! Inspired by his mother's delightful potpourri, Schultz named it 'Early American Old Spice.' His vision was to capture the charming essence of colonial times, and he beautifully showcased this theme with packaging featuring colonial sailing ships, creating a lasting identity for the brand.

Building on the initial success of its women's fragrance, the Shulton Company proudly introduced Old Spice for Men in Est. 1938. (This is still printed on all bottles.) This line featured shaving soap and aftershave lotion infused with that classic, distinctive scent many cherish today. It wasn't long before men's products outshone women's range in popularity, establishing Old Spice as a beloved name among men's grooming brands.

The iconic Old Spice scent, a blend of citrus, flowers, and vanillin, established itself as a beloved favorite in men's grooming, first in America and then worldwide.

In 1990, the consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) welcomed Old Spice into its family, ushering in an exciting new chapter filled with growth and innovation.

I still keep a bottle of Old Spice (the same bottle design, but now plastic) for myself. It’s more than just aftershave; it reminds me of simpler times. This familiar scent evokes comforting memories of a smooth-shaven face and a childhood hug from Dad. I don’t remember my father ever having facial hair. In his later years, he used an electric razor.

However, when I reached for my aftershave this morning, it was empty!

So, I wrote to Santa for a bottle in my stocking this Christmas. Ok, I’ll come clean; I ordered one from Amazon.

I’m curious: have you ever smelled something that instantly transported you back to your childhood?

I’m Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

The Compass of Cuba: Mom

🎄 Preview of this week's On the Fly blog: A Holiday Tribute to Mom. As the holidays hustle with pixels and beeps, the world scrolls along in a smartphone-y sleep. I log off for a moment—just one little minute— To breathe in the past and to sit myself in it. My mind doesn’t wander to faraway places, Or trips full of tickets and new airport faces. Instead, it drifts backward, as memories do, to Cuba, Illinois, where the best moments grew. To a home full of warmth, in the wintry Midwest, Where my mother—dear “Marcie”—put love to the test. With a smile that could melt the most frigid of dawns, and hugs that hung on you like shivering fawns. She came from La Rochelle in France, brave and bright, Across oceans and war shadows, into new light. A town full of strangers soon felt like her own, And her courage built up the foundation of home. “Oh yes, we know Marcie!” the locals would say— “It's Doc Ball’s French lady! She brightens the day!” She cleaned, and she cooked, and sh...

Feeling Human Again

In this episode, The Unexpected Thankfulness of Feeling Human Again I’ll be honest with you: My triumphant return from France was not the glamorous homecoming I had imagined. No graceful glide back into routine. No cinematic jet-setter moment where I lift my suitcase off the carousel and wink at life like we’re old pals. Instead? I came home and immediately launched into a two-week performance piece titled The Great American Couch Collapse. My days blurred together in a haze of soup, hot tea, tissues, and desperate negotiations with the universe for just one nostril—one!—to function properly. The living room sofa became my emotional support furniture. And any creative idea that dared tiptoe into my congested brain was gently shown the exit with a firm but courteous, “Not today, friend. Try again later.” When life hits the pause button like that—when you’re exhausted, sick, and mentally unplugged—how do you find your spark again? Somehow, today, I felt it. A tiny shift. A clearing of th...

A Holiday Reflection–Mother's Love

In this episode, How a Mother’s Love Built My Memories– A Holiday Reflection As this holiday season approaches and the world buzzes with shopping, planning, and busy schedules, I find myself embracing something wonderfully simple: taking a moment to pause. Not to check off a list or recharge devices, but to breathe deeply, remember fondly, and honor the person and place that have shaped my sense of home long before I had the words for it. This year, after regaining my strength from a lingering post-travel fog, my mind didn’t wander to exotic destinations or future adventures. It drifted backward—across oceans and time—to Cuba, Illinois, in the early 1960s, and to the woman whose love built the foundation of my world: Mauricette Elaine (Bontemps) Ball. My Mom . We came to Cuba after leaving La Rochelle, France, in 1959—a transition so dramatic I only appreciate its enormity now. My mother, barely in her mid-twenties, stepped off that plane and into the Midwest with a courage that s...

Stamps and Snow

In this episode, Stamps and Snow . . . You don’t usually walk into the local Post Office expecting a time warp . . . but here we are. All we wanted were stamps for this year's Christmas cards— yes, the old-fashioned paper ones that require licking, sticking, and hoping the Postal Service is feeling ambitious this week. But holiday errands have a talent for slowing you down, almost like the universe whispering, “Relax. You’re not getting out of this line any faster anyway.” So we waited. And while we waited, we talked (Are you surprised?). Because the Post Office is one of the few places where people still look up from their phones long enough to talk . . . Maybe it's because they're holding packages. It’s the modern town square: part civic duty, part free entertainment, part sociology experiment. The discussion began with holiday specials streaming on Netflix, Paramount+, and other services during this time of year. One gentleman who has lived in Vista since 1958 told us,...

On The Fly

Search This Blog