Lance Carson
Hai Karate was a cologne and aftershave marketed to men and originally developed by the Leeming division of Pfizer. It was launched in 1967 and sold until the 1980s. The product was even reintroduced in the UK in 2014. Hai Karate was a floral-amber masculine fragrance with top notes of lavender, bergamot, lemon, rosemary, and anise. While the product has been discontinued, it can still be purchased on sites such as Etsy and eBay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Availability | Discontinued |
| Online Retailers | Etsy, eBay, Surrender to Chance |
| Original Owner | Pfizer |
| Perfumer | Michael Pickthall |
| Year of Launch | 1967 |
| Variants | Oriental Lime, Oriental Spice, Musk, Iced Hai |
| Marketing | Television and print advertising |
| Slogan | Be careful how you use it |
| Target Audience | Young men |
| Price | Reasonable |
| Popularity | Sold over $200 million in product a year |
| Self-Defense Booklet | Included in the package |
What You'll Learn
Where to buy Hai Karate cologne
Hai Karate cologne is available for purchase on eBay and Direct Cosmetics.
On eBay, there are several listings for Hai Karate cologne, including:
- Vintage Leeming Pfizer Hai Karate 4 oz After Shave Deodorant Shave Lather
- Hai Karate Oriental Spice Cologne 4.0 Oz. By Leeming Pfizer
- Hai Karate After Shave Splash 6.0 Oz. By Leeming Pfizer
- Hai Karate Original Aftershave 4 oz
Direct Cosmetics sells the relaunched Hai Karate After Shave, which is a reproduction of the original formulation from 1967.
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The history of Hai Karate cologne
Hai Karate was a men's cologne and aftershave sold in the United States and the United Kingdom from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was first launched in 1967 by the Leeming division of Pfizer with the catchphrase "Be careful how you use it." The product was priced higher than similar products like Old Spice, Aqua Velva, and Mennen Skin Bracer, but lower than Jade East and English Leather.
Hai Karate was known for its humorous television and magazine ads, which included self-defense instructions to help wearers "fend off women." The advertisements were considered humorous as they played to a “male fantasy of a world where women find them irresistible.” From 1969 to 1976, Bond girl Valerie Leon played the woman driven wild by a man wearing Hai Karate aftershave in a highly successful series of British commercials for the product.
Hai Karate was reintroduced in the UK in 2014 by Healthpoint Ltd, following the brand's original formulation but using different packaging. It was reintroduced again in 2021 by Beauty Clear, this time in both the UK and the EU.
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The scent of Hai Karate cologne
Hai Karate is a citrus aromatic fragrance for men. It was first launched in 1967 and was known for its humorous advertising campaigns, which included self-defence instructions to help wearers "fend off women".
The cologne has been described as having a strong, powdery, citrusy, and soapy scent with notes of lemon, green tea, amber, musk, and sandalwood. One reviewer compared it to Shalimar by Guerlain, while another said it reminded them of a barbershop.
The scent has been described as long-lasting, with one reviewer claiming that a single splash lasted for about 10 hours. Another reviewer said that they could smell a closed bottle of Hai Karate in a box from their stairs landing when they were in the toilet.
Hai Karate was originally developed by the Leeming division of Pfizer and was sold in the United States and the United Kingdom from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was later reintroduced in the UK in 2014 and again in 2021.
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Hai Karate's advertising campaigns
The television and magazine ads featured self-defence instructions to help wearers "fend off women" who were driven wild by the fragrance. The tagline was "Be careful how you use it", and each package included a self-defence guide to protect the wearer from uncontrollable amorous advances. The ads featured a glamorous actress, Valerie Leon, who played the woman driven wild by a man wearing Hai Karate. Leon's character would sexually harass the stereotypical weakling male cologne wearer.
As the martial arts craze took off in the 1970s, Hai Karate's ads grew wilder and sillier, capitalising on the trend. The fragrance was also expanded into a line of products, including soap on a rope, deodorant, shaving cream, talcum powder, shampoo, and gift sets. The brand even released a novelty record and inspired a clone: Black Belt by Coty. The karate star Bob Wall appeared in ads for both fragrances.
The wacky and campy nature of the Hai Karate ads empowered men who might otherwise feel uncomfortable with the idea of wearing cologne or sprinkling on scented talc. While the fragrance was initially supposed to be a short-lived product, it ended up staying on the market for ten years, from 1967 to the 1980s, before being relaunched in 2014 and again in 2021.
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Similar colognes to Hai Karate
Hai Karate was a budget aftershave and cologne for men, sold in the United States and the United Kingdom from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was priced higher than Old Spice, Aqua Velva, and Mennen Skin Bracer, but lower than Jade East and English Leather.
- Jade East: This cologne is mentioned multiple times in the same breath as Hai Karate. It was also a popular drugstore fragrance and is described as having a sweet, soapy, bubblegum scent. Jade East was priced higher than Hai Karate and is considered to be a superior fragrance.
- Old Spice: This classic men's cologne is often mentioned alongside Hai Karate and Jade East. It has been around since the 1930s and is known for its strong, spicy scent.
- Aqua Velva: Another budget aftershave and cologne that was priced lower than Hai Karate. It has a fresh, crisp scent with notes of citrus, mint, and spice.
- Mennen Skin Bracer: This aftershave and cologne was also priced lower than Hai Karate. It has a clean, refreshing scent with notes of citrus, herbs, and spices.
- Brut: A bold and masculine cologne with spicy woods, floral, and citrus notes.
- Clubman Pinaud: An affordable aftershave and cologne with an invigorating citrus aromatic fragrance.
- Canoe: A traditional barbershop scent that is often mentioned alongside Hai Karate. It has a fresh, powdery scent with notes of citrus, amber, and musk.
- Clubman Pinaud Special Reserve: A more expensive version of the original Clubman Pinaud cologne, with a macho fragrance that includes notes of cypress, balsam fir, and sandalwood.
- Drakkar Noir: A popular designer cologne with spicy citrus notes. It is mentioned by several people who also liked Hai Karate.
- Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Lo Haiku: A high-quality replica of Hai Karate, produced in limited batches.
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Frequently asked questions
Hai Karate cologne has been discontinued, but you may be able to find vintage bottles or new old stock through online retailers such as eBay and Etsy.
You can try searching for it on websites like eBay and Etsy, which offer a variety of new and used products.
Hai Karate was a successful competitor in the fragrance market due to its unique advertising campaigns and marketing strategies. Its catchy slogan, "Be careful how you use it," and the inclusion of self-defence instruction booklets with each bottle created a cult following.
Hai Karate is classified as a floral-amber masculine fougère fragrance. It has top notes of lavender, bergamot, lemon, rosemary, and anise; middle notes of geranium, fern, carnation, cinnamon, cedar, and heliotrope; and base notes of oakmoss, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, and musk.
Hai Karate was originally launched in 1967 by the Leeming division of Pfizer. It was sold from the 1960s to the 1980s and was reintroduced in the UK in 2014 by Healthpoint.
