Brut Cologne Aftershave: A Classic Scent For Men?

Brut is a brand name for a line of men's grooming and fragrance products. It was launched in 1964 by the American firm Fabergé Inc. and has been owned since 1990 by the British multinational company Unilever. The Brut line includes aftershave, cologne, balms, and deodorant. Packaged in a green glass bottle with a silver-coloured medallion, it is still sold as of 2023.

Brut has been endorsed by celebrities such as footballer Vinnie Jones, boxer Henry Cooper, and musician Elvis Presley. Its famous slogan, Splash it all over, was used in a 1970s advertising campaign featuring Cooper.

While Brut is no longer as popular as it once was, it remains a classic fragrance with a distinctive scent.

Brut cologne is marketed as a masculine scent

The scent of Brut is often described as "punchy citrus, basil, and anise". It is also described as a powdery-floral fougère with a sweet-spiced floral shaving cream drydown. The combination of citrus top notes with a blend of lavender and spicy woods gives it a masculine edge for some.

Brut's marketing has evolved over the years. In the 1960s, its slogan was "the manly scent of Brut". Later iterations, perhaps reflecting changing attitudes towards masculinity, have used the slogans ""the essence of man" and "targeted to men of character".

Brut's packaging has also changed over time. The original bottles were made of glass and featured a steel medallion. Today, Brut is packaged in green glass bottles with a silver-coloured medallion.

The original Brut cologne was launched in 1964

In the years since its launch, the Brut line has expanded to include aftershaves, balms, and deodorants, all packaged in the brand's iconic green glass bottle with a silver-coloured medallion. The brand has also released several limited editions, such as "Classic" and "Special Reserve", which come in 3 oz glass bottles complete with medallions, and even a giant 25.6 oz glass bottle.

Over the years, the branding rights to Brut have splintered, resulting in multiple versions of the fragrance being available on the market today. While they all have the same basic scent, the balance of notes differs between versions. The original Brut is known for its fresh and distinctive fragrance, with prominent citrus top notes and a blend of lavender and spicy woods in the base.

Brut has been endorsed by several celebrities over the years, including boxer Henry Cooper, motorcycling world champion Barry Sheene, athlete David Hemery, footballer Kevin Keegan, and footballer Paul Gascoigne. In 1980, Joe Namath starred in an infamous ad depicting a "Brut Day", where everything went his way.

Today, Brut continues to be a popular fragrance, particularly among those who appreciate its nostalgic feel and masculine scent. While the formulation has evolved over time, with some noting that newer versions are not as strong as the original, Brut remains an iconic brand in the world of men's grooming and fragrances.

Brut cologne is available in many countries, but the formula varies slightly in some regions

In the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Latin America, the rights to Brut are owned by High Ridge Brands Company. In Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, the rights are owned by Pharmacare Laboratories, which produces its own Brut aftershave with a slightly different scent.

Over the years, the branding rights have splintered, resulting in at least six versions of Brut available on the market today. While they all have the same basic scent, the balance of notes differs between the versions. The North American market offers the original Brut in green plastic "beer bottle" varieties manufactured by Idelle Labs for Helen of Troy. These are available as Original Cologne, Aftershave, and Splash-On, with slight variations in the fragrance formula.

In Europe, the brand is owned by Fabergé (which, in turn, is owned by Unilever). The bottles are shaped like a flying squirrel and are available as Original EdT and Aftershave. There are also reports of a more faithful version of the 1960s Brut formula available in Europe, brought back by an independent businessman.

In the United Kingdom, Brut is distributed by Helen of Troy, and the aftershave formula has changed to align with the North American recipe. France is said to be the only place that sells premium Brut, which is what the American and European Brut formulas are based on. This version is more expensive and has never been sold outside of France.

With such a diverse range of Brut products available worldwide, it's no surprise that the formula varies slightly between regions, offering a unique twist on the classic scent in each market.

Brut cologne is owned by Unilever, except in certain territories

Brut is a brand name for a line of men's grooming and fragrance products. It was launched in 1964 by the American firm Fabergé Inc. and has been owned since 1990 by the British multinational company Unilever. However, Unilever does not own the rights to the brand in several countries.

In 2003, Unilever divested the rights to the brand in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Latin America. The rights were acquired by Helen of Troy Limited, and later by High Ridge Brands in 2021. In Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, the rights are owned by Pharmacare Laboratories.

In Europe, the brand is owned by Fabergé, which is, in turn, owned by Unilever. The bottles in Europe are shaped like flying squirrels and are marketed as Original EdT and Aftershave.

The Brut line includes aftershave, balms, and deodorant. It is known for its distinctive packaging, with a green glass bottle and a silver-coloured medallion. Brut has a strong association with masculinity and is often described as having a "manly" or "masculine" scent.

Brut cologne has been endorsed by many celebrities

In 1973, racing driver Allan Moffat drove a Brut 33-sponsored Ford Mustang in the Australian Touring Car Championship, and in 1980, Joe Namath starred in an infamous ad depicting a "Brut Day", in which everything went his way. In 2020, former footballer Vinnie Jones was recruited for a "No Messing About" advertisement campaign, poking fun at more pretentious perfume adverts.

Brut has also been endorsed by celebrities outside of the sports world. In 2015, Jim Harbaugh professed his love for the cologne, saying, "I've been a Brut man since I was 10 years old." Elvis Presley was also a fan of the fragrance, and in the film Over the Top, Sylvester Stallone's character picks up a trailer of Brut before taking his son on a cross-country trip. Arnold Schwarzenegger is another celebrity known for wearing Brut cologne.

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