The Rise And Fall Of Hawk: 80S Iconic Fragrance

The 1980s were a decade of excess, and fragrances were no exception. With 462 new fragrances launched during the decade, the fragrance industry doubled in size. Hawk by Mennen, a woody-leathery scent, was one of them. However, it has since been discontinued, and Mennen itself stopped producing standalone fragrances. Today, you can find vintage bottles of Hawk on sites like Etsy, but they can be expensive.

Hawk by Mennen was a woody-leathery scent

The cologne was released in 1981, at the end of Mennen's run as a standalone men's fragrance producer. The 1960s and 1970s had seen a boom in men's fragrances, with designers occupying the space between value-oriented high-street brands and haute parfumerie houses.

Hawk by Mennen is described as a spicy and ambery leather chypre, with a rounded spiced citrus and herb opening. It has been likened to fragrances such as Avon Öland (1970) and Etienne Aigner No. 1 (1975), as well as later, sweeter leather chypres like Coty Stetson (1981).

The cologne has a wear time of about six hours, with a quiet projection unless applied liberally. It is considered best suited for cold weather.

While Hawk by Mennen is no longer in production, vintage bottles can be found on sites like Etsy, though they may be expensive. Some companies also offer recreations of the scent, such as Fragrance Revival, which specializes in creating scents that smell nearly identical to discontinued perfumes and colognes.

It was released in 1981

Hawk by Mennen was released in 1981, marking the end of Mennen's run as a maker of standalone men's fragrances. The cologne was released during a time when the men's fragrance market was dominated by designer brands, which had successfully positioned themselves as a "level-up" option for working-class men. Designer fragrances were seen as more aspirational and desirable than the value-priced options offered by companies like Mennen, which had previously been known for its reliable grooming products.

Hawk by Mennen is described as having a woody-leathery scent with notes of bergamot, orange, sage, coriander, cardamom, clove, carnation, ylang-ylang, rose, amber, oakmoss, and leather. The cologne had a quiet projection and a wear time of about six hours.

Despite being a less popular option compared to designer fragrances, Hawk by Mennen has gained a cult following among those who remember it from their youth or those who appreciate its nostalgic and sentimental value. However, it is important to note that the fragrance may remind people of other, more popular scents from that era.

In terms of its positioning, Hawk by Mennen was designed as a casual scent for everyday wear, rather than for formal occasions. It was likely targeted towards an older generation of men who were loyal to the Mennen brand and its grooming products, such as the Skin Bracer after-shave.

Today, vintage bottles of Hawk by Mennen can be found on websites like Etsy, often commanding high prices due to their rarity and the increasing demand for retro fragrances from the 1980s.

It was discontinued

Hawk by Mennen was a cologne released in 1981. It was a woody-leathery scent with notes of bergamot, orange, sage, coriander, cardamom, clove, carnation, ylang-ylang, rose, amber, oakmoss, and isobutyl quinoline leather, with tonka and tobacco-like manliness from the tonka bean. It was a drugstore fragrance, and its production was discontinued.

The 1980s saw a boom in the fragrance industry, with 462 new fragrances launched during the decade. The colognes of the time were big and bold, with powerful scents that were impossible to ignore. Designer scents were particularly popular, with people imagining that the power-brokers of the era would wear them. The advertising campaigns for these fragrances were decadent and erotic, featuring glamorous settings and high-fashion models.

The early part of the decade was dominated by heavy, assertive scents, but this began to shift towards the end of the 80s, with a growing awareness of the need for balance. This shift paved the way for the latest trends of the 1990s, which favoured lighter, more nuanced fragrances.

Today, it is still possible to find vintage bottles of Hawk by Mennen for sale, although they can be expensive and hard to come by. For those who wore it or knew someone who did, the scent can evoke powerful feelings of nostalgia.

It was a popular drugstore fragrance

Hawk by Mennen was a popular drugstore fragrance for men released in 1981. It was a woody-leathery scent with notes of bergamot, orange, sage, coriander, cardamom, clove, carnation, ylang-ylang, rose, amber, oakmoss, and musk. The fragrance was part of a suite of products that included an aftershave, deodorant, and talc.

Hawk was one of the last standalone men's fragrances released by Mennen, as the fragrance market in the 1980s was increasingly dominated by designer brands. Mennen, known for its reliable and value-priced grooming products, struggled to compete with designers, who offered a "level-up" option that appealed to working-class men and their bosses. This shift in the fragrance market may have contributed to the discontinuation of Hawk by Mennen.

Despite being discontinued, Hawk by Mennen remains a nostalgic scent for some, evoking memories of the early 1980s or of their fathers who may have worn the fragrance. The cologne can still be found on vintage markets or online, sometimes commanding high prices due to its rarity.

The 1980s fragrance market was characterised by excess and boldness, with powerful scents that announced the wearer's presence. It was a decade of consumerism and the acquisition of wealth, and this was reflected in the strong and assertive fragrances that became popular. The fragrance industry doubled in size during this decade, with 462 new fragrances launched—a significant increase from previous years.

It was a simple, classic masculine scent

Hawk by Mennen was a cologne released in 1981. It was a woody-leathery fragrance with notes of bergamot, orange, sage, coriander, cardamom, clove, carnation, ylang-ylang, rose, amber, oakmoss, and leather. The scent was described as "a spicy and ambery leather chypre" and "a nice classic masculine scent".

The cologne was part of a suite of products that included an aftershave, deodorant, and talc. The fragrance was marketed as a status symbol for working-class men, but it ultimately failed to catch on, and its production was discontinued.

Today, vintage bottles of Hawk by Mennen can be found on websites like Etsy, often commanding high prices due to their rarity and the nostalgic value they hold for those who remember the scent from their youth.

The cologne's scent has been described as reminiscent of other fragrances from the same era, such as Avon Öland (1970) and Etienne Aigner No. 1 (1975). It also shares similarities with later fragrances like Coty Stetson (1981), which was released in the same year as Hawk.

While the longevity of the scent is decent, with a wear time of about six hours, its projection is rather quiet unless a generous amount is applied. Overall, Hawk by Mennen is a nostalgic fragrance that takes one back to the early 1980s, a simpler time of disco and heavy metal, when fragrances like this one added a touch of sophistication to a man's daily routine.

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