Öland

Avon as a brand is often sadly dismissed as low-brow and is often the punchline rather than treated with reverence. This is quite sad, really, as the brand does conjure up fond memories for many families raised on their products, specially from the 60s through the 80s. My friend Derek, aka Varanis Ridari on Basenotes (the Scented Devil on Instagram) has championed Avon in his numerous thoughtful reviews of fragrances from this house, and he has covered so much in the way of context that I couldn't even begin to endeavor. It's really worth seeking out his writing on not just Avon, but on fragrance in general. I will agree with Derek that Öland was one of the best of Avon's masculines from this time period. Everything from its chunky Nordic mid-century-modern bottle to the cologne inside. Most dominant in its profile is that of bay leaf, cedar and leather, feeling like the finest soap-on-a-rope you can imagine. As it dries down, the outlines of tobacco are evident, sweet, aromatic, with just a slight articulation of funk. I am also reminded of the scent of the red bayberry candles that are quite popular in these parts. This is an Uncle Roy scent; a category of fragrances I invented just I am writing this, that remind me of my good ole great-uncle who was a no-nonsense blue collar gentleman who did take time for some of the finer things, even if they could only be as fine as his wallet could handle. Öland would not be out of place on his dresser (or "bureau", as we usually refer to them here in New England), along with his various splashes and after-shaves. For context, Uncle Roy would be 107 if he were alive today. This is a joy to wear.

I am a novice at this so I'm not gonna pick out smells specifically, and this is an old bottle (the one that looks like a pipe!) that I got from my late Pa. I can't say how it smells on me because I'm not gonna wear it. Just going from bottle-smell and how I remember it. I wouldn't say this smells like leather at all. There's warmth, projection, and spice—but I wouldn't be able to tell what kind of spice. It's a good smell. Maybe vaguely resiny. Very "masculine." It's a great smell, but I am also nostalgic lol. I'd say the main emotions it evokes when I try to ignore nostalgia is "clean, fresh" and "warm without being seasonal in some sense." It doesn't give winter vibe warmth, maybe sun-dried cotton warmth.

Vintage Avon has a few titles that can rightly be called classics by virtue of uniqueness and performance, not just due to familiarity (mainly meaning Wild Country). Oland is definitely one of these. It has always reminded me of Aramis which predated Oland by a few years, so I have no doubt Avon was riffing off of it as they did with their earlier Spicy/Shulton Old Spice. Yet Oland is still very much its own thing and well worth owning. Highly recommended. One caveat: of all the "tacky bottle era" Avons, Oland is the only one I've ever encountered to have some component that can truly go bad, probably due to poor storage. Something in it can stink like a combination of a damp dirty ashtray and bad patchouli. You might notice as soon as you crack the cap but, to know for sure, let a bit dry on your hand for a moment. Normally the fragrance will be clean, clear, and strong (if so, buy it). If not...well, you will know right away. Airing a bad bottle of Oland does nothing, I've tried it.

Definitely among the better Avon fragrances for men. My vintage tester of Oland utilizes a lot of cheap naturals; citruses, lavender, cedarwood, oakmoss, and patchouli, but it also has herbs, warm spices, and a smoky leather note. It seems like Avon used a set of standard materials in their releases for men, they smell vaguely similar. Oland is more sophisticated and unique than the others I've tried. I would steer you toward buying a vintage bottle of this over... Anything substantially more expensive. This old school Avon cheapie smells great and it's genuinely fun to wear. I wish I could find more information on Avon's classics. Some have been duds, and some smell wonky, but many of them have been pleasant surprises.

I love this wonderfully old school mix of leather, tobacco, incense and spicy woods. Even in aftershave form, it sticks around most of the day. Oland sits on the shelf right between English Leather and Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve.

I'm not the biggest fan of Avon fragrances but this one is actually very nice, it's a smokey leather cologne that screams masculinity.

While to me this is leathery, it also goes down a Kouros type road (clearly animalic, not as spicy), though it has its own character and is not nearly as strong (I tried the cologne formulation), but it might work for those who want a light and slightly different Kouros (it's also more powdery, eventually). If Oland was first released in 1970, its only predecesor, AFAIK, would be The Knize Ten (Cabochard is too much of a chypre to compare the two). Aramis was much more aldehydic and floral (other than the powderiness in Oland). There's no noticeable lavender in Oland and it's just a touch sweet. Needless to say, grab a bottle if this is your thing and you will be irritated by seeing someone list a bottle for $100 (or more!) one day soon on ebay.

Avon Oland is a truly old-school, leathery, woody and musty fragrance that generally comes in those hilarious Avon styled decanters. I really like the smell and enjoy wearing it. My tip for anyone wanting to buy Oland online without smelling it first is this: Oland seems to go bad and spoil much easier than the other Avon fragrances I have come across. I own 6 bottles of Oland, and 4 of them smell great, while the others (bought very cheaply and for the funny decanters only) smell rotten. I have also come across a dozen Oland decanters at antique stores and most of those have smelled spoiled as well. When Oland is good, it’s good. When it’s spoiled, it’s alarming.