Jade East

Jade East is very similar to other barbershop fougeres such as Canoe, Hai Karate, Pinaud Clubman and Coty Musk. It differs from Canoe in the top notes and lacks the amber base of Hai Karate. There is something that slightly burns the skin and nostrils when applied. It's not the alcohol, it almost feels like capsaicin. In either case, this cologne is just okay. I added some oakmoss, sandalwood and vanilla to mine because the base is almost entirely missing. JE fades far too quickly and this helped give it some longevity. I won't go so far as to call the current formulation junk, but it's probably priced too high for the quality juice you get. Some people like a more modest cologne, and I would rather have an extant Jade East product instead of it totally dying out. But if you want a better experience, I would say try the Hai Karate Type oil from Hayward Enterprises. It does a better job with this scent than Regency Cosmetics has done with this one. Canoe and Kanon aren't exactly in their best incarnation today either. Neither are Brut and Old Spice for that matter. These classics have all been cheapened, and you can only add so much of your own essential oils to what should be decent quality colognes. Time has given us cheap replicas of a golden era. Vintage is expensive and who can tell if it's spoiled? Phoenix Artisan accoutrements makes a Hai Karate scent called Lo Haiku which is going to be a better quality than this one. If you can find it on their website, it's probably a better use of your money also.

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 085 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased July 2019 My bottle is the new version with the transparent cheap cap that cracks and doesn't snugly fit. I sprayed this a lot before bed time because it's quite comforting and calming. A very luxurious vibe this, similar to Tabu, Coty Musk for Men, Canoe, Pinaud Clubman, and the vibe of Chaz Classic. Proabably throw in Sex Appeal and Lagerfeld Classic vibes too. Not cheap for what it is since you can survive with those listed above, but if you love spicy oriental ambers then it's a yes from me because it's a forgotten classic. The original adverts for Jade East were almost sexual. Nobody did that at the time, something the French and Italians copied.

I LOVED the ORIGINAL Jade East, which was incredibly long-lasting, spicy, sweet, and creamy. I have not smelled the new version, and am disappointed to hear that it has been reformulated and ruined. If I ever buy more, it will be a vintage bottle, NOT the new stuff. The original was great for both men and women.

I remember this as a kid in the 60’s. It smelled really good...

Oh, this one takes me back. Waaaaaay back! Suddenly it's the early 1960's and my father has shaved and dressed to go to work in the evening as our black and white television broadcasts Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, Palladin or the Jackie Gleason Show (with the "sultry" June Taylor Dancers doing their funky Busby Berkeley numbers). Jade East is a slap of musk, a whiff of Granny Clampett's "vanilly", and a walk in the woods while drinking a vodka Screwdriver in a tall, sweaty glass. A perfume for "manly men" at a time when Old Spice and Aqua Velva were about the only games in town. James Bond books were just being made into movies and there seemed to be a connection between Jade East and those first Bond movies that made it OK for our All American, manly men dads to wear. My brother and I would pool our coins to buy a bottle of Jade East for Papa for his birthday, Father's Day, etc. -- it really did seem like it was a BIG step up from Old Spice, which our grandfather wore!! In later years after Papa had discovered Aramis, bottles of Jade East (and Hai Karate, remember that one?) were still turning up in closets and under the sink and we'd splash it on the dogs after their baths. They were the best smelling daschunds in town, oh yes! Thanks for the memories!