Floïd Floïd 2012

I got to know Floid (from the name) from a Manufactum catalogue, but never bought the product there. On a city trip to Madrid about five years ago, I needed shaving foam at short notice, visited a wonderfully old-fashioned drugstore, saw Floid from the spray can, bought it and was thrilled: I usually use solid soaps, but this stuff was really excellent.

Then, about a year later in Maastricht, I happened upon a store that can be considered a paradise for fans of classic men's grooming; in the Wyck district, close to the pedestrian bridge that leads over to the "good side" of the old town: A totally cramped and cluttered establishment run by a single slightly older gentleman (guaranteed bachelor), with some classic colognes and eau de toilettes, some of them rare, but mostly oodles of after shaves, shaving foams and all sorts of other stuff with rarity and vintage factor, also piled up on the floor and gathering dust in corners: toothpastes, soaps, hair tonics (there's a corner for aspirin and similar remedies, too). There I found an assortment "Floid" and this time I also grabbed this aftershave.

The review written at that time to it (then still: "comment"), which I have recycled for present text, I put to "Floid 1932", because I suspected, it was the original version, but in any case thought, here at Parfumo is only this one variant listed.

Meanwhile, another three years later, after internet research, a sample swap with Konsalik, and a productively failed login attempt at Parfumo Research, I think I have the resolution, at least as far as the Spanish branch of Floids is concerned (there may be others in Italy once again).

The classic Floid from 1932 impresses with fierce menthol and equally fierce cinnamon. This combination is very special and certainly distinctive, but suits me personally less. It is now available in two sub-variants, which are marked on the otherwise identical label with "mentolado suave" and "mentolado vigoroso", so "with a lot of menthol" and "with little menthol".

The variant reviewed here looks the same as the other two by color and label, but is a 100% different scent. It has the name suffix "fragrancia moderna y masculina" (Modern and masculine fragrance) and has, as far as I can tell, no menthol at all and at best very little cinnamon.

I liked this fragrance fantastically from the first moment, and it still does today. With Mrs. von Spee it behaves the same. With a description I do but difficult. The fragrance has something surprisingly fresh-sweet, which could almost be called "feminine", if it were not so finely balanced with various excellent matching herb-spicy scents. Haptically, Floid 2014 reminds me of a flattering smooth surface, like extremely smooth polished wood, dense silk, or just very freshly shaved facial skin. Although only a few years old, this Floid (too) comes across as classic and barbershop-ish, with the slight sweetness typical of these types of scents (but which the old Floid doesn't have like this). As a typical wearer, I can imagine a very sophisticated but at the same time masculine-attractive Spanish gentleman between 30 and 50; someone with values, someone his friends can always count on. Perhaps an architect, notary or police commissioner who, during a break at work, takes the time to have a coffee in a plaza (whether in Barcelona or a provincial town) while reading the daily paper. Not an idler, but a man who knows that work isn't everything; one who, while studying the results of his favourite club, the latest political developments and the cultural events of the week, wears his sunglasses for the sun, but perhaps also a little bit for the sake of looking good. Who makes a point of smelling really good, but who sovereignly doesn't mind putting on "just" a not at all expensive aftershave from his drugstore, which hundreds of thousands of other men in his country also use.

As with all Floids captivates the beautiful and elegant, quite unobtrusive bottle with the classic, pleasing signet and the pleasant product color. The aftershave is in principle thin, but acts on the skin slightly balsamic. The bottle opening is not exactly designed for pouring, but still for a slightly higher dose "splashing". The shelf life is enormous with me for an aftershave.

One of the cases where the new edition is just as classic as the 100-year-old original - only (for me) much nicer!