Tai Winds
Avon (1972)

If you ever pondered the question - "I wonder what cologne Greg Brady would have worn?"...here it is.

I do pick up the Brut-ness in the lavender but wow lots of musk. LOTS. Does it smell dated? Yes. Is it pleasant? Subjectively no. Is it an interesting time machine fragrance? Yes on that. Luckily I have the original 'tiki' bottle sans those straps which I don't mind. I just can't do the kitschy car bottles and others.

This isn't office safe or really wearable in public so I'm not sure where this fits other than my first sentence. For me, it's a fun discontinued Avon time machine and I shouldn't give this thumbs up but I can't help it, and I do wear this occasionally . So we'll call it a time machine Thumbs Up.

I finally got my hands on a bottle of Tai Winds cologne. I've been interested in this one since I heard "green and powdery barbershop" and the neat tiki bottle.

The first thought that hit my mind was "this smells a lot like Brut" but mellower on certain notes. I get lemon, anise, lavender/barbershop powder, oakmoss and vanilla. The lemon in Tai Winds isn't as sharp and the anise doesn't attack as hard. I found this to be a little lighter on vanilla than Brut. The musk is generous but initially has a light dryer sheet tone to it, but that disappears on drydown. This does have some kind of cooling note that hides in the oakmoss and it must be a little menthol. I gather to capture a breezy feel to reflect the fragrance's namesake.

Tai Winds by Avon is a barbershop scent you just don't hear about. I think it's an interesting variant modeled after Brut. Very close to the shirt collar projection but it's an Avon fragrance.

Avon Thai Winds Cologne (Barbershop Brush 1.5 oz splash)

This juice MUSK is very MUSK pleasant to wear after a shower MUSK and shave. Right in the wheelhouse MUSK of many men's medicine MUSK cabinet stalwarts Brut, Clubman and Dana Canoe.


4 stars


Note:
MUSK

Let's call Tai Winds a green powdery soapy oriental. I will say upfront that for me, this one hasn't aged particularly well. It reminds me of opening a drawer full of stale masculine grooming products. Some of the Brut has leaked and the smell is competing with a spicy deodorant and maybe the Skin Bracer and the toothpaste. At points during the opening evolution, it actually turned my stomach a little bit: there's a strong mentholated/spiky note that I think is supposed to have a similar effect as the sharp green lavender of Caron Pour un Homme. In the Caron (and other top classical powdery fougeres), this aspect is blended with a precise, light hand, and lends excitement to the tonka/vanilla backbone. In Tai Winds, the soapy/green, spicy, and oriental elements are waging violent battle, and all sides are sustaining heavy losses. The extended base is a lot more enjoyable - really more of a classic powdery-barbershop profile, and the cooling element has settled in a much nicer groove. I can get along with just fine with the base, but sorry, I just can't handle the chaotic and extended opening phases.

70's dross.
Misuse of Tonka and Musk. Similar in orchestration to Faberge's Brut. Out of balance and for that matter, good taste. I suppose that's the point.
This presents an Ancient equivalent to the over-use of Woody Amber Aromachemical compounds of today.

A year later Paco Rabanne comes out to save the Fougere from a mediocrity that Tai Winds, Brut etc, present.

For comparison, Fougere Royale, arguably, presents a model for clean, fine orchestration, balance to Lavender, Citrus, Tonka and proves elegant with a whisper of Musky Floral Orchid.
In the case of those who choose to cry pomme et l'orange I'd say that both Faberge and Avon prove excellent with Turbo and Leathers respectively.

These days, there appears to be a Tonka Absolute that Indies like Areej le Dore, Hiram Green and others are using to anchor their Aromatics elegantly. In the case of AlD to blend with Musks. With Hiram Green Arbole Arbole provides a magical, beautiful and eloquent study of Tonka.

I'd say, to both of them, Faberge et "Avon Calling", stay away from the simple Fougere and turn down the volume of your coumarou.
It's thinning our blood and lowering our Sperm Count.

my Subjective view.

70's flashback. I remember some adult males wearing this. My father may have had this - I don't remember. I sure don't remember the shape of the original bottle. I have a different style.

Anyway, great green notes, "old" lavender, and spiciness. Some Tonka, some oakmoss. I consider this cologne to be fairly refreshing. Although it was marketed for men, it isn't too manly on my skin. It really "shines" in warmer weather. Because my bottle is so old, it may explain why this doesn't last very long for me. Reapplications often are necessary.