1936 Balsam Reserve Aftershave Lotion

Size: 2 fl oz
Packaging: 1930s-style glass bottle with reducer
Original 1936 Recipe — Small Batch Reproduction
Limited quantities. 
Shake Before Use

Ingredients:

Witch Hazel Distillate, SVR, Alum, Glycerin, Menthol Crystals, Proprietary Botanical Essential Oils (Bergamot, Sandalwood, Balsam Peru, Cedarwood, Verbena, Gum of Benjamin, Fragrance Musk)

History:

While the term aftershave is relatively modern, the tradition of applying something to the skin after shaving dates back to antiquity. Ancient Egyptians used resins and oils to soothe post-shave skin, while medieval Europeans favored alcohol-based herbal waters for both shaving and hygiene.

Although today we associate aftershaves with strong, masculine scents, early options were often floral waters. Rose water, for example, was documented in post-shave use in 16th-century England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. By the 18th century, these delicate waters were largely replaced by Eau de Cologne—a citrus and rosemary-based concoction originally created as a medicinal elixir.

Throughout the 19th century, men continued to favor Bay Rum, Lilac Lotion, and variations of Cologne. By the early 20th century, more targeted “after-shaving lotions” began appearing in barber catalogs and trade journals, though the phrasing aftershave lotion didn’t become common until the late 1920s and 1930s. Brands like Williams, Mennen, and Fougère Royale helped popularize the term.

One particularly charming ad from TIME Magazine (January 1928) claimed:

“10 seconds… to remove that ‘morning after’ mask of weariness… Try this remarkable new skin lotion after shaving… Both lotion and cream are mildly perfumed with the odor of Fougère Royale (Royal Fern).”

As a historical note: despite modern branding, the term “shave tonic” does not appear in early 20th-century sources and seems to have emerged post-2000 as a nostalgic-sounding label for contemporary products.

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About This Product:

Our 1936 Balsam Reserve Aftershave Lotion is a historically rooted reproduction of a gentleman’s cooling aftershave, revived from an original recipe and lovingly researched and recreated for you to enjoy! The original stated “perfume as needed,” so we studied popular cologne profiles of the 1930s and blended a scent true to its time, using a combination of authentic 1930s formulas.

Expect a brisk menthol opening, followed by a refined woodsy dry-down—cedarwood, balsam, gum of Benjamin, and musk. It honors the classic, masculine aftershaves of the era: clean, cooling, and unmistakably vintage.


So if you love a true to the period aftershave with woodsy notes and a clean, refreshing scent, then this is the one for you. Use it for yourself or share it- one for you, one for them, and everyone can smell like a deep botanical-scented 1930s wooded afternoon.

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How to Use:

Shake before use. After shaving, rinse your face with cool water and pat dry. Apply a small amount of aftershave lotion to your palms, rub them together, and gently pat onto the shaved area. Allow it to absorb fully—no rinsing needed.

Step back in the 1930s with this original Soothing, cooling, and lightly fragrant aftershave—limited Quantities.