Aqua Velva
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Aqua Velva originally began as an alcohol-based aftershave for men in 1929 by Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) but has recently expanded into a full line of men's grooming products marketed worldwide by Combe Incorporated. Aqua Velva products include classic Ice Blue, Ice Sport, Musk, and new Ice Balm aftershave.
The alcohol content of original Aqua Velva was high enough to actually inspire US sailors in World War II to use it as a substitute for alcoholic beverages.[citation needed] Aqua Velva contains a bittering agent, denatonium benzoate, to discourage consumption. The flavor was improved either with vanilla extract or orange juice, but still left a soapy aftertaste in the drinker's mouth. It is an exceedingly bad idea to drink Aqua Velva as it has ingredients approved for cosmetic use (on the skin) but not approved for ingesting.
On Parris Island, Aqua Velva is often used by Marine recruits, under the direction of their Drill Instructors, to cut the smell of body odor on themselves, and in their barracks.
[edit] In popular culture
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- As alluded to by Rodney McKay in Episode 3 of Stargate Atlantis Season 2, Lt. Colonel John Sheppard uses it.
- Aqua Velva is worn in large amounts by a character in one episode of Monk (season 4, episode 5, Mr. Monk Gets Drunk).
- Glenn Quagmire, from Family Guy, also wears it, as Stewie notices in the episode Running Mates.
- Tang, from Poolhall Junkies encourages its use, along with Old Spice, as the key to picking up women.
- In the film Zodiac Aqua Velva is referenced as an alcoholic beverage.
- In the film Twins Vincent Benedict (Danny DeVito) receives Aqua Velva as a birthday gift from his secretary, which he obsequiously accepts and then discards as soon as the secretary leaves the room.
- In Entourage, Turtle calls Drama an Aqua Velva mother lover because Drama uses large amounts of it, but never shaves his beard.
- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart made reference to Aqua Velva's alternative use as an alcohol substitute when senior correspondent Stephen Colbert took a swig of Aqua Velva after learning that Jon Stewart kept no real alcohol behind the desk.[1]
- In Frasier, Martin Crane is known to use Aqua Velva after Niles calls him 'Aqua Velva Man'.
