CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

MY ISLANDS COLOGNE BY COLTON: six different fragrances named for Majorca, Barbados, Stromboli, Skye, Corfu, Malaya―each little bottle fits on top another to make tall bottle. These were targeted for women's use and came out in 1966 and lasted til about 1974. A 1966 advertisement reads: "MY ISLANDS. COLOGNE. A BREATH OF. ENCHANTED PLACES. Give her Skye Corfu Moorea Barbados Majorca or Strom boli by the beautiful bottle.With new My Islands cologne you can lay claim to an island empire of six islands of exotic fas the mystique that is other worlds.My Islands Colognes in selections of 234 and 6 From $8 to $20. Individual bottles or atomizers from $4 to $6." The bottles were designed by Massimo Vignelli.

 The Nine Flags men’s cologne collection came out in 1965, it was still being sold well into 1973, after that it was discontinued.  It was distributed by the Colton company of Boston, Massachusetts, a division of Gillette, and was marketed by Gillette in the United Kingdom.

Each bottle held either 2 oz or 4 oz of cologne and was ball shaped and had a long neck covered with a brushed aluminum screw cap. The name of the cologne is on the bottle part of the cap and on the label on the base. The bottles were designed by Massimo Vignelli.

This ingenious collection was full of international flair and each cologne was named after its own country and scent as the essences used to make up the cologne was imported from said country. Each scent was tinted with a different color. I have also seen these in atomizer bottles, but more commonly in the splash type bottles. They came in sets of two for $5.00, three for $6.50, four for $7.50, six for $10 and nine for $15.00. The 4 oz bottles cost $5.00.

Nine Flags Thermal Collection Shaving Foam that turns 150 degrees hot right in his hand No hot water. No electricity. Nothing but the hottest shaving foam in an aerosol can, it came out in 1967.

A 1966 newspaper ad mentions "Doyle Dane's campaign will be for Nine Flags International, a new division of Gillette, and its line of men s colognes from nine countries." Another ad reads "NINE FLAGS INTERNATIONAL GIFT COLOGNES FOR MEN Nine Flags searched the globe for the single best men's colognes... mix several to create his own Nine Flags Blend So get with it gals, get your man Nine Flags International Colognes!"

Even commercials of the day featured such scenes as ethnic sexy women talking about which country has the best after shave lotion. Other commercials featured a sexy Italian couple, German couple and Swedish couple.

These colognes are still very popular amongst men today and command very high prices on eBay. Prices range from $75-$350 for a single bottle.

The following countries/scents make up the Nine Flags Collection:

• Lichtenstein-Wild Cedar
• Luxembourg
• America-Mountain Green
• Hong Kong-Patcham
• Brazil-Aromatic Tabac
• England-Royal Saddle
• France-Panache
• Sweden-Clear Spruce
• Ireland-Green Moss
• Germany-Live Oak
• Spain-Manzanilla
• Italy-Dry Citrus
• Morocco-Sea Amber

Photos by www.Vignelli.com