Corday Jet for Jentlemen After Shave Lotion 4 oz Splash Vintage 1950s
A fabulous survivor from the early years of men's designer fragrance, this original Corday Jet for Jentlemen After Shave Lotion retains the wonderfully streamlined presentation associated with postwar men's grooming products. Its beveled French glass bottle, rich amber-colored contents, dramatically flared silver-tone cap, period typography, and deliberately playful "Jentlemen” spelling give it unmistakable mid-century character. Introduced in 1949 and long discontinued, Jet for Jentlemen is now one of the considerably harder-to-find men's fragrances from the historic House of Corday.
Available for immediate purchase is this lovely, circa 1950s vintage, original and authentic (Reference Number: 1716; SDA-NY-3399; Pre-UPC), made in France, Jet for Jentlemen After Shave Lotion splash in a generous 4-ounce (120ml) size by Corday. All photos were taken at high magnification to best confirm item condition. The buyer will receive the exact item pictured. Dating This Bottle
Jet for Jentlemen was introduced by Corday in 1949, and this particular bottle appears consistent with 1950s to early 1960s production. It predates UPC identification and carries the early distributor information “Distr. Corday, N.Y.”, Reference Number 1716, and the additional SDA-NY-3399 marking.
The rear label states “LABEL PRINTED IN FRANCE,” while the heavy glass bottle itself is embossed “CORDAY BOTTLE MADE IN FRANCE.” Taken together with the bottle design, typography, labeling, and presentation, these characteristics support dating this example to the earlier Corday period rather than later licensed production. Why This Item Stands Out
Vintage men's grooming fragrances survive in substantially smaller numbers than many women's perfumes of the same period, and Jet for Jentlemen is particularly uncommon today. This example is especially desirable because of its impressive 4-ounce size, substantial French-made bottle, original period labels, early Corday identification, and exceptionally well-preserved overall presentation.
The bottle itself is a wonderful piece of mid-century packaging. Its thick clear glass has sharply beveled shoulders and gently curved sides, while the dramatically flared silver-tone cap provides a distinctive finishing touch. The intentionally stylized Jet for “Jentlemen” name makes it an especially memorable example of postwar men's fragrance branding. Condition
This beveled glass bottle is in excellent vintage condition with no noted chips or cracks. The silver-tone flared cap remains exceptionally attractive. The original front paper label is completely intact and displays beautifully, with a small area of staining at the upper left corner as shown in the photographs. The paper distributor label at the lower back is also fully intact. The bottle retains its embossed French-manufacture markings and contains its rich amber-colored vintage after shave lotion. Please carefully review all photographs, as they form an important part of the condition description. Collector's Notes
Corday was an important French fragrance house whose creations included such enduring vintage names as Toujours Moi, Tzigane, Possession, and Fame. Jet for Jentlemen represents the house's postwar movement into a fragrance specifically marketed toward men and accompanied by dedicated grooming preparations.
The combination of its 1949 introduction, French manufacture, early Corday distributor markings, large 4-ounce size, distinctive original bottle, and scarce After Shave Lotion format makes this an excellent addition to a collection of vintage men's fragrance, barber and grooming memorabilia, mid-century packaging, or historic French perfumery.
Of particular interest is the deliberately unconventional spelling “Jentlemen.” This is the fragrance's original name and not a typographical error. The playful spelling gave Corday's men's line a recognizable identity that remains immediately distinctive more than seven decades later. Fragrance History
1949: Corday introduces Jet for Jentlemen as a men's fragrance. 1950s: Jet for Jentlemen is offered in multiple men's fragrance and grooming preparations, including cologne and After Shave Lotion. 1950s–Early 1960s: This particular 4-ounce Corday After Shave Lotion bottle is believed to date from this period based on its French manufacture, distributor labeling, pre-UPC presentation, typography, and packaging. Later Production: The marketing license for Jet for Jentlemen was subsequently acquired by Max Factor. Discontinued: Jet for Jentlemen eventually disappears from production and is now encountered primarily as a vintage collectible. Fragrance Notes
Jet for Jentlemen is classified as a citrus aromatic fragrance for men, with surviving fragrance references describing a composition centered upon citrus and fresh green notes. Detailed contemporary documentation of its original note pyramid appears to be scarce, so more elaborate modern note lists should be treated cautiously. The documented citrus-green character places it firmly within the crisp, clean style of upscale postwar men's fragrance and grooming products.
