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Pond's Cold Cream - a childhood memory

(85 Posts)
annodomini Thu 05-Mar-20 12:01:34

Going back 70 years, I remember my aunt always used Pond's cold Cream on her face. I don't think the word 'moisturiser' had then been coined, but that was the job the cream was doing. Recently, I've noticed that some moisturisers smell just like the old Cold Cream, so assume some of the same ingredients are involved. Smells and memory have a close connection and that smell takes me back a very long way. So I looked on line to see if it still exists and found a range of products on - guess where - Ebay of course. It's probably just the name that's the same, but I almost feel inclined to try it. Has anyone here had a similar nostalgic experience?

silverlining48 Sun 08-Mar-20 14:42:03

My mum used ponds too. I remember a lot of the perfumes etc already mentioned.
In the 60s the only mascara available was the solid block ‘spit on the tiny brush’ variety.
Quite disgusting if the ‘spit’ missed the little box.
Happy days.

May7 Sun 08-Mar-20 10:37:55

My friends and I used to call Oil of Ulay Oil of Ugly when we were teenagers. The arrogance of the youth hey. We both now use it ?

Jewelswalk Sun 08-Mar-20 08:57:06

My Mum and Nan both used Oil of Ulay. It's now called Oil of Olay though. I can remember the smell...I don't know if it still smells the same now. My Granddad always used Old Spice in the little white bottle and my Dad used to wear Brùt.

rozina Sat 07-Mar-20 19:55:59

I used to love as a teenager Desert Flower Talcum Powder, I really wish I could buy it today. I think there was some on Ebay but I feel by now the perfume wouldn't be there. I still use the large tubs of Astral, which I love, and I still use Tweed talc, love it, I have 3 tins in at the moment. I do remember Evening in Paris perfume. There only seemed to be two perfumes as I grew up, Evening in Paris and California Poppy! Oh happy days. If anyone knows where I can buy some Desert Flower Talcum powder, so let me know it was by Shulton, apparently it came out in 1947! There was also Fields of Bond Street and they made bath cubes.

Pudding123 Sat 07-Mar-20 19:04:16

I can remember most of the things on this thread from my mother I think the bottle of Evening in Paris was small dark blue glass ,and I can remember buying her Oil of Ulay for her birthday ,I can smell it now...I was always very happy at home with my mum and dad ,who incidently used Old Spice .Thank you for evoking some wonderful memories.

gillyjp Sat 07-Mar-20 18:47:52

Estee Lauder Youth Dew - it certainly hung around but when I smell it now I love it still, but too overwhelming a perfume for me. Astral creme I used all the time and Anne French cleansing lotion. Estolan hair conditioner, Hartnell In Love and Kiku (going into the Army & Navy Department store in Bromley and smelling that). Anyone remember Lucky Numbers chocolates? My Nan loved those.

Sparklefizz Sat 07-Mar-20 18:37:49

Aaargh! Youth Dew. My ex husband could smell it a mile off and hated it. He once refused to get in a lift when the doors opened and there was a woman standing there drenched in the stuff.

annodomini Sat 07-Mar-20 17:29:41

@*narrowboatnan*, I can remember all too well the smell of home perm lotion. My mum qualified as a hairdresser before her marriage and she used to give her friends and family perms. We would come home from school and I swear I could smell it as soon as we turned the corner. Do you remember the advertisement, 'Which twin has the Toni?' I'm sure the two pictures were of the same woman.

Lizbethann55 Sat 07-Mar-20 16:51:59

Can we add Youth Dew to this thread. ? I hated the smell of germolene. My gran always had large tubs of a hand cream that had the oddest smell, but I can't remember what it was called.

narrowboatnan Sat 07-Mar-20 16:09:34

I remember the smell of the home perm lotion - it really ponged!

My mum used Nivea cream and went to bed plastered it in. A 15 year old me brought my bf and another couple home one evening after youth club for coffee and to listen to radio Luxembourg (we were very sophisticated!) when mother appeared in the kitchen doorway clad in a long, flannelette nightie, face plastered in Nivea and with tiny, tight curlers in her hair! Oh the shame ...

Jan51 Sat 07-Mar-20 15:34:22

Aqua Manda was the perfume I was trying to remember, I used wear it a teenager. The other perfume I used to wear was Je Riviene.
I remember the camphor rings that looked like large polos, my Nan made me wear one on a piece of tape round my neck all winter to ward off colds.

Ashcombe Sat 07-Mar-20 13:17:16

The reference to the perfume “Evening in Paris” took me back nearly 50 years to when I was a young teacher in a comprehensive school. The Senior Mistress berated one of the older girls for wearing too much perfume. When asked what it was, she replied,
“Evening in Paris.”
to which the S.M retorted,
“Well, this is morning in Hednesford. Don’t wear it to school again!”
?

H1954 Sat 07-Mar-20 12:16:19

Yes Desdemona, I remember Aqua Manda and the lemon fragrance Aqua Citra.

Desdemona Sat 07-Mar-20 12:11:09

Does anyone remember Aqua Manda perfume? My mum used that, it smelled lovely.

hollysteers Sat 07-Mar-20 11:56:03

Vitapoint is still available too!

Marelli Sat 07-Mar-20 05:43:57

My grandma used to use Lactocalamine on her face as a moisturiser. It had a beautiful smell and I remember that she had lovely skin.
My mother used Paquins hand lotion in an oval glass bottle.

Lyndiloo Sat 07-Mar-20 02:58:44

I remember the dreaded Camphorated Oil! Mum used it for every childhood ailment. Toothache (on the jaw, not inside the mouth), earache, chilblains, corns - rubbed on the throat and chest for a cold, etc. She would be devastated to learn that it's not easily bought any more. Still available on Ebay in tiny bottles of the 'Essential Oils' sort - not like Mum's industrial-size big brown bottle!

hollysteers Sat 07-Mar-20 02:05:31

jillyJo, I too use Ponds cold cream, it’s wonderful both as a moisturiser, cleanser and it even takes off waterproof mascara.
My daughter now brings me large jars of it from America as she flies long haul. I haven’t seen the large size here.
My aunt had Tabu talcum powder and I came across that not so long ago. My vintage credentials are first rate!

Lins1066 Sat 07-Mar-20 00:11:40

Yes my mother used Ponds cold cream. Also 4711, Californian Poppy and Tweed. I've seen Newbury Fruits in B&M too, we always bought them for DH's mother, she passed away a year ago. Both my father and Fil loved Liquorice Allsorts. Hamlet cigars in a little square packet, my father smoked them at Christmas.
What a lovely thread annodomini

MissAdventure Fri 06-Mar-20 23:58:09

I bought some Nivea cream, and as soon as I peeled back the silver foil, the smell took me straight back to my childhood.
It was such a strong experience it quite shook me, but in a lovely way.

Vintagegirl Fri 06-Mar-20 23:30:37

Germolene is my old favourite no longer made. Always had a tiny bit in old eyeshadow box for papercuts or quick lipstick!

There is a new 4711 called Nouveau but hard to find, slight citrus scent.

JessK Fri 06-Mar-20 21:36:42

Anyone remember Max Factor block mascara? Not the most hygienic way to apply mascara...
I used to buy 4711 and can also remember Lily of the Valley.

jillyJo Fri 06-Mar-20 20:43:06

Have used Ponds Cold Cream since I was a teenager ( a very long time ago!) and still do to this day. It is still available in some Boots branches and also Superdrug. You can also buy it from eBay. It is the very best night cream and I always use it for removing makeup.

Helennonotion Fri 06-Mar-20 20:32:03

I remember the hand cream 'Pacquins' which my Mum used constantly. She would never use any other. It came in a white glass jar with a red label I think. It's discontinued now but sometimes when I use other hand creams, it smells similar and I am transported back to my childhood!

Jackfudge Fri 06-Mar-20 20:26:55

I remember my grandma using pond's cold cream and vanishing cream, I maybe wrong but I seam to recall three jars of Pond's on her dressing table, different coloured tops, blue, pink and green, not sure what the third jar contained.