Nuts & Bolts Colognes

From 1968 to about 1972, a man could get an unusual cologne called Nuts & Bolts, manufactured by the Colton Company who also made the Nine Flags and My Islands colognes.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It was described as a spicy, woodsy fragrance for men.

Top notes: citrus zest
Middle notes: spices, vetiver
Base notes: oakmoss, sandalwood, amber, musk, patchouli


From a 1969  newspaper ad:

"Nuts and Bolts cologne and after shave lotion are two items in a new line from the Colton Company. The spicy fragrances come in orange glass and plastic nuts and bolts bottles".

Esquire, 1970:

"The design of NUTS & BOLTS is one of them. But maybe you'd like to know a little something about what's inside. It's a rather remarkable men's fragrance. You don't have to drown yourself in it to smell good all day. A few drops— you're set."

Bottles: 

A constructive concept: the industrial orange bottles for Nuts and Bolts were designed by Massimo Vignelli.

Design-Vignelli, 1990:

"The concept behind this line of toiletries was that of achieving product identity through the creation of an object rather than through graphics on labels. It was the height of the Pop Art movement and the notion of transforming an object by changing its scale was in the air."

Vignelli, 2007:

"Later we were asked to design toiletries for teenagers. In the office I saw a catalog of screws, and had the idea of giving the bottles a screw shape, with the caps in the shape of different types of nuts. The package was exciting, and it had great success, but the product was not."

Another 1969 ad reads:

"NUTS AND BOLTS What a nutty idea, it's about time someone came up with a line of grooming aids for the rugged individualist. Now there's NUTS AND BOLT. Five new super-virile products which come in man sized orange nuts and bolts containers. There's just about every grooming aid a man needs to make him feel like a man. A vigorous Cologne...a zesty After Shave...a biteless After Shave Conditioner...a strong-arm Deodorant Stick...and a couple of rousing Nut Shaped Soaps that help prevent bacteria odor...Available separately or any of three gift combinations. NUTS AND BOLTS from $2.50 to $9.50"

Fate of the Fragrance:

Nuts & Bolts has been discontinued since 1972 and remains as one of the most elusive of men's colognes today.