Flashback Friday: Chacin Cologne

Have you ever wondered what a Venezuelan waterfall smelled like? Have you ever wanted to get a whiff of a 13-game winner?

Then you’re likely aware of the world’s first fragrance made by a Blue Jay player. For this week’s Flashback Friday feature, we look back at Chacin cologne.

It all stemmed from an inside joke on the Landry and Stellick show on the Fan 590 some time in late 2005. The hosts commented on how Gustavo Chacin’s last name sounded more like a name of a designer fragrance than a starting pitcher.

From there, it snowballed and led to some mock Chacin radio ads that can be heard here. At some point, the Blue Jays received wind of this meme and manufactured the Chacin cologne.

In April 2006, Gustavo Chacin along with Don Landry headed to Leslie Cosmetics and concocted the signature fragrance. So, what did it smell like? Fragrance expert Diego Gallego described the scent in an interview with Sports Illustrated:

“It’s warm and fresh with some sweet notes. It’s an easy grab-and-go fragrance. You can keep it in your gym bag and wear it to the coffee shop or away for the weekend.”

On June 27, 2006, the Toronto Blue Jays gave out vials of Chacin cologne to the first 10,000 fans. Since the game was against the Washington Nationals, half of those who attended received a sample since only 20,288 people attended the game.

I have to credit the Fan 590 and the Blue Jays for thinking outside of the box on this one with an interesting and unconventional idea for a Giveaway Day. Even though Gustavo Chacin’s time with the Blue Jays may have come and gone, the scent of Chacin will forever linger in Toronto.