Three Gloriously Fragrant Rubbing Alcohols - Cleene, Alcoplus, Wise Choice

Before the pandemic, I associated the smell of rubbing alcohol with hospitals and caring for the sick. But now, with a lot of companies in the Philippines getting into the rubbing alcohol business (and no more shortages, at least for now), we are spoiled for choice. We don't need to smell antiseptic anymore. 

These three are among the best smelling scented rubbing alcohol I have gotten my hands on. 

Cleene 70% Ethyl Alcohol

This smell like a Spanish cologne. The full bottle I brought to work was half-filled when I got back home. Everyone eventually wanted to buy one because of the scent. It's not Angel's Breath Cologne nor Angel's Breath Gold EDT. The distinct lemony note is missing. However, you should really get this if you like fresh, floral, slightly citrusy colognes. Cleene Ethyl Alcohol smells great.

Alcoplus 70% Ethyl Alcohol

In a post in my other blog, I mentioned my brother's obsession with Aspen Cologne. So when I smelled this - boom! - I know what it smelled like. Granted it's a weaker concoction since it's a rubbing alcohol. I can pick out lavender and during dry down, faint amber, in both but Alcoplus Ethyl Alcohol is predominantly a masculine rubbing alcohol.

Wise Choice 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Original(?) Variant

Now this smells exactly like Victoria's Secret Endless Love. I know because I still have a bottle of the fragrance mist. The fragrance is refreshing. It's fruity. And a tad floral. The apple blossom is the most prevalent note, like an apple that you feel you can't eat because there's something flowery about it.

I was at the top of our stairs when I first smelled this. Hurried down to find my niece and sister in law disinfecting with this alcohol.

"Ambango. Ano yan (So fragrant. What's that?)?" I remember asking. 

It was only later that I realized what it smells like.  If you miss the since discontinued VS Endless Love,  or curious as to how it smells, check this out. 

Wise Choice has ethyl (original - cotton blossom, powdery, cucumber melon, lavender, unscented)  and isopropyl (original, powdery) alcohol variants. What we got is the original isopropyl one.  But you need to verify with the seller if what they have smells like Endless Love.

See, my brother said that what independent or not so large scale rubbing alcohol manufacturers  would do is they mix alcohol solution with water and fragrance (plus add ons like moisturizer) then sell them by the gallon because less packaging, manpower and equipment cost. The first gallons they got from a different brand smelled strongly of alcohol; the second, was okay by me but the scent was more masculine. Wise Choice was the third brand they got but they are concerned the Endless Love fragrance might change eventually.

Some concerns: Wise Choice's 70% Isopropyl Alcohol seem strong that it was able to turn my sister's transparent blue spray bottle cloudy. Over time we hardly noticed it is sticky.

Note: Even if these smell good, they still contain alcohol which can make you dizzy when you smell them a lot. So as with anything that has to do with alcohol, moderation is key.

For more rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer recos, here's a part two.