xim

I know theres several threads on cologne already, but I need specific advice and I have enough ego to make a thread just about me

I cant smell. At all. Blind in the nose. I cant smell the difference between feces and apple pie. A cigarrette tastes the same as a joint. I was born this way. Its called anosmia.

So anyway I need help with my smells.

I like to stand out, but not looking like I'm trying to stand out. I want something sexual (of course), that women like. All the posts basicly say that, as would be expected, different scents go with different people.

So heres me. I have long hair and lots of people think im a hippy. I have a very earthy style, wearing lots of green, brown, khaki, courderoy, and faded colors. I'm not metro or anything, but I'm definatly not into the "dirty hippy" thing either.

Any ideas about what would suit me? I don't want to wear petchulie because doesnt that tend to repel non hippy chicks? Or am I wrong? I use old spice deoderant alot. Sometimes axe. But I have no idea what I'm putting on myself.

What are the rules for going natural? I know lots of girls like the smell of man sweat, which makes sense in a primal pheromonic way. But sweat turns into BO right? Is there a time delay on that? So is it like, sweat = good, sweat + a day = bad? I dont think I have bad BO, so is it ok to not wear deoderant at all if i shower every day? Does deoderant overpower the goodness from sweat?

Can you mix scents? I usually use oldspice bodywashwear and sometimes old spice deoderant, so am I hurting myself by spraying some axe on top of that? (I only happened to settle on old spice beceuse its what my dad used to use and it was in the house) And I usually use Brut aftershave. It's cheap, and that makes me worry that I smell like cheap aftershave. What about axe? Does cheap equal sleazy?

I feel like Stevie Wonder trying to dress himself. The more information you guys can give me the better.

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Sage

(woman here)

I find that a lot of the scented cologne bodywashes smell wayy, wayy too much, so I'd suggest looking for a bodywash that says it's scent free, or taking a friend with you next time you buy soap and asking him/her to help you pick one with a very, very light scent. Also, mixing Old Spice deodorant with Axe spray could make you smell wierd, because deododerant will start to perfume a bit as you sweat (thus de-odorizing you).

I would say go get some of the natural crystal rock salt deodorant. They're a few dollars more, but they last FOREVER (as in, at least a year using every day) and they have no smell. If you don't have a problem with excessive sweat (rock salt isn't an anti-perspirant) then they will help prevent BO and not add a smell.

Generally, one scent is a good thing. So Brut aftershave with Axe cologne will probably smell a tad strange until the Brut wears off. Good rule of thumb is either everything you use is unscented except your cologne, or you use one scent in *everything* (bodywash, lotion, aftershave, deodorant, and cologne) and either use just a little bit of cologne (because that will provide the strongest smell) or don't use cologne (because all that other stuff makes you smell nice anyway).

As to if you smell like BO or not, when you go home for christmas take a shower one morning and ask your mother if you smell bad right before you go to bed.

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Seaver

Go buy the Arm and Hammer D/O. It's the simple kind, works REALLY well, and all the girls describe it as smelling "clean". It's not an overpowering smell so you can stack a cologne on it as well.

I used to swear by Old Spice, but has a much too strong smell IMO. Arm and Hammer is my new kind.

xepherys

As a guy, I've always found I get decent attention from the ladies using musk scented oils (not strong musk, but mild and pleasant). I actually get one from the RenFest every year that I LOVE (as does my wife). I think it's called Vampire Lestadt... don't be turned away by the name being corny. It's a pleasant light musk. Good stuff.

As for everything else, well... I don't like a lot of scented soaps and stuff, I usually use a very "soap" smelling soap like Lever 2000 so I smell "clean" and then use oil or a cologne. My colognes of choice are Bulgari Blu and Curve Crush for Men. Both, again, are clean scents that are not overly strong. Usually 2 or 3 sprays from either are good. For the oils, dab a bit on the nape of your neck, the inside of each elbow... places where one of three things occur... someone's face may be close (neck - giving hugs or kisses), where there is blood flow close to the skin (women often dab perfume on the underside of their wrists for this reason) or places where it will waft off of easily (wrists again... or elbows... hell, even ankles if you're wearing shorts).

Don't over do it. Women might like the smell of Bath and Body Works, but guys scents don't tend to blend as well. Fruit and flowers is not too bad... Moutain Man and High Speed Racers (I just made those up) would not likely be as pleasant together.

maleficent

moderation in anything is the key... if your scent enters a room before you.. it's too much...

There's an old commercial for some cheap women's fragrance... if you want to capture someone's attention... Whisper... Same holds true for me... it should whisper... I shouldn't be able to smell it unless I am in your personal space ... that pig pen cloud of scent is really harsh...

I personally am a fan of citrus scents or a light spicey scent... but citrus wins more because it just smells so clean...

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tspikes51

My best advice (from a guy who is told at least weekly that he smells nice) would be, of course, my daily ensemble. I used to swear by Davidoff Cool Water, but I've found through much experimentation a far superior mixture that costs far less:

Shower with Old Spice "Pure Sport" body wash and Pert Plus (or something else that just smells like soap). For special occasions, wash out the shampoo with a bit of body wash in your hair (I figured this out by accident). Next comes Old Spice "Metallic Ice" antiperspirant. A quick spray of Old Spice "Metallic Ice" spray finishes off the whole package quite nicely without being overbearing, just make you use a laundry detergent that isn't strong (an extra rinse cycle doesn't hurt). Also, keep a can of the spray on you (I keep one in my glove box), and give yourself a quick spray after leaving your car.

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tenchi069

Irish Spring green or blue bar. Speed Stick deoderant, not the white powder, the transluscent stuff, has to be blue and find something that smells like water oceansurf or something. I've been told that I smell nice just from those together.

As for clothing, Ajax springtime fresh powdered laundry detergent, and Downy Springtime Fresh fabric softner. I've been told in University that my bedding/towels/and clothes smelled nice

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snowy

Brut smells awful. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

My guy uses Axe Kilo bodywash and deodorant/anti-perspirant. I like it. It's not overly strong and smells so sexxxy.

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taboo

don;t use Old Spice..I dunno, personally I don;t like that smell..

cellophanedeity

I like my men to smell like nothing but clean, and maybe a lightly scented deoderant.

Use whatever shampoo you want in the shower, and put on a deoderant. Apparently the Arm and Hammer one is nice.

If you insist on smelling like something, go with a light spiced citrus scent, they're the nicest.

healer

I still do. It's the freshest, most clean-smelling fragrance I've come across in my short time actually wearing cologne. I shower with a Radox shower gel that doesn't really have a strong scent, but still smells clean after.

Since you're such an earthy guy, I'd suggest the same. If citrus isn't your thing, DKNY Apple for Men is just as good.

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Gitmo

My favorite colognes are Acqua Di Gio and Curve.

taboo

Curve is actually nice from what I remember..

Mantus

Polo Sport is niiiiiice.
will react with your body chemestry and might not smell as good on you as out of the bottle. So take a girlie shoping with you

The pores in your armpits produce protien along with sweat (which is just salt and water). Bacteria feed on this protien and cause BO. Do a serch in the Fitness forum on BO, there were a couple of threads.

MSD

I'll start off by saying that you can get a decent bottle of cologne for around $30 that not will not only last you over a year, but make Axe smell like gorilla piss in comparison (on its own I'd just say monkey piss.) Gio smells fine, but it's the territory of high school guys and frat boys. Pretty much anything you'd find in teh Wal*Mart fragrances section is very cheap-smelling and I wouldn't reccommend it. Curve and Polo Sport, which have been suggested, are very synthetic-smelling and can't hold a candle to most decent fragrances.

Now that I've insulted everything you all like, here are my reccomndations:

Himalaya by Creed (MSRP for 3.4oz for $160, actual price around 80-120)
Top notes of citrus, middle notes of lavender, and a base note of sandalwood come together to create what I'd imagine it would smell like if you just stepped onto the balcony of a mountain inn in the Himalayas during springtime. Subtle enough for daily wear, a very clean fragrance that I've heard described as "The best men's cologne I've ever smelled." One of two that I switch off as my daily scents depending on my mood. Definitely won't scare off non-hippies as it's very clean-smelling.

Silver Mountain Water by Creed (MSRP for 3.4oz is $160, actual price around 80-120)
Top and middle notes of currant and aquatic fragrance, base note of tea. A unisex cologne preferred by Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, it is equally appropriate for men or women, and is a good choice if you want something sweeter smelling than Himalaya for daily wear. I haven't tried it, but I've heard nothing but praise.

Be Delicious by DKNY (MSRP for 100ml ~$60, expect to pay around 40)
Heavy citrus top nootes dry down to a woody coffee scent with a hint of chocolate. Very appropriately named, a sexy fragrance that's still suitable for daily wear.

Envy for Men by Gucci (MSRP around $80, I think)
Amber, cedar, spice, incense, patchoulli, dries down to musk and cedarwood. A very sexy fragrance, not really for daily wear. I use this as my clubbing/partying cologne. If you're on the dance floor, you will get jumped (in a good way.)

L'Anarchiste by Caron (Don't know MSRP, I paid $35 for 3.4oz)
This one is dificult to describe. Heavy citrus top notes, cedar, sandalwood, and vetiver mid notes, and a base of musk and clove. It doesn't outright smell like, but heavily insinuates, the smell of blood and gun metal and manages to do so in a great, non-offensive way. This is my other daily. You really have to smell it to understand it.


The best way to test colognes if you can't smell anything is to bring a female friend along to a store, spray one on each wrist, and have her check them as they dry down. A decent perfume store should have a bowl of coffee to clear the nose between tests. Try two at once, see what fits you best.

Once you have a cologne, please don't spray it and walk through the cloud, you'll just waste it. Put a ful spray on one wrist, press wrists together (rub lightly if you want to even it out,) spray two full sprays on your bare chest from 8 to 12 inches away, and one light to medium spray just below your hairline on the back of your neck. The neck spray will create "sillage," a very light trail of scent that lingers for a minute or two without being overpowering or offensive.

CityOfAngels

I don't even know if they still sell CK1, but that stuff smells great. I dunno about it snagging you some women, though.

Naked Communist

(this is a woman, btw)
I have a very keen sense of smell (which can be a bad thing when changing diapers and I have to say that both Brut and Old Spice smell too much of alcohol. The cheaper the cologne, the more likely it'll reek of alcohol. I find that the actual "scent" wears off a lot faster in cheap colognes as well.
I agree with Mr. Self Destruct on his chioce of Himalaya - very nice for an "earthy" kind of guy and you'll draw both hippie and non-hippie alike. Of course, my personal favorite is Carolina Herrera for Men. Not too strong, a little musky.
As for deodorant and shampoos, I don't think it really matters that much unless you're using shampoos made to smell like a certain cologne. Arm & Hammer deodorant really is the best and I like shampoos that just make you smell clean. Pert Plus isn't that great for your hair, but if you don't care about that, the smell is nice.

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leftyderek

actually most things from the body shop smell nice- anyone agree with me?

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h45e

Get some Aqua Gio, never can go wrong with that stuff on... my gf gets horny whenever she smells aqua.

analog

I use that stuff, i get compliments all the time. Two of my girlfriends loved it so much I had to cut back on wearing it a little because smelling it on me made them insanely horny- not always perfect if the circumstances aren't good for "taking care of business".

MSD

A Naked Communist agreed wtih me ... now that's something I don't get to say every day.
Have fun smelling like the masses of high school and college guys who wear it. The figure must be in the 20%-30% range. Walk through any place populated heavily by either group (college hallway, mall, etc.) and you'll quickly run out of fingers to count the number of times you smell Gio.

I'd also like to quote the man who got me interested in various mens' fragrances, an expert on the subject,

Analog, try Kenzo Pour Homme (dark blue bottle.) It's a much more complicated and refined scent than you'll get from a $5 aerosol can, and I'm 90% sure you'll like it. If you do try it, let me know what you think.

MSD

If you like Curve, try Creed's Green Irish Tweed. It's the scent they ripped off when they made it, and unlike Curve it has a nice drydown and doesn't have the synthetic smell.

genuinegirly

Oh, you're so cute trying to figure this out!

I'm not too knowledgeable about particular male fragrances, but I really like it when my guy wears the Tommy scents. I'm also a fan of non-scented deodorant. Arm & Hammer Unscented is the ultimate best.

Everyone is different when it comes to when BO comes along. My buddy R doesn't wear deodorant and showers once every 3 days. I have only smelled him as anything other than pleasant once, upon his return from a camping trip. Then there's Turbotom. He needs to reapply deodorant in the late afternoon/evening if he wants to keep from smelling funny.

Cheap scents tend to bother my allergies and give me a headache. Not sure about other women. My dad used Brut aftershave! Always brings back memories of childhood when I smell that one.

I'd go for purchasing one bottle of decent perfume (or requesting it as a Christmas gift) and making that your signature scent. Walking into a perfume shop like Sephora usually isn't a bad idea. The salespeople are pretty helpful in directing you to a scent that matches your needs. Use unscented deodorants so you don't have to worry about interfering smells.

Ask a close friend that has a trustworthy nose to let you know what they think of the more scent-minded you.

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maleficent

Drakkar Noir has that same connotation to me...

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JustJess

I bought Quadro a scent called "Sexual". I love it. Unsurprisingly, it smells sexy on him. Got it at Bloomingdale's for too much money (can't quote, he'll read that!)

We've been through Aqua di Gio and Curve and Cool Water and Drakkar through the years - college etc. Now we're onto finding new and interesting scents, adult scents. It's fun!

Take a woman, we know what we like, and what we react to. Take one who has a style you enjoy as well, and who is HONEST.
Enjoy it, this is silly fun stuff.

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Gitmo

Well now that I know I’m just another sheep in the flock I’ll have to go out and try some new scents, thanks for the tip MrSelfDestruct. I’ll hang on to my Curve and Gio just in case too many people read this thread and you start a new trend.

rlynnm

Personally I enjoy clean, near natural smell that eminates from a guy...There are only two men's colognes that make me melt but for the most part --the out of shower smell is the best.

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MSD

I always thought Gio was great until someone told me to try counting the number of times I smell it walking through the local mall. I also should clarify that I didn't say it doesn't smell good, just that I wouldn't want to wear something that has acheived such a level of market saturation.

I honestly think you'll like Green Irish Tweed better than Curve. Curve isn't too bad, but I'm particularly sensetive to synthetic scents and I smelled G.I.T before I smelled it, so it just didn't live up to my expectations.

As for the new trend, it's funny you mention it, because the guy who I learned most of my info from (on the Something Awful forums) raved about Himilaya so much that over a hundred people went out and bought it. I can't wait for the next SA meetup. I'll have to make sure I wear a different scent to avoid melding into the cloud of Himalaya that I predict I'll be smelling.