# 25-40 y.o. female Dopers: What do you like in non-douchey male body sprays? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527 "2014-05-29T02:43:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/1 "2014-05-29T02:43:26Z")
So I used Old Spice Matterhorn body spray for years, but it no longer seems to be on the shelves around here. I liked its powdery, non-overpowering scent. Now all that seems to be available is Axe and Old Spice 21-year-old douchebag scents like “Swagger” and “Hawthorne.” I almost bought Nautica Blue, but decided at the last minute that it was less subtle than I’d like. I use Obsession for Men on special occasions, and prefer to reserve it for such. So I’m asking the ladies of the SDMB in my own mating age group: what do you like as a day-to-day alternative to cologne? If it helps, I’m 34. N.B. - No offense to anyone here who uses the so-called “douchebag” scents I mentioned above. Just seems that that’s who they’re marketed to. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/2 "2014-05-29T02:52:28Z")
One more thing: maybe I should be using something other than body sprays? I just feel like I’m missing something when I only have deodorant on. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/3 "2014-05-29T03:06:07Z")
I prefer no cologne/scent on men, actually. My husband’s deodorant has a very slight musk note, which I kind of like, but apart from that I prefer just his own regular scent. I find pretty much any level of cologne or body spray to be cloying and overpowering. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/4 "2014-05-29T10:26:42Z")
I prefer a combination of using an antiperspirant/deodorant (preferably the former), and a good cologne that goes with your natural scent. And it doesn’t have to be a lot of cologne either, although some scents do make me happy and I follow the trail. So, ditch the body sprays, get a proper underarm antiperspirant, and check some adult proper colognes. Not too powerful (anything Polo, for example). Dolce and Gabbana has some good scents, but it really depends on you (and your partner if you have one, you wouldn’t wear a cologne that would make her sneeze or bother her). ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/5 "2014-05-29T11:49:20Z")
Agreed. Body spray is for kids, cologne is for grown ups. Sephora sells cologne sample kits that include a set of samples and a coupon for a full sized bottle of the one you like best. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/6 "2014-05-29T11:53:15Z")
Also, you can still keep Obsession as your special scent. Look for something you’d be more comfortable as a daily wear. This is how some women (like me) have more than one bottle of perfume. Each for a different occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/7 "2014-05-29T12:21:55Z")
My husband uses (or used, before he started this beard-growing thing) Lectric Shave. I’m usually a scent snob, but it smells really, really good. It’s got a green tea thing going on that is super nice. His cologne is CK Eternity, which I adore on him. As the years pass, he wears it less and less often, though. Sadness. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/8 "2014-05-29T13:32:28Z")
I like Royal Lime. It’s sort of an aftershave, moisturizer, cologne all in one. Very subtle and masculine. ---
**Author:** ![Av8trix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Av8trix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Av8trix)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/9 "2014-05-29T16:19:57Z")
Oh yes. Obsession, and Eternity, and on the cheap side, plain old Old Spice aftershave. Keep it subtle. Catching a bit of a whiff when in close proximity is sexy. Flooding a room with your stank is not, no matter how nice the fragrance. Body spray almost always seems destined for over-application. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/10 "2014-05-29T16:57:03Z")
The boyfriend uses Axe, and is decidedly not a douchebag. 😃 He also uses Oak from Bath and Body Works, which both of us love. Sadly they have discontinued it, but they have similar scents you can try out. I’d suggest plopping into their store to see if you like any. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/11 "2014-05-29T18:00:20Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > My husband uses (or used, before he started this beard-growing thing) Lectric Shave. I’m usually a scent snob, but it smells really, really good. It’s got a green tea thing going on that is super nice. > > His cologne is CK Eternity, which I adore on him. As the years pass, he wears it less and less often, though. Sadness. Shockingly, I came here to recommend Axe Peace - it also has a green tea smell that I really like. My husband uses the body wash, and it leaves a hint of fragrance, not a cloud of stench. > [@bobkitty](#): > > The boyfriend uses Axe, and is decidedly not a douchebag. 😃 > > He also uses Oak from Bath and Body Works, which both of us love. Sadly they have discontinued it, but they have similar scents you can try out. I’d suggest plopping into their store to see if you like any. “Plopping into their store”? Are you suggesting that **Agent Foxtrox** is some kind of invertebrate? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/12 "2014-05-29T18:59:01Z")
:smack: POPPING. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/13 "2014-05-29T20:55:50Z")
I like D&G’s Light Blue MMmmmm, but there are a number of great scents for men to wear - best option is to try some out. They tend to smell differently on different people once it reacts to your body chemistry (seriously, my MiL actually neutralizes Samsara, which to me is a strictly “going out” scent since it’s heavy). If you are not looking to spend much, the Body Shop, LUSH and Bath and Body Works have some nice items too. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/14 "2014-05-29T23:09:44Z")
I recently bought my husband Caswell Massey Number Six. It’s spicy/citrusy, not overpowering. And classic…supposedly, it’s what George Washington wore. I also like Lush and Body Shop scents. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/15 "2014-05-29T23:59:21Z")
I can’t believe Lectric Shave came up, I was just talking to someone about that scent.😛 ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/16 "2014-05-30T00:05:46Z")
Ugh, none. Deodorant and maybe a little aftershave, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/17 "2014-05-30T01:04:56Z")
Hmmm…so many different responses. Am I hearing from the majority that I should just wear two different colognes, one formal and one informal? Does it make a difference that I’m just a T-shirt-and-jeans guy on informal days? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/18 "2014-05-30T01:25:09Z")
Well, most of them have to do with our favorite manly scents, which are very much YMMV. I do think most of the scents mentioned have in common not being very overpowering. And we also mention a good antiperspirant. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/19 "2014-05-30T02:41:38Z")
Yuck, none. It’s fine that you may smell like shampoo and deodorant since those usually come scented and are typically pretty mild, but I do not like _any_ body sprays, colognes, or aftershaves. I don’t wear perfume, either. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527/20 "2014-05-31T02:19:40Z")
Please not Axe. Hubby tried it once. Once. Definitely too strong. Had to kick him out of the bed. Just smell like your regular shampoo and body wash (yes, hubby uses body wash and a loofah). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-40-y-o-female-dopers-what-do-you-like-in-non-douchey-male-body-sprays/689527.md?page=2)