# Gents: What kind of aftershave do you use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223 "2014-08-22T18:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/1 "2014-08-22T18:30:58Z")
I use Old Spice. (Smell like grandpa!) 🙂 I like the smell, and it’s subtle. My wife likes it, too, and it complements the whole “50’s Dad” thing I’ve got going on. I just picked up a bottle of Bay Rum after shave today at lunch time. I’ll try it this weekend - I hope I like it, since it cost $18. In the past, I tried (but did not like) Aqua Velva. I was at the drug store a couple days ago and took a sniff of Brut and instantly recalled that I occasionally used it when I was a teenager. Funny. There’s not much out there in the way of men’s grooming shops, so there isn’t much competing for my attention. Anyways. How about you? What else is out there? I don’t use cologne, so my potential for new aftershave is boundless. ---
**Author:** ![Melvin\_Munster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Melvin\_Munster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melvin_Munster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/2 "2014-08-22T20:13:06Z")
I suggest “Clubman” by Pinaud, both original and special reserve. Both barbershop soapy and old fashioned masculine clean smelling when used subtly. The special reserve dries up into a nice leathery note that reminds me of cold mornings in the pickup with grand dad, faint smell of coffee, aftershave and gasoline. Big band on a quiet AM radio station. Funny how smells do things like that. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/3 "2014-08-22T20:17:59Z")
I don’t use after shave at all but I do use Shave Secret shaving oil. No irritation at all and it has a pleasant spicy scent. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/4 "2014-08-22T20:25:17Z")
None, my wife is allergic to pretty much all of them, thus she wears no scents herself either. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/5 "2014-08-22T21:26:35Z")
Scentless. I really hate perfume in all its incarnations. My old roommate used “Hai Karate” and loads of it. Gads, it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/6 "2014-08-22T21:40:15Z")
I will use Pinaud Bay Rum on occasion. Does not cost 18 bux. Not sure how it differs from Old Spice. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/7 "2014-08-22T22:08:51Z")
None, and I resent people who do walking into my air space. ---
**Author:** ![justanothermike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@justanothermike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanothermike)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/8 "2014-08-22T22:41:55Z")
I use Nivea Post Shave Balm. It smells nice, but isn’t overpowering, as my wife can be sensitive to smells. I used nothing for a long time, but once I started shaving my head it feels soothing to the scalp if the shave irritates it, and I also have a sensitive area on my neck that it really helps to put the fire hose on. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/9 "2014-08-23T04:11:23Z")
**None**. Give a hoot; don’t pollute. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/10 "2014-08-23T06:35:23Z")
Water, then air. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/11 "2014-08-23T14:33:33Z")
Strictly speaking, I don’t need an after-shave. I use a variety of Edge shave gel that claims to be fragrance-free and super-sensitive. I use Aramis cologne, but I spray it on my chest. The motion of my breathing doles out the scent in small doses throughout the day. ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/12 "2014-08-23T15:08:38Z")
Occasionally Nivea aftershave balm if my skin is a bit irritated, otherwise none. No cologne either. Between soap(shower gel), shampoo and deodorant I’ve got enough scents on me. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/13 "2014-08-23T16:46:17Z")
I don’t use any, never have, I’m curious, what is the purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/14 "2014-08-24T01:36:44Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I don’t use any, never have, I’m curious, what is the purpose? I don’t either, usually cold water after a shave is enough. It’s usually used for irritation. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/15 "2014-08-24T01:43:00Z")
None. I wonder how it may vary by age or region. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/16 "2014-08-24T02:18:33Z")
I don’t always use aftershave, but when I do, I tend toward the Fine Accoutrements American Blend splash in the summer, and the Real Shaving Co. Soothing balm in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/17 "2014-08-24T03:24:57Z")
We’re encouraged to not wear scents at work, so nothing. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/18 "2014-08-24T04:50:41Z")
Water. Everyone else seems to use some fragrance or another. Let them stink up the joint. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/19 "2014-08-24T05:10:29Z")
> [@ryan](#): > > No cologne either. Between soap(shower gel), shampoo and deodorant I’ve got enough scents on me. Ditto. I can’t even find unscented antiperspirant anymore in most stores. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223/20 "2014-08-24T06:29:52Z")
Currently I’m using up a bottle of Aqua Velva Ice Blue. I thought a menthol aftershave would be nice for the summer, but I’m not happy with it. It has too much scent (although it dissipates completely in 30-60 minutes), and it takes maybe 15-20 seconds for the menthol to begin to kick in, and it does that gradually instead of what I wanted: a quick burst. I’ve also tried making my own crude version: 2 parts rubbing alcohol, 1 part water, and a little glycerine. It was okay. I have also tried the Nivea balm. It’s very expensive, but I liked it a lot. One large drop is a generous portion, it works very well, and there’s very little scent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gents-what-kind-of-aftershave-do-you-use/696223.md?page=2)