# Heterosexual folks, do you like the smell of the opposite gender's cologne/perfume? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264 "2013-11-19T16:05:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/21 "2013-11-19T23:55:32Z")
No. If I notice it, it’s because it’s unpleasant. I like guys to smell of soap if they’re going to smell of anything artificial at all. (ftr, I dislike perfume too) ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/22 "2013-11-20T00:29:03Z")
No. I don’t like the smell of perfume one bit, and wish they’d all be outlawed since too many idiots apply so much that they practically have a cloud of stench following them around. Hint, if I’m not close enough to be in mid-coitus with you, I shouldn’t be able to smell you. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/23 "2013-11-20T00:37:30Z")
I’m apparently sensitive to something found in most artificial scents, including perfume & cologne. It all smells like something you’d use to scrub out a public bathroom to me; harsh and chemical. And if it’s at all concentrated it makes my sinuses burn. So nope, I don’t like it when women wear perfume around me. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/24 "2013-11-20T01:44:23Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I feel nothing for my ex-wife any more. But sometimes here perfume hits me like a sledgehammer in the gut. Its hard to get the perfect match between body chemistry and perfume but when you do watch out. I know what you mean. I’m a sucker for all that female smell good stuff. Especially when a woman steps out of the shower and she’s slathered herself in whatever smell good lotions and soaps she’s used. Good lord that really gets my blood going! Too bad they’re rarely in the mood as they’re get’n ready for work in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/25 "2013-11-20T08:23:13Z")
I like it when it’s subtle, although some scents give me a headache (the ones that smell like melon or cucumber - including some of the CK range, I think) ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/26 "2013-11-20T08:29:15Z")
Yes but if it’s too strong and pervasive, I look at the ceiling and say, “Grandma? Grandma are you there? I smell your perfume…” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/27 "2013-11-20T14:21:10Z")
There are a very few that I like - mostly pine or citrusy scents. Anything with musk is a complete “WTF?!?” with me. Why on earth anybody pays to smell like ox a$$ I’ll never understand. It’s like this rumour went around in the 70’s that it was attractive, and it became the world’s most pervasive urban myth. Yetch! But yes, good clean smells do make a difference. They are not, however, a substitute for bathing. Sometimes guys throw on some scent after a long day and it really just makes the stink more obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264/28 "2013-11-20T16:11:38Z")
Straight woman here: yes. As others have said, though, it has to be a scent that I like/that works with the guy’s natural chemistry. And then it has to be subtle: I love it when I don’t realize a guy is wearing any cologne until we get close, and then I get a whiff of something awesome and murmur “you smell good” into his ear. 🙂 I recently (6 days ago) bought a used car, and the previous owner had it for three years. He traded it in less than a month ago, and the interior still smells like his cologne…I’ve been thanking my lucky stars that I like the scent! As for me, I wore a musk perfume for years (shut up, **TruCelt**! :p) that I loved and that used to get tons of compliments, but eventually I stopped being able to find it. Then I wore nothing for years, because there aren’t many perfumes that I like: I don’t care for scents that are too flowery, too heavy, etc. I spent a long time looking for another musky perfume, but never found anything that I liked. Then, about eight years ago I discovered Bath & Body Works’ Sweet Pea scent. I love it. Each morning I spray it on my bra before I put on a shirt, and then I give my neck a spritz before I walk out the door. I’ve gotten compliments on it from both men and women, so I know I finally found something else that works for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-folks-do-you-like-the-smell-of-the-opposite-genders-cologne-perfume/674264.md?page=1)