# What kind of deodorant do mature men in their mid 20s use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459 "2011-03-30T02:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/41 "2011-03-30T16:06:18Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > IMO you should try to use unscented products whenever possible. In our house we use Sure unscented (I use the stick and my husband uses the aerosol) but we also wash our clothes in unscented All detergent with unscented Bounce fabric softeners, etc. The only scented things we use are soap and shampoo and even on those we try to choose gentle scents. > > There are enough people with allergies to various scents that you could possibly lose a date because she couldn’t stand the smell of your deoderant, or worse, lose a job or something. I actually almost got fired from a job because they kept smelling something weird on me that turned out to be the scent of Tide. It apparently bothered some people who were sensitive to it and I couldn’t figure out what the smell was until I posted a thread about it here and someone told me they noticed that smell when they used Tide because they had recently changed the formula. I recommend not taking that chance and just using unscented products whenever possible. (not the OP here) Whatever works for you is fine. But I’ve never known anyone so sensitive to the smell of laundry detergent that they could smell it on someone else’s clean, dry clothing. I think it’s irrational to shell out extra money on unscented products at my own inconvenience for the infinitesimal chance I might walk past someone with a dislike for the smell of Tide. I’ve been using the same laundry soap for years (Era) and it’s never been a problem. I like the way it smells on my collar and if anyone else can smell my clothes at work, they are too goddamn close. I really think people worry too much about subtle scents like deodorant and laundry soap. Wear the scent you like. As long as you aren’t coating yourself in clouds of Axe or cheap dime store perfume, you will be fine. If someone has a devastating allergy to Tide or Old Spice, the onus should be on them to mention it and NOT on everyone around them to magically know and avoid using it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/42 "2011-03-30T16:09:33Z")
So long as you have wiped off all the urine and vomit from the night before, no-one at the homeless shelter will care. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/43 "2011-03-30T16:09:37Z")
Sure used to make an unscented gel, but if they still do I can’t find it anywhere these days. (I used to literally stock up 1700 miles away from college while home on breaks because I couldn’t find any where I was.) These days I just buy whatever is cheap that comes in a gel. That tends to be Right Guard on a per-ounce basis. I like classic Old Spice, but I’m not a fan of the old solids. And either I became sensitized or they changed the formula in the High Endurance stuff so that it starts to bother me after a couple days of using it. Do unscented detergents cost more? I switched to the All Small and Mighty Free and Clear (geeze, think that’s enough adjectives?) in grad school because it was easier to haul a little bottle of detergent at 3x concentration to the laundromat. I didn’t like the stuff they made that did have a fragrance added. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/44 "2011-03-30T17:03:28Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Nothing, except Fomunda cheese, of course. so THAT’s the smell of fear? ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/45 "2011-03-30T17:22:18Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I just got a thing of Old Spice Matterhorn because it told me I would smell like “Ice, Wind, and Freedom.” Knowing that ice and wind do not (or should not) smell, I was interested in what freedom smelled like. I bought the same stuff for my boyfriend because I was hoping it would smell like Disneyland. It doesn’t. I’m not sure what I thought Disneyland would smell like. It’s good, though! ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/46 "2011-03-30T17:24:31Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > Nothing says mature like a fine cheddar. Rub it under your arms before leaving the house, and you’ll be good to go. _“I wear the cheese. It does not wear me!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/47 "2011-03-30T17:30:19Z")
Unscented. I use it, and I buy it for my husband because I like him and do not want to make him sleep in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/48 "2011-03-30T17:35:01Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I buy my hubby Old Spice because I think it smells yummy - ditto for the body wash. I use old spice, my wife says it smells yummy. Although, I do like dove body wash. the scrubbies are nice. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/49 "2011-03-30T17:37:08Z")
I use Classic Old Spice, at first because it was what I stole from my dad’s medicine cabinet when I was a kid, then because my wife told me to keep wearing it. Caution: I am a martini-drinking, pipe-smoking bearded man. Old Spice may not work for you if your image is not similar enough to this. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/50 "2011-03-30T17:45:47Z")
Aluminum shavings mixed in paste. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/51 "2011-03-30T17:56:47Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > I use Classic Old Spice, at first because it was what I stole from my dad’s medicine cabinet when I was a kid, then because my wife told me to keep wearing it. > > Caution: I am a martini-drinking, pipe-smoking bearded man. Old Spice may not work for you if your image is not similar enough to this. Are you the most interesting man in the world? /me drinks martinis too. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/52 "2011-03-30T18:41:19Z")
How about using an unscented deodorant? If I want to have a scent, I then use cologne. Why would anyone use deodorant as a substitute for cologne? Arrid Xtra Dry ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/53 "2011-03-30T18:48:09Z")
My husband, who was in his mid-20s when we started dating, has always used Arm & Hammer deodorant. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/54 "2011-03-30T19:12:28Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > (not the OP here) Whatever works for you is fine. But I’ve never known anyone so sensitive to the smell of laundry detergent that they could smell it on someone else’s clean, dry clothing. I think it’s irrational to shell out extra money on unscented products at my own inconvenience for the infinitesimal chance I might walk past someone with a dislike for the smell of Tide. I’ve been using the same laundry soap for years (Era) and it’s never been a problem. I like the way it smells on my collar and if anyone else can smell my clothes at work, they are too goddamn close. > > I really think people worry too much about subtle scents like deodorant and laundry soap. Wear the scent you like. As long as you aren’t coating yourself in clouds of Axe or cheap dime store perfume, you will be fine. If someone has a devastating allergy to Tide or Old Spice, the onus should be on them to mention it and NOT on everyone around them to magically know and avoid using it. Actually now that I’ve switched to unscented everything I can often smell other people’s detergents and such from quite a distance. I can tell you the person 2 cubes over from me is using Tide. Sometimes I can tell which detergent people use while walking behind them on the street. Sometimes I can tell when a woman walks into the bathroom what detergent she uses. If you have a detergent that is heavily scented it will be noticable to some people. Sometimes they may enjoy the smell, sometimes they may not. Sometimes they may be allergic to it. Sometimes they may have very strong emotions tied to that smell that bring up positive or negative feelings. If that doesn’t matter to you that is fine, but for someone who is already concerned about the scent of their deoderant or laundry detergent and how other people react to it that might be something worth considering. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/55 "2011-03-30T22:48:49Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Are you the most interesting man in the world? > > /me drinks martinis too. I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, it’s generally a Dos Equis. My beard is in fact specifically listed on my organ donation card, and has experienced more than most men’s entire bodies. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/56 "2011-03-30T22:51:58Z")
I used to use Mennen speed stick, unscented. My wife just bought me a new speed stick last month. With the new bar, when I’m taking a shower the next day, it’s like my underarms are covered in wax. I can’t wash it off. It turns out they had changed the formula, and it’s awful. So now I use Arid XX unscented. Fuck you, Mennen. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/57 "2011-03-30T23:20:04Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > “You smell like my grandfather!” > > I like classic Old Spice, but it is one of those “Dad/Grandpa” scents a twenty year old guy may not want to remind his date of. I came in here to post exactly this about [del]Old Spit[/del] [del]Old Mice[/del] Old Spice. I use dry idea because it feels totally dry when it goes on even though it’s a watery-sounding liquid. I don’t know how they get a liquid to have that powdery bone-dry feeling. Black magic, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/58 "2011-03-30T23:28:49Z")
Husband uses Arm and Hammer, it’s not too bad. I use Degree something or other, because all of the girl deodorants smell like mincy-ass pansy flowers or vanilla or some super-girly-power shit. I don’t need to be smelling that all day, thanks. Give me a nice citrus or spicy or medicinal smell any day. While I was in college, I wore Old Spice aftershave as a scent, and really freaked some of my male friends out. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/59 "2011-03-31T00:35:10Z")
I douse myself hourly with the adrenal secretions of an oversexed wolverine. Most people can’t handle how good it smells but my nose has adapted through the power of my mind. What does it smell like? I’ll tell you. It smells like winning! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459/60 "2011-03-31T01:36:48Z")
I’m a little past my 20’s (like an entire generation) but I’ve been using unscented Mitchum for decades. It’s not that scented deordorants smell _bad_, it’s that they smell _cheap_ – unnuanced, I guess. If I want to smell good, I’ll find a good aftershave or cologne with a really good balance to it. I’ve never found a deodorant that smells right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-deodorant-do-mature-men-in-their-mid-20s-use/576459.md?page=4)