# Women: help me be the man you want your man to smell like **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049 "2010-08-03T20:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/21 "2010-08-04T07:56:15Z")
Deodorant? Unscented, please, unless you don’t use anything else with a scent, ever. If you use so much as aftershave on New Year’s Eve, no scent on the deodorant. Perfume scents I like on guys include English lavender, 212 and woody stuffs. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/22 "2010-08-04T11:00:06Z")
Another vote for unscented. Any scent that comes in a $4 deodorant isn’t what you want to smell like. If you do want to smell, get some nice men’s cologne. But that’s not necessary (though it can be nice). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/23 "2010-08-04T11:15:03Z")
I’ve recommended the various “clinical strength” deodorant/antiperspirants to my husband, and he really likes them. He works outside as a letter carrier for the Postal Service, and finds that they do the trick. Pick something unscented or subtle - there are various brands of this stuff so I can’t think of a particularly decent subtle scent at the moment. He can also be counted among the ranks of men who’ve used and liked Dove antiperspirant/deodorant, specifically the “Ultimate Clear” version with cucumber and green tea extract. That’s not a girly scent, it’s more clean and fresh. He grabbed it out of the pantry when his deodorant ran out and he hadn’t noticed it was getting close to the bottom. I had bought a couple of those before being alerted to how good the clinical strength formulas were, and kept it as a backup for situations like that. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/24 "2010-08-04T11:57:08Z")
Either unscented, or matching the aftershave you wear. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/25 "2010-08-04T12:51:55Z")
Fragrance free. I like the scent of bay rum but unfortunately cannot tolerate it. If I could be around fragrance, I would love for my husband to wear bay rummmmmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/26 "2010-08-04T13:01:18Z")
Unscented! (Scented deodorants smell awful.) If you must use scent then get a high quality cologne like Eau Sauvage. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/27 "2010-08-04T13:20:34Z")
Another vote for unscented. Men generally smell pretty good on their own and don’t need any assistance smelling awesome. I used to have a long distance relationship with a guy in college where we only saw each other on the weekend and I would ask him to sleep in the same shirt on Friday and Saturday and steal the shirt on Sunday to sleep in so I could smell him every night while I was away. I wasn’t doing that because of his cologne but because I liked the way he smelled without additional scent. If a woman digs a scent she can always tell you later and you can pick it up at that time. If a woman hates a scent and you are wearing it you are repelling her without being conscious of it. Err on the side of non-accidentally-repellant and go with unscented. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/28 "2010-08-05T03:02:28Z")
Mr. Serenata wears Old Spice or Old Spice Swagger. I like both of them. But be judicious in your use. Don’t over do it. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/29 "2010-08-05T03:49:41Z")
Unscented, please. I like my man to smell like a nice clean human being. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/30 "2010-08-05T03:54:43Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > My roommate goes through about 1 bar of Irish Spring a week and uses Axe bodywash and probably some Axe spray too. His girlfriend lives in his lap. > > On the other hand, the sweet boy I lust after washes with Grandpa’s pine tar soap and uses the same unscented Mitchum deodorant that I use and I think he’s just dandy. I do tease him and tell him that he smells like George Brett sometimes 😉 > > I think it just depends on the woman. > > If my boy started using something that had a scent, and it didn’t outright offend me, I’d probably dig it and it would become my favorite smell ever, and I’d spray my bedsheets with it. I am not crazy. He smells like pine tar and rage? My girlfriend loves my stink, whatever it is. I don’t even think it’s the deodorant. I think it’s the pheromones. She’ll ask me to wear a sweatshirt for a few days to stink it up, so she can take it to work and wear it so she can have my stink on it. Girls are weird. Throw rocks at them. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/31 "2010-08-05T05:51:32Z")
I have to vote for unscented or fragrance-free deodorant. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/32 "2010-08-05T12:06:41Z")
[think I’d better get some unscented deodorant] ---
**Author:** ![CrimeThink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90db22/32.png) [@CrimeThink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrimeThink)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/33 "2010-08-05T15:01:08Z")
No kidding, I didn’t even know unscented deodorant existed but I’ll be looking for it soon… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/34 "2010-08-05T15:19:12Z")
> [@Macnbaish](#): > > It’s High Endurance Red Zone scent “Pure Sport.” > [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > I am a 20-something male and this is what I use and I also get complimented by women when they are close enough to smell it. Which is also kind of a downside, it doesn’t emanate very far from me apparently and usually a woman is already very comfortable with me to be near enough to me to be smelling it. > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I have been told on several occasions that my Old Spice smells nice. I also use the High Endurance Red Zone scent “Pure Sport.” It’s subtle, which I like, because I hate people that marinate in scent. I’ll add my vote for the High Endurance Red Zone body wash stuff, at least on my man. He’s smells nummy, and I think the fact that you have to be close to smell it works in your favor…all those “unscented” votes won’t be turned off if their nose isn’t in your shoulder. But note…my man. He smells good in it. You may not. What works with one person’s own scent and body chemistry may not work well with another’s. Trial and error is really the only way to go. And…where the heck do y’all \*find \*unscented deodorant or body wash these days? I can’t seem to, so I (female) settle for the closest thing, generally with “powder” in its name. I spritz on a little Pink Sugar (or a knockoff) for special events, which smells a-MAZ-ing on me. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/35 "2010-08-05T15:23:49Z")
What does un smell like? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/36 "2010-08-05T15:26:30Z")
FYI: “Unscented” and “fragrance-free” are not necessarily the same thing. Unscented deodorants often have fragrance added to mask the odor of the chemicals in the product, and still may be problematic for those of us with fragrance allergies. You really do have to read the labels. If you have allergies, you want fragrance-free. If you just don’t want the smell, you don’t have to worry. I use Mitchum deodorant, which comes in _both_ unscented (with fragrance) _and_ fragrance-free (which I buy); Almay also makes fragrance-free deodorant. I also use Aveeno body wash, which makes terrific lather and is very moisturizing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/37 "2010-08-05T15:40:56Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > And…where the heck do y’all \*find \*unscented deodorant or body wash these days? I can’t seem to, so I (female) settle for the closest thing, generally with “powder” in its name. I spritz on a little Pink Sugar (or a knockoff) for special events, which smells a-MAZ-ing on me. In the deodorant aisle at CVS (or similar pharmacies). I get Sure. Problem with the unscented stuff is it typically only comes in white stick form, so I usually put it on _after_ putting on my shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/38 "2010-08-05T16:40:12Z")
The [Mitchum](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=149638&catid=48135&fromsrch=mitchum) I buy is a clear gel. No stain, no mess. That one is called “for women” and says “fragrance-free,” but [this](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=165552&catid=10704&fromsrch=mitchum) one says “unscented” and also is fragrance-free. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/39 "2010-08-05T16:42:09Z")
My wife actually likes the Axe stuff on me. I used the deodorant and the body wash. If I ever wear cologne she also likes Armani’s Aqua di Gio or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049/40 "2010-08-05T17:54:26Z")
The Mitchum that **Sigmagirl** linked to is the same one me and my sweet boy use. We both have skin issues, and find it to be the best. There is no stain but I do find that there is SOME mess - as in, sometimes when you take the cap off it sucks some of the gel out of the gel-holes (huh huh) and it drips on the floor and then turns into a bit of a stain if you don’t rub it away soon enough. But, I can slather it all over my underarms and never see a trace of messiness on my clothes. I find mine at the grocery store, FWIW. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-help-me-be-the-man-you-want-your-man-to-smell-like/549049.md?page=3)