Women and smell

Post Reply New Topic

I've seen "smell" mentioned time and time again in the context of women and attraction.

I'm extremely curious:

1. What should a guy smell like?
2. What advice would you give a guy along these lines?

Of course I know that you shouldn't stink - duh - but I'm interested in the finer points - body, breath, hair etc.

Any feedback?

I think they would want someone who uses deodorant, and bathes regularly.

Other than that, I would have no idea.

Just bathe regularly and stuff, skip the cologne.

Guys often smell like shampoo or deodorant, that's usually pleasant enough.

Some guys have B.O. that actually smells good to me, , but probably not to everyone. They are always skinny guys.

If a woman mentions liking how a guy smells, its probably because she likes him already anyway; if a different guy smelled the same that she did not like she would not note it.

from what Ive read studies show that people like the smell of those genetically compatable with them (different genes), therfore its not something you have control over.

My boyfriend is not good at hygene lol but I dont mind as I like how he smells, I chase him with the deoderant if we are going out somewhere posh where I will be embarrassed of him, as others might not like it, but I dont mind the smell (infact it makes me horney).

Clean boy smell is good. Although I agree with others, a guy can can smell like sweat if I'm already into him and I'll probably be into that also.

I think this is physiological and we have little control over it. And a quick perusal of the comments might lend one to believe it's also irrelevant to AS / NT / Etc which makes sense as it is not social behavior or body-language.

Until recently most scientists didn't recognize scent or pheromones as factoring into human mate selection behavior much, which I think is fascinating because as individual data points our own experience must strongly indicate differently. Did none of these physical anthropologists or geneticists ever fall in love and want to smell someone's hair all day?

Also when my children were born and even today to a lesser extent, their smell was like a drug to me.

There typically aren't any pheremones in shampoo and deodorant.

Right. Pheromones are physiology, not marketing. Much to the disappointment of many in the cologne and cosmetics industry. A

Me too. Other people's kids don't smell so great, but if it's your own baby, you just want to hold him up to your face all day long. It's true!

Personally, I like a person to smell clean. A person not smelling clean can make me feel ill (even myself).

Despite the ladies saying that that kind of smell appeals to them (on a level), make sure to be clean with not too strong a scent if wearing one. About picking a scent, pick one that you like (you will be smelling it). If you find this doesn't work, ask a person of the opposite sex (who you like) to come with you and ask their advice.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I know there is something physiologic about this, but I have no idea what that is - I only care that I need to somehow accomodate it.

One more question:

Cologne or no cologne?

If yes, which one?

Thanks!

I think that's a personal preference thing too. Sometimes it can be more about memories it brings up. Which again, vary person to person.
Just remember: subtle! A little bit of a scent can be okay. An overwhelming odor is not.

No Cologne!

Just clean is better, and use a scent of soap that is not very intrusive. I've said before, avoid Axe products... they are really terrible. Maybe if they used less scent it would be OK, the scents themselves are not horrible. Just too strong. Even women I know that do not have very sensitive noses find that brand offensive.

Aside from the genetic factor of sweat glands, there is also a difference between the scent of "fresh" sweat and "stale" sweat. Just sweating in and of itself is not terribly offensive. Your scent may not "work" for some women, but they probably will not be grossed out. I had a friend who when he would sweat I really did not care for it at all, but since we were not intimates I never bothered to mention it and I did not avoid his company or anything.

Sweat doesn't bother me, but the smell of BO, if it's particularly acrid, is a turnoff.

Some people have a 'spicy' smell to them. But I HATE the smell of the skin oils that sometimes get into hair. It's very unpleasant. Hyoomanscent. Ugh.

No cologne. Avoid it altogether. It is a total turn off. I agree the preference to me is just clean.

Here is the truth. Women are literally hard wired where mates who smell "better" are those who are more genetically different than them. This has been recently studied. It has nothing to do with pheremones, but it is just an extra-sensory aspect of smell. Its not body language either. This is something that is very subtle.

I think the reason why it has an effect on men with AS is because there may be a genetic red flags in how many aspie men smell.


Article on the study:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/sexsmells/

Once again, thanks for all the help!

Based on the preponderance of evidence: cologne is out and soap/shampoo/fabric softener are in as long as they are not too strong.

I heard a thumbs down for "Axe"

Does anyone have any brands that they like?

I like Grey Flannel. Cologne isn't "out" for me but it has to be very subtle and I probably like it more when I already like the guy underneath.