I will admit that I am a fan of all things that smell good (and are not overwhelming) like candles, glade plug-ins, shampoos and conditioners (I am the freak you will see in the shop twisting off the cap to sniff the shampoo) anything in Bath and Body works and yes, even perfumes. Though when I was in high school I was more apt to wear my dad's cologne than my mom's perfume as I have grown I have developed an appreciation for those scents targeted at women.

I don't mind perfume though I understand why too much of it can be detrimental to anything, especially for those who are substituting perfumes/colonges for actual hygiene. And it would be nice if the scents weren't so gendered, as Miriam pointed out. There are some male colognes I'd love to use, but then don't want to spend a good portion of my day explaining to people that while I am heterosexual and female I just really like dude perfumes (cause much like boys dolls are "action figures, cologne is really just "perfume").

I've always been one of those women who doesn't like scented stuff. I can't go into shops with a lot of candles or other scented items, because I start to feel suffocated. I usually end up waiting for my friends outside. Everything I buy, candles, deoderant, shampoo, etc., is as unscented as I can get it.

However, on the rare occasions that I feel the need for something, I do like Georgio's Red. It's a toned-down sort of scent that seems to suit me somehow. And my mom has a connection so I can get it cheap. *grin*

Anyway, I was going to say that I've never had anyone say anything about my lack of artificial scent. In fact, I'm routinely told that my hair smells good, or that I do, even without an artificial scent. So maybe there's something to this whole "natural" thing, huh?

I've been thinking about this since last week. If I could change one thing about my husband, it would be for him to enjoy my natural musk. (You know, that mild B.O.-plus-inoffensive-deodorant smell you get after a semi-active day?)

To be fair, he doesn't comment on it unless I ask him to smell my armpit and give me an odor assessment.

And, yes, clearly we have a fun relationship if (a) this is my biggest complaint about my partner and (b) I feel comfortable telling him to smell my armpit.

I'd be curious to see demographic trends in perfume use. I can't remember the last time I smelled a woman with perfume on, but I hang out with urban women in their 20s. It's also worth distinguishing alcohol-based perfumes from soaps and lotions that smell tasty.

Ugh, I so virulently hate the crap they put in men's fragrances. It smells like pinesol and bleach. I always ask my dudes to forgo that stuff, but even the deodorant has to feel like razor blades in my nostrils.

I have an overdeveloped sense of smell, so I can't date someone who has to wear fragrances.

I buy unscented "powder fresh" deodorant for myself, but half the time I forget it anyway. I find I smell fine if I avoid eating curry every day.

i get scent overload pretty easily and i am allergic to a lot of things, but like you ultra magnus, i am all about non-cloying good smelling things that don't overwhelm. i always open the caps of shampoo in the store when i am trying a new kind and i love love love bath & body works, philosophy, etc. usually i only wear scented lotion or body splash and save what i see as more classy, sophisticated perfumes for the evening.

i definitely think that any pressure for women to smell like roses and men to smell like...pine trees is obnoxious. thankfully my boyfriend likes my cinnamon bun smelling body wash just as much as me :)

Well, some people (myself included) happen to wear a scent because we like how it smells.

Though, I'll admit, the cologne I wear isn't exactly stereotypically "masculine".

If other people like it, hey, cool; I just happen to wear it because I like smelling like it.

Clean, warm skin smells marvelous. (likewise hair.) Skin where the bacteria have been breeding in the oil and sweat for a couple of days, not so much.

Regarding fragrances, if I can smell you but not see you, you've put on too much. Especially if I can smell you and you left the area three minutes ago. (Funny how B.O. never seems to do that.)

I'm not terribly interested in smelling like a flower, though there are some fruit scents that are pleasant. Don't need to be acrid to be manly. And usually the amount that comes in the soap is enough, so no need for cologne.

I usually don't mind when people wear perfume, but please, oh please, don't wear it to the gym!!!!

Avast, there are two people like that at my work, except one douses herself in perfume and the other reeks of all-things-cigarette. I honestly don't know which is worse.

I apparently only like food smells: my shampoo and conditioner are both "apple" scented and I wear clove oil to help deal that extra bit of sweat that my deodorant just can't handle (seriously, do I really sweat more than most women or is this another beauty industry "conspiracy" to make me feel inadequate?). My husband has hair stuff that smells like frosting that I love, and I only buy candles that smell like food. I think part of the reason I like these smells is because I think they go well with my own natural scent; I don't use them to cover it up, but to complement it and make it smell more deliberate.

^^

See, that's the way to do it.

So many people layer on scents that clash with their body.

Everyone knows that certain scents smell different, depending on what skin their on. If you find one that works WITH your own skin, and not against it, it tends to be very pleasant.

It's when it clashes with your body chemistry that it makes a hideous odor.

Ehh.... I'm not such a fan of "natural" as a general rule. Never much got what was so great about it. Frankly, I think the problem is not that we women should worry *less* about minimizing various unpleasant natural body issues, but rather that men should worry *more* about it. But then again, I'm one of those rare (apparently) gals who can barely tolerate a tiny patch of fuzzy hair on a guy's chest. I hate hate hate sweat, I think it's absolutely disgusting, I'm not a fan of lots of body hair on *either* sex, and I would not be opposed to changing the norm to brushing your teeth five times a day or more (or at least lots of mouthwash).

I get that I'm unique, but still. I don't think cutting perfume is the way to go, personally. I'd cut jewelry waaaaaaaaaaaay before I'd cut perfume. Although I do agree the gendering of scents is lame. I've occasionally worn dude perfume, if I particularly like the smell. If people feel the need to ask about it, whatevs.

Yeah, cigarettes can be pretty lingering (and nasty).

To clarify, fresh sweat is no problem; under the right circumstances can be very nice indeed.

Oh, what a gaffe.

"they're". Sorry, was typing in a hurry. I can't let that slide. How embarassing.

I think I can blame this on Bush.

Our economy sucks and people lack disposable income to drop on $20 bottles of perfume.

Ta da.

Especially if I can smell you and you left the area three minutes ago. (Funny how B.O. never seems to do that.)

Ohhhhhh avast, I am envious. I can assure you, BO most *definitely* can linger, for a very, very long time. I'm no fan of drenched-out perfume, but truly bad BO is vomit-worthy. I will take too much perfume over horrible BO ANY day of the week.

waxghost, you're not the only one. I used to have a massive problem with overactive sweat glands in my underarms, to the point where I always wore sweaters, even in the summer. I drenched through virtually *anything* else. God, that was a horrible time. Anyway, I now use this stuff called Certain Dri, it's *amazing*. I can now wear silk again, thank God. If you haven't checked it out, I highly recommend it.

I personally hate perfume, but I do love a good-smelling man. :)

Could be that in the places I'm remembering someone leaving a trail, everyone is scrupulous about washing, but a few think nothing of wearing too much perfume.

I guess I'll count myself lucky.

You'll have to pry my vanilla chai and arctic apple clear gel antiperspirants from my cold dead hands. Though I guess it's hard to overdo stick/gel deodorants like some women seem to overdo perfume and guys body spray (I guess they've seen one too many Axe commercial?).

And I've been ogling a bottle of Burberry Brit eau de toilette since forever, but I can't bring myself to plonk down $75 for it. One day, I shall get enough cashback on my credit card. One day...

I think perfume/scents can be good if they work with you and you use them in moderation, aka no one should be able to smell it unless they're within 6 inches. And designer perfumes do have musky, woodsy fragrances for women, along with lighter floral scents. It's the cheap stuff that tends to follow the flowers/spices dichotomy.

I can't stand perfume and cologne. When I worked as a cashier I had a headache every day, usually followed by nausea if the smell was particularly strong or lingering. I don't even understand why people feel the need to smell like flowers or whatever. Soap and laundry detergent are fine with me.

While I don't think we ought to break good smells into stereotypes, I definitely appreciate a person who smells good. Whether this is socially constructed or an actual personal preference is left for theorists to decide.

What I am not a big fan of, however, is going AGAINST everything that we think is socially constructed by gender.

What I mean is: if you like it, wear it. If you don't, smell like a bag of ass - but don't refuse to wear something that smells nice just because you think it'll give the finger to the patriarchy. Feminism is about creating our own agencies, not silently protesting against the patriarchy in passive-aggressive ways.

I wear Armini Code (pretty masculine, I am told), and I use Victoria Secret's Strawberries and Champaign lotion - not because based on my feminist beliefs, but because I fucking like it.

"Never much got what was so great about it."

How about having more free time and money? For example, if I could just wash and wear my skin without being ostracized for how it appears naturally then I'd have saved hours and hours every week on tweezing and saved hundreds of dollars on laser treatment...

I'm allergic to perfumes and strong scents. It took my fiance and I several years to train his family to stop giving him cologne for Christmas. My allergy is to the point that if I'm on a train, bus or plane with someone wearing perfume or strong deodorant, I'll have to switch seats. It's actually quite bothersome as many people don't recognize my reaction as an allergy and just think I'm being rude. So everyone, forgo perfume! Save money! Make others happier!

I have allergies to pretty much every perfume ever. It really bothers me when people wear a lot of it because if I'm near them (or in their trail if it's extra-bad) my sinuses will instantly tingle, my eyes will water, and I'll start sneezing. I don't even wear deodorant because most of it has way too much crap in it. I'd rather smell a slight bit of (fresh) sweat than any perfume any day.

I have allergies to pretty much every perfume ever. It really bothers me when people wear a lot of it because if I'm near them (or in their trail if it's extra-bad) my sinuses will instantly tingle, my eyes will water, and I'll start sneezing. I don't even wear deodorant because most of it has way too much crap in it. I'd rather smell a slight bit of (fresh) sweat than any perfume any day.

i just left a scent-free workplace after 6 years there. The fact that it was scent-free was clearly posted, people were notified before they came in for meetings etc. It was astounding to me how many people (internal and external) blithely disregarded this and showed up not just wearing scented products (i.e. deodorant, soap) but full-on perfume.

that said, i loooove perfume and it was a wrench to give it up for 6 years (and not wearing it at work translated to not wearing it at all so that it wouldn't get infused into clothing or hair and transfer into office environment the next day).

finally, i've been interested in how uber-sensitive i now am to scents. i'm not saying its a good thing or bad thing -- but i am saying that scent free zones and a lessening in the use of scent generally seems to correlate with increased sensitivity to those who are scented!

I'm terribly allergic to most perfumes. I am especially allergic to patchouli, which is in most perfumes and colognes. And god forbid anyone wear it alone near me. Gah. So sick.

If I get stuck on a plane with someone wearing that stuff, I'm sick for days. Sometimes weeks, if I was already in an immune-compromised state.

I'm begging people, DON'T wear this stuff. Pretty please.

Mina, okay, the money thing is a fair point. But clothes cost money too, and clothes are just as much of a social construct -- one for which I'm grateful, as there are plenty of people I'd really be a-ok with never seeing naked.

I'm not going to tell anyone what to do with his or her body. But by the same token, I don't buy that there's anything inherently feminist about preferring a "natural" human body, or anything inherently un-feminist about preferring certain cultural grooming habits. I think it has a lot more to do with personal preference, and my personal preference is for bodies that look clean and neat and fastidiously groomed and that smell nice. The natural thing just isn't for me.

You may think you don't smell, but dear Goddess! I know it's you when you walk by me since I have an especially keen nose and can name some of the spices used in a sauce just from smelling it. So I can seriously smell you at 20 paces.

My sense of smell is so sensitive, I can smell strawberry lipgloss from 2 tables over. Seriously. But I'd rather smell that than your freakin' mildewed underarms or unwashed body. Deodorant and soap!! Use it. Liberally.

"Mina, okay, the money thing is a fair point. But clothes cost money too, and clothes are just as much of a social construct"

Clothes don't cost more for Iranian-American women than for Chinese-American women. Becoming hairless does cost me a lot more than it costs those of my classmates who can't grow arm hair, facial hair, etc. in the first place.

"and my personal preference is for bodies that look clean and neat and fastidiously groomed and that smell nice."

Hey, no problem with *personal preferences* like that. If you'd rather date a Japanese woman than a Latina, no big deal.

OTOH, if you'd rather hire a Japanese woman than a Latina, then it's a problem.

When those preferences stop being just personal and enter dress codes, they become unequal burdens because some people's natural bodies meet these supposedly-unnatural standards more than others.

Meanwhile, I've noticed that if I and a Scandinavian or East Asian woman both simply wash ourselves equally thoroughly, dress equally neatly, and go to work then I'd probably be considered "dirtier" than she'd be considered just because her ancestors didn't give her genes for as much facial hair as mine did...

Sometimes I like to use men's body wash and deodorant. To me it just smells like it will be more effective. And I love anything pumpkin.

Ugh, I hate Axe though. I had a boyfriend once who would douse himself with the stuff. Called it a "whore bath" or something. I protested, but he insisted that if he didn't do that he would stink really bad later. I had to leave the room because it smelled horribly and it made me cough. I curse the day that crap was invented.

85%? Really? I bet the percentage is lower for younger gals. None of my friends wear perfume per se, except on special occasions. Scented shampoos and lotions are enough.

Mina, you're quite right about the amount of effort required for different women to be "acceptable". My girlfriend is of southern Italian descent and has the same hair removal issues as you, but I don't. I'm also fat, so no-one seems to care that I don't wear make-up, but if one of the slimmer girls I work with doesn't make herself presentable with lipstick and all the rest of it, she will draw negative comments!

One person I know wears perfumes well - I'm very scent-sensitive but she never bothers me. Unfortunately, most people douse themselves in scents, especially smokers trying to cover up the cigarette smell. Ew.

I'm allergic to artificial scents as well. I'm okay with perfume on other people as long as they're not drenched with it, but wearing strong scents myself gives me a headache, and wearing any scented product on my skin gives me a rash. Which means I need to buy unscented deodorant, which is difficult to find, and unscented shaving cream which is damn near impossible to find. Scented shampoo is okay if it's not too strong smelling.

I wear perfume once in a blue moon, but when I do, it's Gin & Tonic from that Demeter brand that makes, like, Dirt-scented perfumes and stuff. It's really clean smelling. I only like things that smell green.

And waxghost, it's totally not just you at all. Almost every girl I knew in my major in college used Drysol, and I can't believe that many women had gland problems. Women are told they should hardly sweat at all, when we sweat about as much as men do.

"Which means I need to buy unscented deodorant, which is difficult to find"

Whoa, I just realized something. If you want to deodorize your armpits without putting extra chemicals on your skin or spending tons of time looking for safe extra chemicals, could you put something between your skin and the deodorant?

Here's why it occured to me: In my case so-called deodorant/antiperspirants work fine on odor but even Certain-Dri isn't enough of an antiperspirant, so I put on regular deodorant then cloth pads (if anyone's interested, see advantagewear.com to buy 'em or get the idea and sew your own) to absorb the sweat instead of staining my clothes. Could reversing the order - putting the cloth on first then putting deodorant on the cloth - work?

And I've been ogling a bottle of Burberry Brit eau de toilette since forever, but I can't bring myself to plonk down $75 for it. One day, I shall get enough cashback on my credit card.

I'm a Burberry Brit addict. (It smells good on my skin... I think it works best when I just hit my stomach with it, odd as it sounds.) I've gotten it for around $30 or $40 a bottle at Perfumania. Maybe you're thinking of the larger bottles? More concentrated?

The small bottles usually last me about nine months. My sister bought me a bottle for Christmas (hey, ask and you shall receive), and it's about 1/10th gone, maybe.

---

As for general perfume etiquette: the rule I've heard is that you are supposed to spray the perfume in the air, and then walk through it. That should be enough.

This is my stance: Wash yourself to smell good. If you wanna wear perfume too, wear it. Just make sure you're not wearing enough to choke people around you!

Ah man, I read the title to this and was hoping that it was going to be about women who enjoyed the way their vagina smelled!

Ah man, I read the title to this and was hoping that it was going to be about women who enjoyed the way their vagina smelled!

I admit I'm disappointed, the idea that pussies smell like ANYTHING seems to be such a huge issue of embarrassment and self consciousness for so many women :(

I dont think women wear perfume solely because of what we have been told. I love smelling like pine! One of my favorite scents is Aqua Di Parma Tuscany which is very woodsy. I also like Bvlgari Black which is a harder scent and fresh, light fruit smells like Fresh Lemon Sugar. I think we can expand our repitiour of what scents are tailored to either gender, but most of humanity likes to smell good. Its natural.