Cologne, Aftershave, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, etc.

[CMcG]

I'm not surprised to be getting some very different types of answers to this question, but I am a little surprised at the range! A couple gents are especially noteworthy for their consideration of others: Mickey who cannot smell but wears scents for the benefit of others, and CNDSushi who goes to great lengths in order to accommodate his friend who is allergic to scented products.

As a further consideration, how loyal are people to their smell? For example Alan H. says the only product he really uses is Irish Spring; is that a long term situation or does it just happen to be the soap that was on-sale last week?

For myself, I've been wearing Old Spice deodorant exclusively since I hit puberty. Other people have bought me some of the variations from that brand, but I prefer the original. As for fragrances, I've worn various ones over the years: Fahrenheit, Azzaro, Jazz, Dolce & Gabbana Masculine, and Clinique Happy. I'm currently scentless in Hong Kong, which is what got me thinking about this...

A few weeks ago I began using a "vintage"/recreated one from J. Peterman called 1903:

http://www.jpeterman.com/!3VJ0IeOAtD...intage-Cologne

That sounds very intriguing... too bad it is a niche fragrance that doesn't ship internationally.

[Highlander31]

....As a further consideration, how loyal are people to their smell? For example Alan H. says the only product he really uses is Irish Spring; is that a long term situation or does it just happen to be the soap that was on-sale last week?....

I've been using the Joop close to twenty years now (a bottle will usually last 18 months to 2 years.) When it comes to soap, shampoo, and deodorant, I prefer products that are scentless.

[Mickey]

As a further consideration, how loyal are people to their smell? For example Alan H. says the only product he really uses is Irish Spring; is that a long term situation or does it just happen to be the soap that was on-sale last week?.

For me, I am loyal to what I'm told works, and after many samples over the years, nothing compares to my main three, Brut still being the tops. I've actually had strange women (as in, women I don't know... as well as "strange" women..) swoon over my scent when wearing it, then give me a dirty look when I tell them what I'm wearing. They seem to think it is a smart-a@@ answer.

That brings up an interesting point: Individuals' body chemistry being a bit different, not all people will smell exactly the same using the same scent.

Which is why Brut and Old Spice seem to work on me and others just make me smell quite rank. It is also why I not only wear cologne/aftershave/deodorant (also O.S. or Brut), but also have it in my work desk and sometimes the car. I can apparently go from "flowers on a baby" to "sewage treatment plant" in a matter of hours, depending on the weather. And when you can't smell yourself, better safe than sorry.

For some unknown reason, the olfactory senses are very closely related to memory. So it's not surprising that while smells can take you back to a fond memory, your memory can also recall smells very vividly. It's fascinating, isn't it?

This is what makes this thread fascinating to me. I've read about these types of things that I can't experience, but I imagine it to be similar to music or taste, though I hear it is much stronger. Unlike Bugbear, who has a memory of scent, I can't ever recall smelling anything. So it is really cool to read things about this sense, at least to me.

(when I was in my teens, I was sprayed in the face by a skunk... never smelled a thing.. outside the fact that it was a powerful fume... Walked into the house and all hell broke loose. Didn't know what the problem was. But I can testify that between pepper spray or skunk in the eyes.... I'll beg for the pepper spray!)

[BoldHighlander]

As a further consideration, how loyal are people to their smell? For example Alan H. says the only product he really uses is Irish Spring; is that a long term situation or does it just happen to be the soap that was on-sale last week?

For myself, I've been wearing Old Spice deodorant exclusively since I hit puberty.

Once I find something I like (whatever that maybe) I'm extremely brand loyal.

Like some others I'm a wee bit sensitive (not allergic) to some scents and try to stay away from "perfumy" scents. However, I do on rare occasion (formal etc) wear Stetson cologne (just a little). When at the centennial celebration of the Pendleton Roundup in 2010, I really liked the sample of the new Let 'Er Buck cologne they were giving out (it is rather pricey so I grabbed up all the free samples I could! ). It must be the buckaroo in me!

When not wearing a hat, I wear a pomade in my hair that usually has its own scent (as does my shaving soap). I've very recently started using Lucky 13's Swagger Cream in my hair, which gives off a mild scent. Ditto with my moustache wax (Oregon Wild Hair wax), which is made of bees wax, lanolin, & natural musk.

I also use a non-odor natural deoderant salt stone.

[Fedgunner]

Shampoo: Head and Shoulders
Soap: Irish Spring
Deoderant: Irish Spring

That's it. I don't even own any cologne.