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

[ForresterModern]

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?

The olfactory sense was actually the first sense developed in the biological world, except back then it was a simple primitive reflex of retraction or flight from certain noxious and potentially harmful chemicals or an attraction to other chemicals which might signal either food or mating. Virtually all multicelled species that precede humans in evolution have a far greater developed sense of smell than we possess. Olfactory sense is very primitive which preceded the closely related sense of taste, then tactile, auditory, visual senses which developed as the evolutionary advancement occurred into higher organisms. However, those olfactory senses still retain their primitive connections and relations to our more base and primitive neurological responses, and as well to stronger memories. This is why certain smells strike us with such visceral strength, and why we often have very strong memories stimulated by certain smells, in comparison to our other senses. Our senses developed evolutionarily first to assess our immediate nearby environment (initially chemical---smell then taste), followed by physical stimulus (tactile sense) with further sense development allowing higher organisms to evaluate their environment at ever greater distances from the primary organism (hearing and sight/light response). At the same time those later developed senses became more prominent and necessary in species survival, required more complicated neurological apparatus, and thus took over ever more and more of our brain capacity, at the detriment of the more primitive sense of smell, which becomes progressively less sensitive and less utilized in higher organisms (who has the better smeller, a dog or a human?). But those base primitive neurological connections are still there, which is why smells can evoke some pretty profound responses in most people (think how people react to manure, vomit, rotting or burnt flesh and you will get the idea).

Mr Science signing off.

[Bugbear]

The olfactory sense was actually the first sense developed in the biological world, except back then it was a simple primitive reflex of retraction or flight from certain noxious and potentially harmful chemicals or an attraction to other chemicals which might signal either food or mating. Virtually all multicelled species that precede humans in evolution have a far greater developed sense of smell than we possess. Olfactory sense is very primitive which preceded the closely related sense of taste, then tactile, auditory, visual senses which developed as the evolutionary advancement occurred into higher organisms. However, those olfactory senses still retain their primitive connections and relations to our more base and primitive neurological responses, and as well to stronger memories. This is why certain smells strike us with such visceral strength, and why we often have very strong memories stimulated by certain smells, in comparison to our other senses. Our senses developed evolutionarily first to assess our immediate nearby environment (initially chemical---smell then taste), followed by physical stimulus (tactile sense) with further sense development allowing higher organisms to evaluate their environment at ever greater distances from the primary organism (hearing and sight/light response). At the same time those later developed senses became more prominent and necessary in species survival, required more complicated neurological apparatus, and thus took over ever more and more of our brain capacity, at the detriment of the more primitive sense of smell, which becomes progressively less sensitive and less utilized in higher organisms (who has the better smeller, a dog or a human?). But those base primitive neurological connections are still there, which is why smells can evoke some pretty profound responses in most people (think how people react to manure, vomit, rotting or burnt flesh and you will get the idea).

Mr Science signing off.

Ya, what he said. Except, I would add kin selection, and perhaps the most powerful of all, sexual selection (Darwinian terms not mine) to this, which is probably a bit of what we are talking about in this thread, as being a driving factor in the olfactory evolution of the more complex organisms, as well as, some of the posts in the thread.

* Edit: looking again, ForresterModern wrote "food or mating," so he brought it up first.

[KenB]

If I wear a scent, which is as rare as Haley's Comet, I use Grey Flannel. I have found a lot of places are now "scent free" in order to accommodate persons that have bad reactions to these aromas. I have found that I really can get a bit "choked-up" with some stronger scents.

[biblemonkey]

I am usually a little allergic to perfumes/colognes but I do wear original scent Old Spice deodorant and occasionally Calvin Klein Obsession or Euphoria which my wife likes and I seem to be far less allergic to. I always make sure to use them sparingly as I know that the one wearing the scent is often less aware of it's intesity after a few moments than the people around them. Most of the time if I want a scent other than just being clean I will use a scented oil from Auric Blends. Natural, not allergic to any of their blends, gentle and long lasting scents.

Of course this is all very rare for me as these days I am just not that into perfuming.

[ForresterModern]

I shower with a bath gel containing shea butter (for my winter dry alligator skin) that has a slight vanilla scent, but according to my wife she (a very sensitive sniffer) cannot smell any scent but "clean" when I get out of the shower. Unscented stick deodorant. Watermelon flavored toothpaste (kids variety but I absolutely despise mint). Unscented shampoo on what little hair I have left. No aftershave or cologne.

So for the most part I am an unscented guy, unless you count what develops from my own body through the routine non-sweaty day.

One thing about perfumes and colognes is that within about 15 minutes after the wearer puts it on the human brain actually blocks out the wearer's sense of that particular smell, so the wearer is the worst person to decide if they need MORE at any point in the day or evening. Remember this please, and ask a friend or even nearby stranger if your scent is still there before deciding to put on more. This is the classic reason many particularly older women often reek of whatever scent they are wearing, as if they had steeped in it for a couple hours. They cannot tell they still carry the scent so they put on more until they can smell it again to be sure they smell nice, all the while smoking out the rest of the zip code with their particular choice of air pollution.

[flyingshamrock]

I'm a bit of what my wife calls " a Metro-Sexual" so I always spray one quick shot of Burberry London once I get out of the shower. I'm a firm believer in moderation though, the fragrance shouldn't be over powering.

[creagdhubh]

I'm a bit of what my wife calls " a Metro-Sexual" so I always spray one quick shot of Burberry London once I get out of the shower. I'm a firm believer in moderation though, the fragrance shouldn't be over powering.

I am too. Most definitely.

[creagdhubh]

Burberry
Nivea
Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn Street Collection

Cheers,

[artificer]

I can be very sensitive to smells, not allergic, but just over-sensitive to the point of being made nauseous, so I like scents to be mild.

For showering I use a cedarwood bodywash and a tea tree oil shampoo. They help wash the smell of the pool's chlorine out of my skin and hair, but don't leave much of a lingering scent themselves.

My shave soap has a light rose & aloe scent (and aloe in the soap).

Post shave creme is a non-fragrance creme from Every Man Jack that I LOVE. It leaves no sticky or greasy feel on the skin. It absorbs into the skin very quickly. (I also hate the feel of product on my skin. Yes, I'm loads of fun )

I don't usually wear cologne unless I'm getting "dressed", then I have a Ferragamo cologne that my wife likes. I also like the soapy-citrus of CK One, but haven't worn that for a good number of years.

One of the WORST, most all-pervasive smells for me is fabric softener. When someone over-softens their clothes the smell can literally FILL the room.

[saxandpipes]

Something I inherited from BOTH my parents is a weakness for perfumes.

I currently have:

Paco Rabanne BlackXS
Paco Rabanne 1 Million
Guerlain Homme
Bvlgari Pour Homme
Giorgio Armani White (Red) edition
Burberry London for Men

This is not including the scores of mini ampules I have of all the freebees and samples that frequently come when one purchases fragrances (in Holland at least).

I do choose what I will wear fragrance-wise depending on what I'm wearing clothes-wise. Also, whether it's day or evening... or a party or a dinner, or playing a concert.

However,

I don't tend to wear them very often, and when I do, it's not in great quantities... as others have mentioned: "a few quick sprays". So, many of these bottles I've had for some time. (Although, both the Bvlgari and BlackXS are 2nd or 3rd bottles...)

I always have difficulty finding a deodorant that isn't scented. I can say that I absolutely hate Lynx/Axe type "man fragrances". They just remind me of high-school, when the classrooms would always reek of 14 year old boys... and their use of the hideous stuff to mask their own cleanliness/hormonal issues... then of course... because the rooms would stink... the girls would start with their insipid vanilla (it was the mid-late 90s) girly sprays. Revolting.



Anyway, I always wear frangrances for myself, and the ladies I might greet with kisses. Not for the general public to be assaulted by as they pass me on the street.

Cheers!

Michael