to think that fragrance/scent on a man is effeminate ?

[vienna1981]

My attitude could probably be described as old-fashioned, narrow-minded, prejudiced etc. I'm of the opinion that "smelling nice" is a woman thing and it's rather girly for men to reek like a rosebush. I'm not suggesting that anybody, man or woman, should pong of sweat and BO. Just to be hygienically neutral without added flavour, as it were.

By the way, my 89 year-old neighbour wears Old Spice. A 25 year-old workmate wears Paco Rabane, and way too much of it. Both of these products smell awful, IMO.

Over to you.

Hahaha! Mmmmmm, manly!

Clearly I am in the minority.

To each their own.

Happy, and fragrant, 2015 folks

Did you really think you'd get support, particularly for the effeminate part?
Really?

"My OH is as 'manly' as you want to stereotype...he wears scent and looks bloody good in a dress too"

Wild guess, you married a Bootie?

(or perhaps a Gurkha?)

Lweji. No I honestly didn't expect any support. I knew this would be a contentious thread - just interested to read people's views. And I have conceded to having the minority view.

However, each to their own, as I said this morning. It is my own choice, as a man, not to use fragrance. Other men can do or do not, as they choose.

Happy New Year

Got me thinking. Ladies, which are your favourite male fragrances ? Apparently Burberry is popular. And which ones don't you like so much. I think we've established Old Spice and Paco Rabane aren't going to make the top ten.

You want to be lucked now eh?

'My attitude could probably be described as old-fashioned, narrow-minded, prejudiced etc. '

Or possibly very young.
Anyone who experienced the 70s with infrequent washing by many, and the idea of scents on a man other than sweat being for homosexuals is grateful that times have changed in so many ways.
Choosing the right fragrance is a different issue.

Hang on a minute, do you have a partner?
Or are you a lone wolf, stalking the mean streets, with your old-fashioned manly credentials clearly visible, hoping that a passing fan of Life on Mars might be interested?

Well, from earlier on in the thread Issy Miyake seems pretty popular. I first tried it when I was given a free sample at Brighton Pride, so It might not just attract ladies.

Anybody else imagining the OP as Lee Majors or possibly Burt Reynolds?

Dustin. I am a child of the seventies and I clearly remember the pong of male (and female) sweat and BO. My lady playgroup leader and my own father were among the guilty. The summers of 75 and 76 didn't help ! My dad received a Brut gift set from some family friends one Christmas. Maybe they were trying to tell him something but I don't remember the stuff getting used.

I look nothing like Burt Reynolds or Lee Majors. No 'tache for a start. And probably more grey hair than when they were my age !

Ds1 wears a Penhaligon aftershave - and he smells gorgeous! Mind you - for what it costs, it darn well ought to!

I was a teenager in the 70s and I'm irritated that you are attempting to dismiss all our efforts back then on encouraging men to wash, use deodorant and understand that any fragrance was not effective as an alternative to good personal hygiene.
Let alone your link to 'effeminacy' which is offensive and sounds like my dad way back before his children educated him.

So, how do you fare in the dating/partner stakes?

DustIn,

I'm single. Thought that was obvious. Why do you ask ?

Trojan nah he occasionally likes to wear a dress

Until recently he looked like your average shaven haired bloke

I had a FIL who thought any form of aftershave or indeed anti-perspirant/deoderant was the work of the devil. He thought sweating was natural and such things blocked the pores.He would loudly proclaim only 'dirty' people needed a bath more than once a week

He stank to high heaven.

OH has a very neutral smell, as in he rarely sweats and makes a smell

I hate fragrance on anyone, men or women. Far too many people put too much on or have chosen rank fragrances. Makes me feel ill.

DH wears Drakkar - which is pretty damn retro, but I love it on him. It's really fresh.

I don't like sweet scents on a man. Citrus, smoky, spicy - all good. Musk is off putting.

MissPhonic. Some agreement ! Thankyou for your post.

I like some scents on my husband but largely I like his own. The false sense make me want to kiss him, his own scent makes me want to bury my face in his neck and start biting and kissing

You aren't wrong about those two aftershaves though, horrible ones - yuck. Same as some perfume. Anything overpowering due to far too much being used is awful though, makes me wonder what they are hiding!

Issy Miyake is kiss inducing, Armani code makes me want to delve into his shirt, cool waters I still really like too- reminds me of being very young and wild!

Like others, YANBU to dislike perfumes on men, or indeed yourself, but YABU to consider wearing it makes them less manly, or that 'girly' is a thing to avoid at all costs lest your balls drop off.

Check out this chap- one of my favourite portraits. Well known in his time to be an absolute horndog and a bounder with the women (which I am not endorsing) and you can practically smell the masculinity coming off him, not at all reduced by the pink silk or the ostrich feathers. I bet he wore Carling Black Label fine perfume.
www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgallery.ie%2Fen%2FCollection%2FCollection_Highlights%2FPainting_and_Sculpture%2FReynolds.aspx&ei=avimVN7nO5DlaN-NgfgC&bvm=bv.82001339,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGO-UziLXzjdIgecuxPqxtC6SdZbg&ust=1420314576097225

argh crap link! Sorry. Seems to work though.

Hmm. Tempted as I am to venture an honest opinion of that fellow, I shan't because the post would be likely to get deleted. Can't have that !