MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Perfume/scents/colognes are a turn-off

Perfume/scents/colognes are a turn-off

posted 5 years ago by SolemnMime (174)
28 replies | jump to latest

From my experience, such as when girls/women pile on the perfume or etc., it is not appealing -- the scents are usually strong and not inviting at all. I know women and/or men too with cologne or such wear it probably both because they like the smell and presume others would too, but in general I find this stuff off-putting.

I'd rather smell a more natural person scent (clean) or light fragrance maybe at most than these overpowering, nose punching scents that come across more like an offensive odor than anything (often super floral and/or musky-like). I know some people may over do it, but in general I don't find it pleasant.

There could definitely be some that aren't bad, but most I come across aren't attracting at all -- or even just enjoyable from a neutral point of view. I get the same impressions with incense & such too: often too off/overpowering/feeling like I'm breathing toxic stuff.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (12239) 5 years ago

I hate it when people pile on the musk. It stinks, and often smells like a combination of bug spray and pepper. Whatever they advertised about how musk brings out the animal in someone, to make them aroused, it was a lie.

[–] nyctc7 (41174) 5 years ago

Agreed. I also don't like what I call "Hippie Perfume." I'm not sure what it is, kind of a clove smell.

[–] somesunnyday (2078) 5 years ago

Nothing worse than sitting down for a meal at a restaurant and somebody sitting near you has drowned themselves in it and you can taste it in your food.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

The operative word here is “drowned.” Women know to spray the scent into the air and then walk through it. Males, who are awash is in Axe and Brut and Old Spice SPRAY, that crap on like they’re killing bugs.

Also, the guys I describe seem to prefer air freshener over hygiene.

Vomit.

[–] SolemnMime (174) 5 years ago

Good point. Yeah, I didn't even begin to think of being around those kind of heavy scents when eating. Also -- as with any kind of smoking -- being in the vicinity of this stuff and breathing around it means you're ingesting that stuff as well, like second-hand smoke somewhat. Not so much a noticeable problem with light stuff, but those you can smell like 10+ feet away strongly......

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6911) 5 years ago

I find them fine depending on both how much is applied and how the scent interacts with the person's individual body chemistry. A lot of people don't realize that the same perfume on one person will smell completely different on another person just based on body chemistry alone. In particular, I find that body spray and teen boys are a bad combination when it comes to body chemistry, which is why every teen boy smells like he just swam in a river of spray no matter how much he applies.

But then, I'm particular about smells in general. I've never really been a fan of fake scents - eg. floral scents don't really smell like flowers and 'woody' scents don't smell like trees. Not even sure what smells cologne is supposed to be replicating most of the time. Probably why I'm most attracted to food smells; they actually smell like food. So fruit and chocolate and vanilla based scents are really the only ones I like, and those aren't always done well.

[–] SolemnMime (174) 5 years ago

Good point about the food ones -- those are scents that tend to seem more natural/pleasant at least, like vanilla/fruits/etc.

I often don't mind those or might even find some good maybe, but most people don't seem to wear those vs. mainstream musk/floral/amber-like stuff. Also, I'd prefer someone smelling like certain foods than like a tree/wood/odd combination of other smells.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6911) 5 years ago

It's weird, right? If you're wearing musk/floral scents to please or attract others, who are you trying to please/attract? And if you're doing it for yourself, I can't really understand the appeal of smelling those scents all day. Those scents are odd and almost grandmotherly/grandfatherly imo (no judgment).

[–] SolemnMime (174) 5 years ago

I think some people just throw on whatever as per some kind of social fulfillment, i.e., "this is my smell" or "I am this smell." They might not even have any real smells they like, but just settle on whatever they grew accustomed to as how they imagined they would present themselves with said scents/self-image/maybe even social status/etc. The "old people perfume" or such definitely has a ring to it though -- not sure what it is about that though.

I know the only "scents" if you call it that I'd wear normally would come from very mild cocoa butter maybe.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6911) 5 years ago

Mmm. Cocoa butter is good smelling and moisturizing.

[–] keybored (2654) 5 years ago

The problem is the type of perfume they wear because some are full of chemicals rather than natural products.

Best to stick with perfume oil which is as pure as possible instead of sprays.

Also, just because you may like the smell of one perfume doesn't mean it will smell like that on you. They react to each individual and can smell differently on people.

[–] Padeen (6459) 5 years ago

I have never owned a bottle of cologne that wasn't a gift. I just don't like the stuff.