View Full Version : Smell
testcard
10-09-2006, 10:46
What is up with the everyone and everything needing to smell 'nice'.
At my local supermarket there are 90 air freshner products.
Sprays, solids, stick-ups, plug ins and even light activated sprays.
I lost count of other products whose main purpose was to mask smells such as fabric conditioners, deodorants et el.
This, I think is an unhealthy obession.
I think the way some people smell due to personal hygiene issues is unhealthy but there you go ;)
What is up with the everyone and everything needing to smell 'nice'.
At my local supermarket there are 90 air freshner products.
Sprays, solids, stick-ups, plug ins and even light activated sprays.
I lost count of other products whose main purpose was to mask smells such as fabric conditioners, deodorants et el.
This, I think is an unhealthy obession.
I can only put it down to obsessive cleaners who smoke or live with a smoker (all the ones I know seem to do this).
What is up with the everyone and everything needing to smell 'nice'.
I think it's more a case of people needing to not smell 'not nice'. I hit the gym 3 or 4 times a week and each time I go I encounter people who feel deoderant is an uneccessary optional extra.
Obviously I like my house to smell nice but if I know I'm having people around I'll go that bit extra - I have a bread making machine and I'll slap some dough in there as I think most people prefer that smell to the artificial 'plug in' devices.
I like nice smells. Walked into a Gents toilet by mistake one time and almost passed out with the smell/fumes.
zing_deleted
10-09-2006, 11:06
I think you got to much time on your hands if you count the air fresheners in a supermarket ;)
timewarrior2001
10-09-2006, 11:22
I think it's more a case of people needing to not smell 'not nice'. I hit the gym 3 or 4 times a week and each time I go I encounter people who feel deoderant is an uneccessary optional extra.
Obviously I like my house to smell nice but if I know I'm having people around I'll go that bit extra - I have a bread making machine and I'll slap some dough in there as I think most people prefer that smell to the artificial 'plug in' devices.
but if people wash carefully, and often, then deodorant is not always needed.
But what do you expect in a gym? people go there to sweat, to workout.
I certainly would not shower and spray deodorant just to go to the gym, its a waste.
testcard
10-09-2006, 11:27
It is the obession for masking smells rather than personal hygiene.
Also there are some wonderfully sounding concoctions such as tropical fusion, bamboo & freesia, spice melange,cottonwood etc.
The formats available are mind bowling - plug ins with fans, 'electric' candles.
Oh dear.
---------- Post added at 11:27 ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 ----------
I think you got to much time on your hands if you count the air fresheners in a supermarket ;)
I work there
Whats wrong with smelling nice ??
but if people wash carefully, and often, then deodorant is not always needed.
But what do you expect in a gym? people go there to sweat, to workout.
I certainly would not shower and spray deodorant just to go to the gym, its a waste.
I tend to shower and use anti-perspirant after I've been to the gym.
I think the main issue is that some people don't shower or change clothes regularly - If you shower/bathe once a day (more if you have been doing manual labour (no, not writing instruction booklets), use anti-sweat, and put clothes regularly to the wash, there should be no "lingering" smells to need air-freshener for. And, unfortunately, the people who smell don't seem to realise it.
It is just like when you come in from the pub - lots of people are usually smoking (I don't, but my decision to go where others are smoking), and you don't realise it at the time, but you and your clothes reek of tobacco. When I get home, everything goes in the wash, and I have a shower before I hit the pit (otherwise, in the morning, the bed and the room stink of smoke).
Just my thoughts.
We did a mini test sort thing.
People who use deodorant (antiperspirant especially) need to continue using these things as they tend to actually smell more than any non users when they go without.
I don't use deodorant, ever. It's really unhealthy.
We did a mini test sort thing.
People who use deodorant (antiperspirant especially) need to continue using these things as they tend to actually smell more than any non users when they go without.
I don't use deodorant, ever. It's really unhealthy.
Love your reasoning, also known as "Post hoc ergo propter hoc", summarised as
When A occurs, B occurs.
Therefore, A causes B.other examples
A rooster always crows prior to sunrise
Therefore: the rooster's crowing causes the sun to rise.or,
Ice cream sales elevate greatly each June
The number of common colds lower greatly each July.
Therefore: higher ice cream consumption cures the common cold.Couldn't it be these people needed to use anti-perspirant more because they smelled more?;)
ps - Post hoc ergo propter hoc was one of my favourite West Wing episodes!
greencreeper
10-09-2006, 13:11
They make me sneeze so I have to avoid them. I do use deodrant - roll-on as oppose to spray, otherwise it would make me sneeze. I also use EDT, which is a spray but I find if I spay it on myself and move quickly out of the room, it's not so bad. Fabric conditioner I only use on clothes such as t-shirts and jeans, due to my sensitive skin. Liable to come out in a rash if I use it on, say, bed linen.
It's difficult being me :D
Love your reasoning, also known as "Post hoc ergo propter hoc", summarised as
When A occurs, B occurs.
Therefore, A causes B.other examples
A rooster always crows prior to sunrise
Therefore: the rooster's crowing causes the sun to rise.or,
Ice cream sales elevate greatly each June
The number of common colds lower greatly each July.
Therefore: higher ice cream consumption cures the common cold.Couldn't it be these people needed to use anti-perspirant more because they smelled more?;)
It's a similar thing with shampoo.
Use the same shampoo for long enough and it no longer cleans your hair as well, because your sebacious glands (I think it's them) have managed to overcompensate enough to counter the stripping effect of the shampoo.
So people change shampoo, finding one which is different enough to strip the oils again, until your body compensates.
The only chemical cleaning products I use on my body is shampoo, unless washing my hands, I had bodywashes or soap, leaves me feeling dirty.
I don't use aftershave, I do use shaving oil now and again, but mainly just water.
I don't use deoderant or anti-perspirant, as I'll shower if I'm sweaty.
I've been told I have a nice smell, and I'm happy with that.
To be honest, as I don't have a sense of smell, I've no idea how much or how little aftershave/deoderant to use.
I can't stand walking through perfume departments, the taste is awful, and I really hate women who wear perfume on their necks :sick:
Love your reasoning, also known as "Post hoc ergo propter hoc", summarised as
When A occurs, B occurs.
Therefore, A causes B.other examples
A rooster always crows prior to sunrise
Therefore: the rooster's crowing causes the sun to rise.or,
Ice cream sales elevate greatly each June
The number of common colds lower greatly each July.
Therefore: higher ice cream consumption cures the common cold.Couldn't it be these people needed to use anti-perspirant more because they smelled more?;)
I love your condesending attitude.
The examples you used are rather extreme, and quite irrelevant.
Deodorant is alcohol based - kills all the bacteria on your underarms, meaning when you sweat again, as you have lost your natural fauna there is less to inhibit the growth of the bacteria which causes smell.
Therefore people who use deodorant get smelly more quickly.
after examining my deodorant - sanex is alcohol free and smells lovely. :) I love nice smelly things but Anton is asthmatic so that narrows it down to an odd candle here and there, and dabs of edt or perfume. he's ok with air freshner like neutrodol - smells quite 'natural' compared to most smells..
oh come on do we need to squ....argu....discuss everything to the point of weapons at dawn? :D
I think that some people no matter how hard they try will smell despite the strongest of deoderants.My poor son does his best but at 18 he just sweats buckets and at the end of a hot day out and coming back home he distinctly pongs..not entirely his fault.
So remember that the next time you are on public transport..it's not always done on purpose. :)
I love your condesending attitude.
The examples you used are rather extreme, and quite irrelevant.
Deodorant is alcohol based - kills all the bacteria on your underarms, meaning when you sweat again, as you have lost your natural fauna there is less to inhibit the growth of the bacteria which causes smell.
Therefore people who use deodorant get smelly more quickly.
Kliro, if I came across as condescending, I apologise - it was not my intention.
What was my intention, though, was to point out that your example used, imho, a logical fallacy. The examples were extreme, because extreme example highlight the flaws in the process of your argument.
Regarding your point highlighted in bold above, may I refer you to this site on teen health - it contradicts your point.
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=243&np=292&id=2387
"- Underarm deodorants make the sweat acidic which stops bacteria from growing. We still make the same amount of sweat, but there are fewer bacteria to make the smell.
- Antiperspirants block the sweat ducts with aluminium salts, so that less sweat is produced. Less sweat equals fewer bacteria and less smell. They should only be used on underarms - you need to be able to sweat over the rest of your body to keep yourself healthy.
- There is no evidence that these products are linked to any health problems."
I think that some people no matter how hard they try will smell despite the strongest of deoderants.My poor son does his best but at 18 he just sweats buckets and at the end of a hot day out and coming back home he distinctly pongs..not entirely his fault.
I think he just hasn't found the right deodorant - I used to have issues with my sweateness, as did my fiance, but now we're using sanex (and before that -dove, sanex just happened to be on offer!) we are sweet-smelling and much less sweaty! the difference might be that what we are now using is anti-perspirant. :tu:
Fair enough heh.
It doesn't really contradict it though - as it stops all bacteria from 'growing' therefore killing it or inhibiting it. So then as there's no bacteria - when your deodorant runs out it's like 'fresh ground' so the 'smelly' bacteria can grow quite quickly then.
If you don't use deodorant you have a natural fauna of bacteria which can regulate the smell.
That last point is a bit worrying - since I've heard of several studies suggesting traces of antiperspirants in breast tumours.
I certainly would not shower and spray deodorant just to go to the gym, its a waste.
Be sure to let me know which machines you've been using so I can avoid them ;)
Seriously, it's common decency to ensure your personal hygiene is in check if you're going to be sitting or laying on aparatus which is to be used by other people.
If you don't use deodorant you have a natural fauna of bacteria which can regulate the smell.
I won't use a taxi that is only fragranced by it's owner's 'natural fauna' - bleuuurgh! :Yikes:
testcard
10-09-2006, 15:13
Last year we spent £302 million pounds on household smell killers.
Twenty years ago it was sod all.
Now there's a thought.
So then as there's no bacteria - when your deodorant runs out it's like 'fresh ground' so the 'smelly' bacteria can grow quite quickly then.
"Runs out"?
how long do you go before showering/washing and reapplying?
I don't reapply - as I've never felt the need to use deodorant..
My point was if you use it, you have to continue using it.
AntiSilence
10-09-2006, 15:53
Is once a month not enough?! :rolleyes:
I don't reapply - as I've never felt the need to use deodorant..
My point was if you use it, you have to continue using it.
I should have said "how long do you want to go before showering and reappling"
That last point is a bit worrying - since I've heard of several studies suggesting traces of antiperspirants in breast tumours.
http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.asp?strid=790&depid=20
"the evidence accumulated so far has been contradictory and inconclusive. These previous studies all have design limitations, and have not been able to identify a true association between antiperspirant use and breast cancer. Until further studies are conducted that add significantly to the literature, NBCCF believes that the published research does not constitute enough evidence to conclude that there is a relationship between antiperspirant use and breast cancer."
I don't reapply - as I've never felt the need to use deodorant..
My point was if you use it, you have to continue using it.
Your point is understood, I am just wondering what you base this statement on - personal opinion, or published research?
I'm a bit paranoid about smelling minging, and if i get a whiff of someone stinking i always worry that it's me.
I'm the same at home aswell, if i get a whiff of a nasty smell i have to get rid of it, or it bugs the life out of me.
That said though, my house doesn't smell like a Neutradol factory, and i don't leave perfume lingering for 10 minutes after i've left the room.
I think it's because i hate nasty smells so much, i wouldn't want anyone to think i was smelly, or my house.
There's nothing worse than sitting in a taxi when the drivers scent is so pungent it chokes me, not that i make it obvious by practially hanging my head out of the window or anything:angel:
Your point is understood, I am just wondering what you base this statement on - personal opinion, or published research?
Just on A level biology.
But common(ish) knowledge as well - much in the same way that overwashing of skin leads to the sebaceous glands overcompensating, so if you cut down the amount you wash then, you'll find you have very oily skin for a while.
Pia - surely if you're paying for your taxi travel you have the right to say 'eeeeeeeeeeew!' I would.
and as for our flat, well smells do linger and i'd rather smell something pleasant than icky... (like we really do need to take the rubbish out every day else it hums in the kitchen, and ok sometimes i can't be arsed to do that every day!) but it's not like i'm going for overkill - that'd be like having those plug-in things in every room?!
I don't reapply - as I've never felt the need to use deodorant..
My point was if you use it, you have to continue using it.
That is what I have also heard, something to do with the way the body reacts to it.
Makes no difference to me as I am allergic to most stuff like that anyway, I just get showered every day then spray perfume etc on my clothes
Pia - surely if you're paying for your taxi travel you have the right to say 'eeeeeeeeeeew!' I would.
Nah you must be joking, the taxi drivers round here are doing us a favour, by letting us pay them £3.50 to give us a lift somewhere.:rolleyes:
Anyway, i'd feel bad on the guys personally being so harsh on them, after all it is a personal thing, and a hard one to tackle too. A few people at work have a problem, and our scaredy manager doesn't know how to tell them in case he makes them feel too bad!:D
greencreeper
10-09-2006, 20:10
The thing with taxis is that they're like toilets - you want to put paper down everywhere and not touch anything with a bare hand.
lauzjp - I have the same problem with rubbish. The kitchen is part of the living room, so there's no place for rubbish. It makes life difficult. Also means that the living room can niff a bit of food smells.
Having three doggies means I do get through quite a bit of Fabreeze and that new Odur i think it is called, but I do admit these so called plugins and battery puff ones are a expensive and silly extra and make the house smell like something from the victorian times.
Having three doggies means I do get through quite a bit of Fabreeze and that new Odur i think it is called, but I do admit these so called plugins and battery puff ones are a expensive and silly extra and make the house smell like something from the victorian times.
Febreeze or similar is great but if I want the house to smell nice I get a bunch of Oriental Lilies much more beautiful and natural or as Russ said stick the breadmaker on. https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/09/5.gif
I love lillies especially, but they are deadly to my neighbours cats which are daily visitors - what girl doesn't love flowers... shame they make me and my other half sneeze!
Just on A level biology.
But common(ish) knowledge as well - much in the same way that overwashing of skin leads to the sebaceous glands overcompensating, so if you cut down the amount you wash then, you'll find you have very oily skin for a while.
It appears (to me) that you are equating two things that are very different
1) using soap, which as you says, can lead to overcompensating glands
and
2) Deodorants kill bacteria
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/7165/344/350239.html
Traditional deodorants use ethanol to kill axillary bacteria. Unfortunately, the ethanol evaporates and the bacteria quickly grow back
I do not see how you equate overwashing with killing bacteria?
They do say that a lot of these scented air purifiers and perfume pods that splash a whiff of perfume in to your room every half hour can be bad for your health.
Some contain a right blend of chemicals and I would not want to inhale such particles in the air.
I was round a friends house who had one of those automatic air freshener and it actually smelt more artificial "toilet cleaner style" than anything "natural" that these are meant to do.
As for smelling nice, I do feel it is important to keep yourself smelling fresh and nice, especially if you are around other people, so washing and wearing deodorant is a must.
homealone
10-09-2006, 22:46
It appears (to me) that you are equating two things that are very different
1) using soap, which as you says, can lead to overcompensating glands
and
2) Deodorants kill bacteria
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/7165/344/350239.html
Traditional deodorants use ethanol to kill axillary bacteria. Unfortunately, the ethanol evaporates and the bacteria quickly grow back
I do not see how you equate overwashing with killing bacteria?
This is proving to be an interesting thread.
As said it is bacteria on the skin feeding on sweat, which causes 'body odour'.
The bacterial flora on the skin is specialised for a job of protection, and 'expects' certain conditions. This is the basis for 'ph balanced skin care' , as one example of marketing trying to exploit nature.
Imo, provided you shower/bathe every day & wear clean clothes, a continuing problem with 'body odour' should not occur, & may require a visit to the doctor, if it does.
But trying to remove all skin bacteria is a mistake, in my opinion :)
I use a small amount of underarm roll-on anti perspirant, mainly to protect people from my journey to work by push bike ;)
just make sure you don't overdo it:
Disqualified based on the fact that the young man showed clear signs of a mental disease -- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- and was therefore not able to control his actions.
Rule Violation: Incapable of Sound Judgement
(29 July 1998, England) Jonathan was discovered dead by his sister Natalie in Manchester. His body was found surrounded by cans of aerosol deodorant in the bedroom of his home in Whitebank Road. Attempts to revive him failed.
The 17-year-old apparently bathed four times a day. His father Keith reported that his Jonathan doused his entire body in several kinds of deodorant at least twice a day, a routine begun six months before he died. His parents often complained they could "taste" the aerosols downstairs. "When we told him he was using too much, he said he just wanted to smell good," his father recalled. "What a price to pay for smelling nice."
It is hypothesized that propane and butane, primary propellants in aerosol sprays, built up in Jonathan's body during months of high use. His blood contained 0.37mg/L of each toxin, nearly ten times the lethal dosage, when he suffered cardiac arrest.
The coroner, Barrie Williams, recorded a verdict of accidental death, citing no evidence of substance abuse. "He was simply overcome by excessive use of anti-perspirants in a confined space."
Jonathan's mother Louise is calling for more prominent warnings on deodorant canisters. "We knew he didn't go in for solvent abuse. He was just being very meticulous about his grooming." Sue Rogers, from the British Aerosol Manufacturing Association, said the death was tragic but reiterated the aerosol deodorants are perfectly safe
I had to quote the entire thing, as you can't link to a specific story on darwinawards. It is from there though.
I like nice smells. Walked into a Gents toilet by mistake one time and almost passed out with the smell/fumes.
Toilet seats are worse. Dispite having many urials some people obviously decide to use the toilets, however they insist on doing this standing up and are not good shots. This means if you have managed to navigate the puddles on the floor and wondering what the sticky patchs are you are confronts with a toliet seat covered with the result of the previous blokes fluids.
There is a company working on a chewing gum and toothpaste designed to destroy specific bacteria, the evidence showing that "good" bacteria continues to thrive thus preventing the return of the "bad" bacteria (think along the lines of Thrush I guess).
They are also looking into an underarm application which also just kills the odour producing bacteria, leaving the odourless bacteria to thrive and prevent it's return.
If you were to disinfect your armpits, then you run the risk that instead of there being bacterial balance, or a majority of odourless bacteria, you could very well cultivate a majority of odour producing bacteria, thus require more applications of disinfectant (antiperspirant/deoderant) in order to wipe out the bacteria. This of course would start the cycle again, and if the odour producing bacteria got a foothold, they would again become the majority, thus producing more smell.
homealone
10-09-2006, 23:59
There is a company working on a chewing gum and toothpaste designed to destroy specific bacteria, the evidence showing that "good" bacteria continues to thrive thus preventing the return of the "bad" bacteria (think along the lines of Thrush I guess).
They are also looking into an underarm application which also just kills the odour producing bacteria, leaving the odourless bacteria to thrive and prevent it's return.
If you were to disinfect your armpits, then you run the risk that instead of there being bacterial balance, or a majority of odourless bacteria, you could very well cultivate a majority of odour producing bacteria, thus require more applications of disinfectant (antiperspirant/deoderant) in order to wipe out the bacteria. This of course would start the cycle again, and if the odour producing bacteria got a foothold, they would again become the majority, thus producing more smell.
we shouldn't mess too much, is my opinion, you try being trapped in a lift with an advert for lynx, brut, or whatever, I apologise to anyone who caught me during the 'old spice' period ;)
we shouldn't mess too much, is my opinion, you try being trapped in a lift with an advert for lynx, brut, or whatever, I apologise to anyone who caught me during the 'old spice' period ;)
There's more truth in that statement than you might think. My father's gf is actually allergic (physically) to some of these 'nice smells'. Basically, she resorts to using the back streets to avoid the crowds because of the perfume people use. Also, I was listening to a radio show a while back where it was said people in Canada were moving against 'offensive perfume use'. One woman living in Canada mentioned her dentist had posters up saying that people with overbearing perfume/deodorant would not be treated. Apparently, this was not a one-off. The woman on the radio show said public opinion in Canada is moving towards taking action against excessive perfume use.
homealone
11-09-2006, 00:26
There's more truth in that statement than you might think. My father's gf is actually allergic (physically) to some of these 'nice smells'. Basically, she resorts to using the back streets to avoid the crowds because of the perfume people use. Also, I was listening to a radio show a while back where it was said people in Canada were moving against 'offensive perfume use'. One woman living in Canada mentioned her dentist had posters up saying that people with overbearing perfume/deodorant would not be treated. Apparently, this was not a one-off. The woman on the radio show said public opinion in Canada is moving towards taking action against excessive perfume use.
I isn't surprising when, as I'm sure you know, a lot of perfumes are based on animal extracts like musk and civet, so the issue of allergies is not trivial :)
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