Deodorants for man-cubs

[Pua'i Mana'o]

It is time for the Boy to wear something. We went to Long's and tried opening a few lids, but he ended up getting too embarrassed by the situation and just wanted to leave, asking me to buy him something later. If I am not mistaken, it was in a copy of esquire magazine that mentioned Tom's of Maine deo in one of their columns on tips, but I didn't find that brand offered. Mr Mana'o is no help.

Any tips? He doesn't just want to use unscented stuff (or "the rock"). Mamma is supposed to bring him home something fab that makes him smell "not stupid". Advice?

[Glen Miyashiro]

Safeway carries Tom's of Maine, last time I looked. But it's probably "stupid". :rolleyes:

Going by the ads aimed at the Boy's age, if you get him Axe he definitely will smell "not stupid". In fact, if the ads tell the truth, you'll have to pry the girls off him with a crowbar. :D

[lavagal]

Pua'i:
The yellow bar/stick by Arm&Hammer, Ultra Max antiperspirant/deoderant, might be just what he needs. I was watching Queer Eye... and they recommended it for the clueless hetero they were rehabbing. I've been using it ever since. I find it doesn't stain clothing as readily as Suave or Secret (I'm sure that's NOT an option!).

Good luck, Mamabear.

[Lei K]

My oldest son likes Speed Stick in the Irish Spring scent. It works pretty well in my opinion. Even after a long day at school (in our disgusting 110 F weather during summer) he smells like he just stepped outa the shower.

Axe is nice but did not work well with my son's sensitive skin, he broke out in a rash.

[Leo Lakio]

Axe is nice but did not work well with my son's sensitive skin, he broke out in a rash.Tom's of Maine is good for those who are sensitive to the alcohol content of deodorants. The "woodspice" scent isn't overwhelming.

[Kittrick]

I'm going to ween my son onto old spice, because I think it's the best smelling deodorants. If you combine whatever deodorant you finally settle on with a daily dose of Body Mints, you won't have a smelly boy.

[zztype]

Let boy-san pick his own. We went store. He smelled a bunch. I tried to steer him to less-tantaran choices. He settled "Ultra Clear Degree."

Now if I could only convince him that he really, really needs to USE it. :eek:

[U'ilani]

Yeah, I would agree he should get to choose the smell he's going to be wearing all day long, but I would recommend you let him get a whiff of Axe. It seems to be one of the more popular ones.

[dick]

Steer clear of "Old Spice." Sorry, but that smells like an old dude... which is fine and good if you are "an old dude." Frankly, only old dudes should wear it. If you're under 50 and have it on, it's fraud as far as I'm concerned.

I agree with other posters, let him sniff it out himself. And don't be embarrassed... I still stand there at Longs and sniff... openly...

[acousticlady]

I don't know.......maybe I was a rotten mother. When it came time for my son to use deoderant, I showed him where we kept the Sauve in the cabinet - end of discussion. I'll admit, he never questioned it. If he wanted a "scent" he'd go for aftershave - which he wasn't into anyway.

[Kittrick]

Steer clear of "Old Spice." Sorry, but that smells like an old dude... which is fine and good if you are "an old dude." Frankly, only old dudes should wear it. If you're under 50 and have it on, it's fraud as far as I'm concerned.

I agree with other posters, let him sniff it out himself. And don't be embarrassed... I still stand there at Longs and sniff... openly...

Kittrick is checking himself for old dude. Nope, not old dude and wear old spice proudly. Both the body wash and the deo are pretty awesome. I think what you were smelling was old dude trying to be young dude + a little decay or maybe that was some imported cheese mixed in. Probably a little of all the above.

What people don't tell you about old spice is that it has a half life that covers up a lot of smells for longer, so I'd imagine a lot of folks who use it as a fountain of youth...much like a smelly combover.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

interesting evening we had.

Took the Boy and Younger Daughter (she is older than Boy) to the store. Boy and I go into deo aisle and he starts smelling stuff. We grabbed two deos --Tom's of Maine (woodspice) and Old Spice (red stick).

Daughter decides she likes OS and will keep it for herself. Boy then decided that he wanted the TOM anyway. Last night after his shower, Boy swiped each pit like he was applying car wax. I am trying not to laugh hysterically as I recall this.

Ah. :D

[Pomai]

Will someone please correct the spelling in the title of this thread. It's Deodorant.

Pua, I'm surprised you didn't already have your own answer for this question.

Get what's on SALE. Cheaper the better. Especially if he's just a "man-cub". Heck, I've used generic deodorants from the 99 cent store that had a great fragrance, and were just as effective as the name-brand stuff from Long's.

One of the sticking questions (no pun intended) to this is, what TYPE of deodorant to buy?

Roll-on?
Spray?
Stick?

Don't matter to me. I just get what's on SALE. lol

I do tend to go for those that have "sport" on it, as I assimilate that with being for someone who is active, like I am.

One brand I dislike the scent of is BRUT. Bleh.

Looking at the one I'm currently using, the active ingredient is Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex. (17.8%) Antiperspirant. Isn't that the same stuff they put in frozen TV dinners? lol

[Vanguard]

Nature's Gate (http://www.natures-gate.com) is a good brand. Anything aluminum-free. I hope you can find that brand at a mainstream store.

[cynsaligia]

old spice deodorants come in more than just the original old spice scent. none of them smell old man-y to me. many smell better than axe, which to me, smells like teenaged boy trying too hard to smell sexy.

don't forget the diff b/w deodorants (fights odor with some sort of antiseptic agent) and antiperspirants (usu. have some kind of aluminum compound thing that plugs the sweat pores. most anti-ps have deodorant in them, adding to the confusion). sweat, in and of itself, IIRC, does not have smell, but sweat in pits + bacteria in pits (and the hairier you are in the pits, the more surface area for bacteria to hang out) = stinky. which is why bathing is so important.

some folks have rash reactions to the aluminum compounds used in anti-p, like eric, who, if he uses anything at all, uses the rock. the rock, made of salt, creates an environment unfriendly to bacteria. it doesn't help with wetness.

on the other hand, some people have rash reactions to the rock, like me. i can mostly get away with a regular deodorant or nothing at all. however, certain days of the month *ahem* i feel like i HAVE to use lady mitchum, which has the same level of aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly (20%) as secret clinical strength (and it's had that same level for at least ten years back plus it's cheaper than secret clinical strength). the nice thing about lady mitchum is that it's a solid gel that does not stain black clothing, even if you put your clothes on right away. however, you do have to make sure your pits are absolutely dry before you glide it on, otherwise it doesn't "stick."

[sinjin]

My stepson favors that Axe stuff as do many of his peers. It's quite smelly though. My 4yr old likes to use the shower gel of the same brand. Probably too much for him but it does allow me to bathe him less often.:D

[timkona]

Old Spice here. The chalky stuff. 40 yo "not old dude". Make sure you get the "anti-persperant/deodorant" not just the plain deodorant. Crucial difference in the smell of mancub at the end of day.

[Kittrick]

LOL, I'm just still chuckling over the use and re-use of the term "man-cub". I think it's a hillarious term!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

help me convince the Boy that he needs to use it. Daily. Husband says we should make a deodorant lei and put it around his neck, or find some auto air freshener and attach it to his belt.

[Leo Lakio]

help me convince the Boy that he needs to use it. Daily. Find a girl he likes - get her to tell him.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

:::hissss

the Boy is 11 yrs old. NOT an option!

</lioness claws>

[lavagal]

You could take some of his t shirts from the hamper, dust them with cumin, and then casually wave them under his nose on your way to the laundry room and say THIS IS WHY YOU NEED DEODERANT!

Or the next time he asks what's for dinner, say why not just go to the Taco Pit? And he'll say where's that. And you'll say, under your arms!hahahaha. well, laughing is optional.

Some of these things are so hard to do. humor helps.

[Kittrick]

You could take some of his t shirts from the hamper, dust them with cumin, and then casually wave them under his nose on your way to the laundry room and say THIS IS WHY YOU NEED DEODERANT!

Or the next time he asks what's for dinner, say why not just go to the Taco Pit? And he'll say where's that. And you'll say, under your arms!hahahaha. well, laughing is optional.

Some of these things are so hard to do. humor helps.


No, not cumin because we need that for the curry...you know what would be absolutely nasty would be durian...there are like some really good quotes if you've never smelled it which I can't quote here, but here's a link to good quotes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian). You only need one drop! If he thought he'd smell like durian, he'd be on that deodorant immediately!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I think I am going to buy one of those passport lei, shove the deoderant inside (or buy a car freshener) and require he wear it, use it, become one with it.

[Leo Lakio]

:::hissss

the Boy is 11 yrs old. NOT an option!

</lioness claws>
If he's got smelly pits, he's already noticing potential future partners.

Retract the claws, unless you know a way (and have an unnatural desire) to defeat human biological processes.

Okay, let's review --- he went to the store with you once to sample some smells, so he seems to KNOW that it's time he started using something. If he's really going to leave the choice of scent up to you, make sure he knows that you might not pick the best thing for his tastes. So you gotta either (a) get more information out of him so you'll know what he considers "stupid"-scented, and/or (b) get him to ask friends what brands they use; "cool" peers will have preferences --- or will THAT be too embarassing for him to do?

Or just buy him something you think is best (or whatever is on sale), toss it to him and tell him to stop being so stinky. And if he doesn't like the scent, tell him he needs to go pick something out that he DOES like, and you'll go get that for him. I know you love the boy, but if you are this stressed over deodorant choices for an 11-year-old...well, you're gonna have some really rough patches ahead of you. ;)

[sinjin]

What are you feeding that keiki?:D

Has he got hairy pits at 11?

[kiwidiva]

the Boy is 11 yrs old.

Whoah! I've been reading this thread with interest thinking I'm going to be in your shoes in a few years - but my boy is TEN (11 this year) so it might be just a matter of months... GREAT... NOT!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

You guys are funny. The Boy is in a growth spurt; he sleeps really hard, he needs new shoes every few months, he is gangly and clumsy and the men in my family tower way past 6ft, while the men in my husband's are built like Vili. Par for the course, I'd say. He has to develop the habit of wanting to wear it. The sisters (very brutal gals) have made their threats known should he have the gumption to buy Axe. My daughters call it Ase.

Anyway (and this is a shout-out to Cyn and Lei Liko), let's take a detour:

haute deodorant.

Talk to me.

Men have many more options than women in this form of fragrances. It is a smart way to kill two birds with one stone (perfume, underarm needs) without being extra spendy, or having scent clash (horrors). I really like CashmereMist in anti-perspirant, but of course, I am a sugary chick, so that scent works for me. Tried the TommyGirl and the ODLR scents but those didn't work well for my chemistry.

[cynsaligia]

Anyway (and this is a shout-out to Cyn and Lei Liko), let's take a detour:

haute deodorant.

Talk to me.

Men have many more options than women in this form of fragrances. It is a smart way to kill two birds with one stone (perfume, underarm needs) without being extra spendy, or having scent clash (horrors). I really like CashmereMist in anti-perspirant, but of course, I am a sugary chick, so that scent works for me. Tried the TommyGirl and the ODLR scents but those didn't work well for my chemistry.

i don't think i'll be of much assistance.

i've never tried a "haute deodorant." i'm the kinda girl who has ten perfumes and just as many body sprays from bath & body works and victoria's secret. no, i don't wear more than one on the same day unless i wear one for the day and another one for the evening, after the daytime one has faded.

first of all, eric would have a conniption fit if i had a deodorant that corresponded to each of my body sprays/perfumes. he's already had to deal with my overabundance of make-up products.

secondly, how much do those designer deodorants emit their perfumey goodness anyway? do women's pits actually generate nearly as much heat as pulse points? i ask because my deodorant/anti-p never matches, scent-wise, with my body spray/perfume, and since i can't smell my deo/anti-p in my pit five minutes after i put it on, but i can smell my body spray/perfume on my wrist, i just figured the scent wasn't strong enough.

see? i said i wouldn't be helpful. :o

[Pua'i Mana'o]

i don't think i'll be of much assistance.

i've never tried a "haute deodorant." i'm the kinda girl who has ten perfumes and just as many body sprays from bath & body works and victoria's secret. no, i don't wear more than one on the same day unless i wear one for the day and another one for the evening, after the daytime one has faded.

first of all, eric would have a conniption fit if i had a deodorant that corresponded to each of my body sprays/perfumes. he's already had to deal with my overabundance of make-up products.

secondly, how much do those designer deodorants emit their perfumey goodness anyway? do women's pits actually generate nearly as much heat as pulse points? i ask because my deodorant/anti-p never matches, scent-wise, with my body spray/perfume, and since i can't smell my deo/anti-p in my pit five minutes after i put it on, but i can smell my body spray/perfume on my wrist, i just figured the scent wasn't strong enough.

see? i said i wouldn't be helpful. :o

heh. My husband prefers his woman to smell only of ivory soap and he hates strong scents. I got hooked on the idea of using haute anti-ps over 10 years ago when I bought my first bottle of CM perfume and saw that they offered it in a solid anti-p stick. So now I go through that stick about every six weeks, and my poor bottle of CM perfume sits hardly ever misted (I will blast it in my closet every once in a while--I just love that scent!)

Same thing with my husband--he uses Tommy Bahama underarm stick. It smells like that cologne, but it doesn't offend when giving/receiving a honi (why guys gotta splash stuff on their face!?!?) To that last point, hubby says its warfare and what we get for giving them a bit of blush and face powder when we honi them.

Anyhow, that is why I wrote this thread; fancy underarms are par for the course with hubby and I, because that's the only scent we apply. The girls buy their own anti-ps (nuclear baby powder scents are banned in the house) and I was completely lost regarding the man-cub.

Back to haute deos, I do believe that underarms emit more heat than pulse points, and for some reason, the formulas of those anti-ps seem considerably more effective/last longer than that occasional tub of Degree I find myself buying in the lobby of a hotel when I stupidly forget certain toiletries.

[Peshkwe]

Ask him if dad smells 'stupid'. If he says he likes the way the old wolf smells buy the pup his own stick of the same. If he hates that scent ask him why as in "Is it too sweet? ...too green?...too musky?" etc.

At least he's familiar with the way dad smells and it's a starting point for finding his own scent.

[sinjin]

The sisters (very brutal gals) have made their threats known should he have the gumption to buy Axe. My daughters call it Ase.Every time my stepson exits the bathroom post shower we say, "it smells like @ss in here".:eek:

[localmoco]

My boy is the same age as yours and uses Axe because it's "cool" and "all the other kids do". Oh well, at least in this case peer pressure keeps him from being so pilau and he actually wants to use it. But when we bought the first can, his little sister found it and sprayed the entire contents around the bathroom. Talk about pilau!

[craigwatanabe]

My 21 and 23-year old boys use those body washes. I tell them they smell like girls and if they want to act like em I'll buy them panties to reflect that attitude I smell from them.

One of them is back on Irish Spring, you know...Manly, but I like it tooooo :rolleyes:

Yeah I know I'm harsh on my boys, but then I'm no panty-assed daddy either. I'm a father and I raised my boys to smell like men when they grew up, and their women know that too.

Geez sometimes I'm such an arrogant f*ck. :rolleyes: