Pet Peeve - Age-ism / Scent-ism

It's generalizing. I will say that the tube of Tabac cream I got for Christmas actually reminds me of my great aunt Shirley, who was a 70-something lifelong smoker. That puts me in the "smells like an old lady" category, not old man. But to me, it smells like a specific old lady, not all old ladies in general. Not saying it's particularly good or bad, that's just what it smells like to me. No offense meant to the senior gals out there.

I like Tabac, but it has taken me some time to sort through the strong scent. It is a keeper and I love the AS balm. I don't know where the reviewer came up with that assessment, but is not mine.

It's generalizing.  I will say that the tube of Tabac cream I got for Christmas actually reminds me of my great aunt Shirley, who was a 70-something lifelong smoker.  That puts me in the "smells like an old lady" category, not old man.  But to me, it smells like a specific old lady, not all old ladies in general.  Not saying it's particularly good or bad, that's just what it smells like to me.  No offense meant to the senior gals out there.

Head Shaver, I think that's fair comment and kind of funny too but if you were saying that in a formal review of a product it would be unhelpful. Unless its part of your stand up routine. And that was my point, partly at least , that when you're just expressing personal opinions among friends and other members you're free to say what you like, such as Xpec smells like what I imagine cologne for a corpse would smell like (somebody did say that recently and it was hilarious) but if you're holding yourself out to be a serious reviewer of shaving products and blogging on the subject and trying to build a following you ought to do so in a coherent, thoughtful and rigorous way and be respectful of your readers.

Its interesting how scent can trigger memories that are completely subjective and personal like your great aunt - now you may have positive memories of having this old woman bending over to pinch your cheek while exhaling the rich aroma of unfiltered Marlboros in your face and simultaneously suffocating you with clouds of inexpensive perfume, but somehow I doubt it.

I'm enjoying this thread.
Mark

According to Scientific America there is such a thing as "old person smell" but I am guessing that isn't what the reviewer was getting at.  http://www.scientificamerican.com/articl...son-smell/

Personally I lean toward the traditional scents like the classic barbershop smell.  I find a lot of the newer scents too floral for my taste.  Understand this isn't a put down in anyway, I just tend to like the more traditional Bay Rum, Fine Barbershop, Shady Past, and the citrus based aftershaves.  I am with kwsher when he says "Floral, sweet, citrus, peppery, etc. are descriptors that I can form a mental picture of and may lead me to either buy or pass on a product.">  But I guess to some young kid that just bathed in Axe - those scents smell like "old men".

Thats a very interesting article and it explains a lot. Who knew?

I too am a fan of traditional scents, Bay Rum being one of my favourites. I think you get to a stage in life where you wear fragrance that you like rather than what you imagine some sweet young thing might like. I like bay rum, I like campfires, I like the woods, I like V8 engines and yes I do like the barbershop. Those things all smell comfortable to me and I like to be comfortable. Obviously I wouldn't wear an aftershave that my wife found revolting. Often.
Mark

Marko Wrote:

I too am a fan of traditional scents, Bay Rum being one of my favourites. I think you get to a stage in life where you wear fragrance that you like rather than what you imagine some sweet young thing might like. I like bay rum, I like campfires, I like the woods, I like V8 engines and yes I do like the barbershop. Those things all smell comfortable to me and I like to be comfortable. Obviously I wouldn't wear an aftershave that my wife found revolting.



26 years of marrage and at my age I wear what I like or my wife likes - not what is going to impress someone. Add gunpowder to your list and I am the same way!

Marko Wrote:

I too am a fan of traditional scents, Bay Rum being one of my favourites. I think you get to a stage in life where you wear fragrance that you like rather than what you imagine some sweet young thing might like. I like bay rum, I like campfires, I like the woods, I like V8 engines and yes I do like the barbershop. Those things all smell comfortable to me and I like to be comfortable. Obviously I wouldn't wear an aftershave that my wife found revolting.



26 years of marrage and at my age I wear what I like or my wife likes - not what is going to impress someone.  Add gunpowder to your list and I am the same way!

Forgot the gunpowder, like that one too. We're 25 years this year, you get to know who is important after a while.

You also forgot the scent of Hoppes #9. Now if I could make an aftershave and soap with that scent I'd make a fortune! At least among older folks who know guns. I once knew a lady who also wished for that scent in a perfume. Of course she was married to a shooter. No gun cleaner today smells like Hoppes. I still horde a qt. of it, and it'll last forever because I no longer use it. But I still love that fantastic scent as do most who know it.

I think one of the reasons I compete with a handgun is the scent of burnt smokeless powder, at least to a small extent. It's a good smell. That reminds me of a similar line in "Apocalypse Now". But while it was spoken for humor (and more), I really mean it because it brings back good images and times with family and friends. Yes, scent triggers memories.

Old man scents... that was the germ of the idea for my bay rum. I have eidetic imagery of "my" barber shop and the old gents sitting around, each comfortable enough with each others company not be constantly talking, and looking out for the kid. That'd be me as the kid. Anyway, the bay rum Joe slapped on my straight razor shaved neck and sideburns is burned into my memory. Old man scent. That was 50+ years ago.

You also forgot the scent of Hoppes #9. Now if I could make an aftershave and soap with that scent I'd make a fortune! At least among older folks who know guns. I once knew a lady who also wished for that scent in a perfume. Of course she was married to a shooter. No gun cleaner today smells like Hoppes. I still horde a qt. of it, and it'll last forever because I no longer use it. But I still love that fantastic scent as do most who know it.

I think one of the reasons I compete with a handgun is the scent of burnt smokeless powder, at least to a small extent. It's a good smell. That reminds me of a similar line in "Apocalypse Now". But while it was spoken for humor (and more), I really mean it because it brings back good images and times with family and friends. Yes, scent triggers memories.

Ask and you shall receive. Never tried it, but remembered reading about it.

http://phoenixartisanaccoutrements.com/p...ed-edition

http://phoenixartisanaccoutrements.com/p...ed-edition

I have both Hoppes #9 gun cleaner and the PAA Hoppes #9 soap and aftershave - I think PAA just calls it #9 but the connection to Hoppes is obvious. I like it
Mark

Ask and ye shall receive... again.

http://www.chiseledface.com/product/tall...ight-stag/