Our sense of smell is an amazing thing. It can evoke memories, grab our attention – even make us hungry!
It’s also one of the biggest drawcards when it comes to the opposite sex. It’s the stamp that stays on a guy’s brain when he meets a girl, it’s the thing he remembers most about her when she’s left the room (okay, maybe the second thing…) and it’s the element that triggers his memory when he smells her perfume.
And if perfumes are so important when it comes to staying on a guy’s brain, it pays to know which scents do the job, right? The answer to that is ‘yes’, which is why I took to asking some of beautyheaven’s leading men (as in, some of the husbands and boyfriends of the bh ladies) to discover what they like (and don’t like) in a fragrance – and let me tell you, I was a little surprised with the results.
So if you’re guilty of a mini fragrance shower in the morning, then you may not want to read on… (oh, and please excuse the predictably boy-like responses.)
What the boys said.
Ben – “NO MUSK! It doesn’t work on anyone! I like girls who wear perfumes that are sweet or sweet with a little floral mixed in and nothing too heavy.”
Nathan – “I love a soft perfume. I prefer a musky scent on a woman, or even a sweet and floral fragrance. A particular perfume I like on a girl is Christian Dior Hypnotic.”
Joel – “I like anything subtle, and definitely not those floral, heavy scents.”
James – “I don’t know much about scents, all I know is my girlfriend smells stinky after running.” (Erm… said girlfriend will remain nameless!)
Jason – “Nothing too floral. I like something sweet, and closer to subtle than strong.”
Jamie – “I really like subtle smells and nothing too pungent. Sweet fragrances are also good!”
Dan – “I like light/subtle scents with a sexy smell. Something that makes you really want the girl then and there. It shouldn’t be too strong and heavy – that’s a big turn off.”
Liam – “I hate any kind of floral scent because it reminds me of my mum (and that’s definitely not what I want – at all), but I love anything that smells edible – so fruity or chocolate-smelling fragrances do the most for me.”
Fun fact: Guys loving yummy scents? This makes sense ladies! A Cosmopolitan survey conducted confirmed Liam’s point, reporting that, “yummy scents got the most votes among the guys we polled. The reason, says Dr. Hirsch (that’s Alan Hirsch, MD, director of Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation), is that these aromas connect to deep emotional cravings.” Dr Hirsch goes on to state that, “sweet and tasty scents are familiar. Smelling them reminds guys of simple childhood days, so they feel secure enough to let their attraction and affection show.” Want to give the theory a go? Why not try Fantasy by Britney Spears? This scent contains notes of cupcakes, white chocolate and creamy musk!
The verdict? Well, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag here. But basically, most of the guys questioned prefer sweet scents to floral fragrances. All boys agree that a girl’s perfume shouldn’t be too strong – the softer the better. Oh, and if you smell scrumptious, they’ll probably decide that you definitely are!
What does your guy like in a fragrance?
Which kind of fragrances do you most love to wear?
