Tell him deodorant doesn’t block sweat but anti-perspirant does. There’s a big difference.
Deodorant kills/lessens the odour causing bacteria, so if he’s worried about pheromones or some junk he read/heard online he’ll be fine with deodorant.
Also maybe mention worrying about whether things are manly or not is not particularly manly, but I too went through a phase of trying to figure out what that meant for me.
Probably the most cringe was my teenage attempts to grow a moustache and beard. It did not turn out well. I got an intervention by my boss handing me a razor, escorting me to the washroom, and telling me not to start my shift until I’d shaved.
This. Deodorant just “covers” the smell. Antiperspirant helps reduce sweatin and, in turn, reducing BO.
YMMV
he’ll change his mind if a girl he likes tells him he stinks… is it the ‘because’ he offers that upsets you or the smell he gives off?
he’ll change his mind if a girl he likes tells him he stinks…
Maybe. Or maybe he’ll get incredibly offended, go into a snit, and start posting incel-tier “Women are trying to steal our manly essenses” memes on 4chan for a few weeks.
yep, takes all kinds.
He has a girlfriend… both I’d say.
Next step down the line is friend group. If the homeys all say he smells like ass he’ll likely fall in line: The power of peer pressure. Of course if they also have fallen for whatever dudebro podcast dipshit logic kiddo has fallen for, then your next step is respected adult- Preacher/Teacher/Whatever other Male Role Model. It’s important that the respected adult be male since kiddo thinks its a manliness thing.
You could also have the conversation of what kiddo thinks manliness actually entails and who embodies it, because that will likely also tell you a lot of things. If he’s idolizing Andrew Tate, for example, then hoo boy, you’re in for a time.
Well until she dumps for sucking at life… Not much to be done haha
Get him to watch the hilarious old spice commercials that were on when I was a kid. Worked for me. That shit is hilariously hyper masculine and funny as fuck.
Not sure if you’re asking for advice, but if appeals to reason doesn’t work “I’m your fucking parent and you’re going to do it or you’re grounded until you do” should work nicely.
How does he like sleeping in the back yard?
That would be pretty manly
I know I’m being pedantic but tbh all you really need is antiperspirant and some kind of perfume/regular laundering. Most deodorant, as in, the white sticks you rub under your armpits, is pretty awful
That depends on many factors. My Korean ex-boyfriend could get away with deodorant as he didn’t really ever stink. I however need antiperspirant.
Antiperspirant is the awful stuff. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that the aluminum blocks the sweat, so it can’t get out like normal, so if you forget to put it on after using it for even a short time, you smell way worse than you would otherwise. What I find a shame is that we’ve been marketed and convinced that humans should not smell like humans. Yet, here we are, body shaming people because of something natural.
Doderant is just a perfume. Antiperspirant + deodorant has aluminum that is bad for you. I use the latter because I prefer the effect while knowing it’s not good for me, but my best friend uses just deodorant for the same reason.
“Aluminium is bad for you” has never been proven true for the general public and the association with breast cancer has been disproven for years.
On “deodorant is just perfume”, I should’ve been more descriptive. I mean [spray, liquid] perfume is better than white stick deodorant, which clumps together, forms a wax on your skin (increases perspiration) and stains clothes. And is expensive for the quality of fragrance you get.
I use CertainDri unscented antiperspirant under my arms and a Green Irish Twead knockoff every day and sweat less and smell better than anything that stick deodorant could offer.
I’m not looking to elevate my smell, just nullify the bad stuff, but there is the added benefit of a hint of goodness. I do put on cologne for formal events though.
For the aluminum stuff, I am regurgitating something I believed to be true, but I should read more into it because it appears I may be incorrect, so apologies there if I’m in fact wrong.
I personally haven’t noticed the clumping or the waxy coating you mentioned, but I can see how others may run into that based on different brands I’ve tried. I’ve used the same stuff for years now, but I don’t know what it is, Degree Sport maybe? I don’t like gel sticks and I hate the actual gel ones. I’d sooner roll the dice that I don’t stink by EoD than use the gel.
Teenagers are making that tough transition into adulthood. Unless he absolutely reeks I say let em figure things out. They’re exploring new ideas, and if they’re to be an adult they should be able to make their own decisions (within reason).
What exactly is not manly about deodorant?
Fellas, is it gay to smell fresh?
Is being gay not masculine?
You can def be gay and masculine. I was just using a common meme format that mocks toxic masculinity.
It’s not masculine to like things women like. /s
Yeah it is not. I love smelling nice.
Nah I know it better than you, you don’t actually like smelling nice you’re just gay!
Whats up with you guys? I’d rather have a fresh out of the gym teenager next to me in the bus then an Justus who smells like an axe factory.
How normal body odor is a tabu in some cultures and where deo ads which tell you its bothersome if you smell normal is still a thing in 2025 really grinds my gears
Ah, yes, another person who goes through life smelling like ass and foisting their stench on the rest of us.
Deodorant isn’t Axe, but nice strawman.
Are you aware, that there is a difference between fresh sweat with clean clothes on and fresh sweat „warming up“ old sweat in clothes you wore the whole day? Also being smelly depends a lot on the climate you live in, how thoroughly you dry your clothes, what fabrics you are wearing, how many layers you‘re wearing, how often you wash yourself and change your chlothes.
It’s (as always) not that simple.
Bad body odour is a sign of bad hygiene. Bad hygiene leads to worse health.
And you cover up bad odour with deodrant or be hygiene yourself. Idk most people in my culture don’t do deodrant unless going to a marriage function or so
Well I mean it’s a combination of issues… IE yes drown yourself in overwhelming strong scents to attempt to cover up your stink (or simply because on it’s own you think it’s attractive, and the commercials said putting it on will send girls into attack mode).
Subtle deodorant is certainly better than natural BO (especially depending on hygine, and just some general body types etc…
You’re wrong on this one.
What are your thoughts on non-scented antiperspirants?
It is bothersome when people smell.
You do know there are many odorless deodorants. Deodorant literally means it removes the smell.
That’s not what taboo means.
It’s not taboo, it’s unpleasant to smell. (Ignoring that it’s gross).
where deo ads which tell you its bothersome if you smell normal is still a thing in 2025
I live in an ad-free bubble where I’m able to block 98% of all ads on my devices, I haven’t seen a deodorant ad in many years.
I don’t need an ad to tell me BO stinks and it sucks smelling it when you work in an office
I’m sure you’ll say/think something like “Nobody around me tells me I stink though, they’re fine with it because they know it’s natural” no they’re not fine with it, they just don’t want to deal with the awkward situation of telling a (presumed) adult to put on some damn deodorant.
Put on deodorant
Does he think you’re supposed to apply it using another man’s penis?
The label clearly states to apply to underarms only.
So I stick his dick in my underarms?
unfortunately, antiperspirant makes for terrible lube.
Well, the deodorant sticks look a little phallic
Don’t threaten us with a good time
Wait, so I can put on deodorant when my brothers at work? This is a game changer.
That would not make it less manly. Male homosexuality might be the most masculine thing in existence.
source: been in some gay relationships and they are surprisingly devoid of femininity
So, bitchiness isn’t femininity?
jk
Correct, I know far more many bitches who were/are cis-men.
I’m going to have to argue grammar here.
Cismen are ‘cunts’
Found the Spartan warrior.
TIL it’s manly to smell like an onion that just worked out
TIL onions work out.
Does axe still have those slutty commercials? Show him a bunch of those. Until he’s convinced women will find him irresistible for wearing it. Sure it’s not ideal but it’s better than smelling like BO.
Tell your son there is nothing less manly than doing what someone else tells you is or isn’t manly.
Get him a few Louis L’Amore books.
I’m genuinely curious what that means. What does it mean to “be manly”? Is it bad to not “be manly”? Along a similar vein, what is the opposite of “being manly”? Who defined the qualities that make a person “manly” (and what authority do they have on the subject)?
