Gendered Deoderant: Marketing B.S or Body Type

[DarkWolf_7]

Switched from Dove to Dove for Men, the only main difference is men is bigger and more expensive. Might also be slightly stronger but there pretty much the same. I don't even see the difference is razors either.

I would stick with the most unscented thing you can find, because scented stuff tend to be a little strong (even not for you it is for everybody else).

[unclesean]

My sweat smells stronger since starting T (and so does urine, due to the sulfur compounds produced when the body metabolizes testosterone).

But I can still use plain baking soda or a mixture of baking soda, coconut oil, and corn starch or arrowroot powder, sometimes with a little tea tree oil added, as deodorant and it does the job just fine even when I am working out.  And it costs a lot less and lasts longer.  Look at the active ingredients in deodorant and you'll see most of it is alcohol and fragrance plus something alkaline and some other stuff for texture and preservatives.  This stuff works as well or better.   Baking soda is alkaline enough to kill stinky bacteria, and coconut oil is also antibacterial, and tea tree oil is antimicrobial and smells fresh.  The powder is just to make it a little more solid. 

All of those chemical fragrances smell nasty to me and my s.o.. 

[kk]

When I decided to start being more masculine, I swapped my lavender deodorant for some weird Old Spice "flavor" (Timber or something, because my girlfriend jokes about me being her lumberjack, and I thought why not).  The smell took some getting used to, and I worried my girl would notice and hate it, but that first night while we were spooning she accused me of smelling "like tea" and held me tighter 

[jossam]

I use Axe and I love it (I know everybody else seems to hate it though)
I tend to sweat a lot, so I feel safer with it and find that I don't smell like sweat with it. It's pretty strong. I'm pre T but my sweat odor is strong so I need to feel safe and clean. Plus, I just love its smell.
Or I just use gender neutral deodorants.

It's just marketing. Fragrances change, men's fragrances are stronger. Nothing will happen to your body though, don't worry. I also use men's shampoo because I like the fragrance, and my hair is fine!

So yes, in cases like these (deodorants, shampoos....) it's just a marketing strategy, and a matter of fragrance preference.

Gendered toothpaste? This is ridiculous! I hate this b.s. I can't believe people would buy a gendered toothpaste. I wouldn't. The reason why I buy men's shampoos and deodorants is because of fragrances. I don't like feminine fragrances, they smell too soft and sweet for my tastes. And I wouldn't want to "smell like a woman", in the sense that it'd just make me feel uncomfortable and more dysphoric. I also use men's razors to shave my armpits in the summer.

I speak from personal experience, I'm pre-everything, I've been using men's products forever and my skin and hair are fine, lol. It's just marketing nonsense.

[KarlMars]

When I started acting more masculinely, I started rejecting feminine products such as Dove brand deodorants and the like wanting to opt for more masculine brands like old spice and axe

My dad said I cant do that because like it or not men and women have different body compositions and I need to be using women's deodorant


While I understand the clear biological distinctions and what I do not possess, I still feel thats kind of BS. Seeing as its coming from my parents who have regularly asserted and upheld certain gender standards besides that which I've learned are irrelevant to hygiene and beauty standards (things like shaving or wearing bras)

I know lots of other products are redundantly gendered (like shampoos, lotion, and most ridiculously...toothpaste and yoghurt). And the reason being that its a bit of a marketing tactic for profit, that, and people want to be resolute in their gender (especially cis people) and they use a product to emphasize this. Razers are marketed to men or women and are slightly different in shape and function seeing as males tend to shave faces and females legs and body hair. Although Ive used male razers and theyve worked fairly well for feminine shaving jobs.


So overall...can I keep using my axe spray? Or will I have to resolve into using that soft light blue dove  because Im biologically female

I have found that men's deoderant works better even for women, and men's razors do too. I don't shave anything anymore though.

[Sir Real]

My body smell has definitely changed over time since starting T. And how it reacts with deodorants has changed as well. I used to like using scented deodorants but now I've had to switch to Mitchum 48h unscented gel. I hate gel but anything else has not worked well for me (it's the only 48h unscented I can find in the store here). And it has to be 48h protection, regular stuff doesn't last the whole day for some reason. I used to love an Old Spice one, and a couple others, but now they all have an "off" smell after a couple hours. Granted, before T I had virtually no identifiable BO, so I could pretty much wear whatever I liked lol. Not so much the case now xD
But as far as men's deodorants being only okay for men is nonsense. It has less to do with being labeled "for men" or "for women" and more to do with how it meshes with your own scent. Try one you like, if it wears good, you're good.

[jossam]

If one's sweat has a strong smell pre T and then gets T how strong will it become? 

[DarkWolf_7]

If one's sweat has a strong smell pre T and then gets T how strong will it become? 

My smell didn't change at all, this may be TMI but didn't smell that great before and just remained that way.

[RebeccaM]

FWIW I'm a girl, transitioned over 15 years ago, and have been using Old Spice as my stand-by deodorant. It's not like one's deodorant is going to out them as trans or have their gender called into question. I just find that the scent works in conjunction with my home-brewed 'scents' to give a nice combo and it lasts way longer than any brand of 'women's deodorant.

Also, as a nurse, I am skeptical of using Aluminum which is found in almost all anti-perspirant deodorants. Old Spice is one of the few major brands to make Aluminum free deodorant still so I reach for it!

Cheers!

Rebecca (first post on this site).
Toronto, ON
35 years old
Transitioned socially 1997
Hormones since 2002
GAS (vaginoplasty) Montreal (Brassard) 2008
FFS (forehead/nose) Buenos Aires (Rossi) April 2016

[Jacqueline]

FWIW I'm a girl, transitioned over 15 years ago, and have been using Old Spice as my stand-by deodorant. It's not like one's deodorant is going to out them as trans or have their gender called into question. I just find that the scent works in conjunction with my home-brewed 'scents' to give a nice combo and it lasts way longer than any brand of 'women's deodorant.

Also, as a nurse, I am skeptical of using Aluminum which is found in almost all anti-perspirant deodorants. Old Spice is one of the few major brands to make Aluminum free deodorant still so I reach for it!

Cheers!



Rebecca (first post on this site).
Toronto, ON
35 years old
Transitioned socially 1997
Hormones since 2002
GAS (vaginoplasty) Montreal (Brassard) 2008
FFS (forehead/nose) Buenos Aires (Rossi) April 2016

Rebecca,
Welcome and thanks for joining in. It is a great site for getting advice, support and to help others. Occasionally we have some fun too.

I wanted to post some links for you as a new poster here. It is mostly welcome info and rules. If you have not seen them already, please take a moment to read through them:

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)
Reputation rules	News posting & quoting guidelines	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy

Once again, welcome. Hope you find what you are looking for.

With warmth,

Joanna

[KaylaW]

I'm another one with great body chemistry I guess, I don't wear deodorant at all, not for anything other than the scent. Never had a problem with sweating, I don't sweat much and when I do there's no bad odor.

I do love Secret though. I'm mostly full-time guy mode cause of a very unsupportive spouse. I hate the scent of "guy" products, they smell "peppery" to me. Ugh!

[KarlMars]

FWIW I'm a girl, transitioned over 15 years ago, and have been using Old Spice as my stand-by deodorant. It's not like one's deodorant is going to out them as trans or have their gender called into question. I just find that the scent works in conjunction with my home-brewed 'scents' to give a nice combo and it lasts way longer than any brand of 'women's deodorant.

Also, as a nurse, I am skeptical of using Aluminum which is found in almost all anti-perspirant deodorants. Old Spice is one of the few major brands to make Aluminum free deodorant still so I reach for it!

Cheers!

Rebecca (first post on this site).
Toronto, ON
35 years old
Transitioned socially 1997
Hormones since 2002
GAS (vaginoplasty) Montreal (Brassard) 2008
FFS (forehead/nose) Buenos Aires (Rossi) April 2016

So what's wrong with aluminium? What effect does it have on people?

[suzifrommd]

So what's wrong with aluminium? What effect does it have on people?

There's a theory that it is tied to Alzheimer's disease, since aluminum is found in the neural plaques present in Alzheimer's patients. This is purely conjectural. There is no science linking the aluminum in deodorant with Alzheimer's, but the question exists.

[RebeccaM]

There's a theory that it is tied to Alzheimer's disease, since aluminum is found in the neural plaques present in Alzheimer's patients. This is purely conjectural. There is no science linking the aluminum in deodorant with Alzheimer's, but the question exists.

Yes, there hasn't been conclusive research linking Aluminum in "anti-persperants" to AD however given the choice between being a little bit extra sweaty and the unknown (perhaps potentially non-existant) but very much a potential chance of contributing to the development of AD, I'll choose sweat anytime. I'm a registered nurse and the farthest thing from a woo-woo internet conspiracy propagandist but in this case, to me, it feels like a no-brainer. I would encourage everyone to weigh what is most important to them and make an informed choice but its good info to have, IMHO.

There are a number of products for "women" and "men" that advertise now as "aluminum free" but even if you don't choose those, most "deodorants" rather than "anti-perspirants" will not have aluminum in them. :-)

Bex

---------
Rebecca
Toronto, ON
35 years old
Transitioned socially 1997
Hormones since 2002
Orchiectomy - Toronto (Klotz) 2005
GAS (vaginoplasty) - Montreal (Brassard) 2008
FFS (forehead/nose) - Buenos Aires (Rossi) April 20, 2016!!!

[cindianna_jones]

I think that Dial deodorant soap smells very masculine, especially right after a shower. It's supposed to be a gender neutral product.

[unclesean]

Artificial fragrance nauseates me whether it's "masculine" or "feminine".  How about just smelling clean?

Plain old coconut oil is antibacterial.  Mix some baking soda and tea tree oil in it for extra antibacterial effect. For women, add some other essential oils if desired.  DONE.  Cheap, nontoxic, and works better than anything you can buy in a store.  Feels better on your skin, too. 

[KyleEdric]

I've been using Men's deodorant for months now, and I've taken a liking to Old Spice. The thing about the men's deodorant is that the scent is damn near impossible to scrub off in the shower.

And yeah, no. Using a men's deodorant on a female body is not detrimental to your health in any way. That's just silly.

[AnxietyDisord3r]

I think that Dial deodorant soap smells very masculine, especially right after a shower. It's supposed to be a gender neutral product.

I think African Black Soap smells much better than nasty, soapy Dial, and isn't so harsh on the skin. You can get it at Walgreens now, no need to brave clouds of patchouli to buy it.

I don't associate Dial with any gender, just with horrid 50's era institutional bathrooms. They reek of Dial even if they don't, you know?

[Kylo]

I've been using Men's deodorant for months now, and I've taken a liking to Old Spice. The thing about the men's deodorant is that the scent is damn near impossible to scrub off in the shower.

That's the reason I can't really use guy's soaps and deodorants even though I want to. The smell sticks around and is so strong. I must be sensitive to smells because anything potent like that and I'll have a headache from it before long. It's a shame, there are some men's stuff I really like but I can only stand it a short while.

[mac1]

Men's deodorant is usually cheaper anyway


     Hugs,
- Katie
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Could that be because women will willingly pay more if they think it is specifically for women?