When I will smell differently

[sophie1904]

So, perhaps a slightly random question but I'm aware that men and women smell differently (not exclusively linked to shower gel / deodorants).

I've started HRT a little over a month ago and intend to remain in male mode until at least the end of the year but had a thought that I may start smelling recognisably female before then - from the more experienced members of the forum, do you remember when people started recognising your scent as female?

[Angela Drakken]

My girlfriend has stated I smell different already. 11 weeks. She started commenting on it around week 6.
Also, scents I used to wear, smell different ON me now. I don't see anyone picking up on this unless they're routinely in very close proximity to you.

[Dee Marshall]

I haven't even needed deodorant in over two years. I know for a fact that I smell differently. Why I don't stink at appropriate times is a total mystery.

[Raelynn]

It's taken me about 2 years to start changing but I've always been a sweater. Lol. I've noticed I don't sweat as much and when I do, it's less 'musky'. The BIG change is my sense of smell. I've never had a good sense of smell but since HRT, I do now! It's amazing at what makes me gag now.

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[HappyMoni]

I had a weird experience with this.  I have always been great with animals. About three months into HRT I was around a couple of dogs at different times who seemed okay with me until they sniffed me and then they backed up and started barking. Just to me! It was confusing to them is the only thing I can figure. I noticed more of a lack of male smell around 6 months. Getting off meds for 6 weeks for surgery made the smell start to return. Yuk! Oh, dogs seem to like me again now. Yea!
Moni

[Wild Flower]

I never smell like a man in my entire life, and people say I smell like a woman. I never had this issue.

[Wild Flower]

I had a weird experience with this.  I have always been great with animals. About three months into HRT I was around a couple of dogs at different times who seemed okay with me until they sniffed me and then they backed up and started barking. Just to me! It was confusing to them is the only thing I can figure. I noticed more of a lack of male smell around 6 months. Getting off meds for 6 weeks for surgery made the smell start to return. Yuk! Oh, dogs seem to like me again now. Yea!
Moni

I never heard of that before, that's interesting.

[Raelynn]

I've noticed my dog smelling sweaty, but I just wrote that off as me not giving him a bath! Interesting!

My biggest thing about smells has been repulsive odors. I can walk into a burger joint and smell bad grease and get nauseous. Walk by a trash can at a convenient store and smell every item in it. I now smell others bodies now too. And OMG, perfume. No! Just NO!

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[Raelynn]

LMAO! I wrote that and hit send and immediately smell a skunk. Thank God I grew up in the country and never really minded their smell.

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[Dee Marshall]

LMAO! I wrote that and hit send and immediately smell a skunk. Thank God I grew up in the country and never really minded their smell.

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I don't either unless it's close and fresh, then it makes my eyes water. Stale beer and burnt coffee have similar smells to skunk to me.

[Raelynn]

We had coyotes, possums, barn cats and dogs... One of them were ALWAYS stirring up a skunk or two!

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[Pisces228]

I still sweat a huge amount 7 months in but it doesn't stink anymore.  I noticed about 2 months in that I smelled different.  My roommate commented that my perfume smells different on me and I don't reek after a day outside in that the heat anymore.  Also I have noticed that men seem to smell stronger to me now.  Like kinda gamey :|

[josie76]

While waiting for HRT I took some herb / diet changes to lower my T. My wife told me I had lost that boy smell a month or so after I started. I had pretty low T to start with. I have noticed some things really smell strongly now. One of those things being when I go pee. The oder is very different and more offensive to me than urine smell was before. However it's definitely not a "manly" oder. Lol

[Angela Drakken]

I had a weird experience with this.  I have always been great with animals. About three months into HRT I was around a couple of dogs at different times who seemed okay with me until they sniffed me and then they backed up and started barking. Just to me! It was confusing to them is the only thing I can figure. I noticed more of a lack of male smell around 6 months. Getting off meds for 6 weeks for surgery made the smell start to return. Yuk! Oh, dogs seem to like me again now. Yea!
Moni

I think I know what you mean. I've always been great with animals that 'don't like men.' (Almost on a weird level.) They've always just remained super cooperative and passive with me rather than biting, scratching, hissing, or barking like they would anyone else, even pre HrT. It's even more so now. Maybe I should've been a vet lol
'She wont let you pick her up, she hates men. Don't know why.' *picks up cat, cat just purrs away.* 'Wow! she wont even let ME pick her up!'

[Dani]

Ladies,

I am a bit confused here. Are we talking about body odor or our sense of smell?

If body odor, that is determined primarily by skin bacteria and sweat. Sweat does contain small amounts of hormones. Whatever type is predominate in your blood system will produce a unique smell but it is not really offensive to most people. Skin bacteria often does produce an offensive smell and can be washed off with a good shower. I don't need to say any more about that.

When it comes to our sense of smell, we are all individuals and we smell the same things differently. One case in point is that several young ladies were asked to sniff a t-shirt worn by several young men overnight. They could all smell something in the t-shirts, but each girl only found one t-shirt offensive. That t-shirt was worn by her own brother. There were several different pairs of brothers and sisters in this study. The interesting point here is women are genetically programmed to look for a mate from a different family.

Yes, we all find some things good smelling and others not so much.

[Pisces228]

Ladies,

I am a bit confused here. Are we talking about body odor or our sense of smell?

If body odor, that is determined primarily by skin bacteria and sweat. Sweat does contain small amounts of hormones. Whatever type is predominate in your blood system will produce a unique smell but it is not really offensive to most people. Skin bacteria often does produce an offensive smell and can be washed off with a good shower. I don't need to say any more about that.

When it comes to our sense of smell, we are all individuals and we smell the same things differently. One case in point is that several young ladies were asked to sniff a t-shirt worn by several young men overnight. They could all smell something in the t-shirts, but each girl only found one t-shirt offensive. That t-shirt was worn by her own brother. There were several different pairs of brothers and sisters in this study. The interesting point here is women are genetically programmed to look for a mate from a different family.

Yes, we all find some things good smelling and others not so much.

I was talking about both.  I smell different and men smell different to me as well.  The men thing is weird, considering I have always been strong attracted to men and lived as a gay man for most of my life.  Men just don't smell very good to me anymore.  Or look as good anymore.....but that's a whole other topic hahahaha

[sophie1904]

Hey,

The original post was more about natural scent rather than body odour / sweat.

I don't know how to describe it but the best way I can think of is, when you walk past a CIS woman in the street, there's a fairly (to me) standard "female scent" - it isn't an odour as such. My question was really around, should I be concerned that when walking past people (at work, in the street etc) that I will be giving off a "typically" female scent to that person now that I'm taking hormones?

Maybe completely unrelated to hormones, just a thought that there might be a tell that I hadn't considered!

Thanks,


Sophie

[FinallyMichelle]

I had wondered the same thing. Not about my sense of smell, I have always a good sniffer and I haven't noticed a change. What I want to know is how I smell to others. Was always clean and didn't smell bad before, it was a good smell. I used to like it. Now I don't notice any smell at all. Except in the crotch area. It's gross! I love man smell and it's not that. I used to enjoy once a month being lazy on Sunday and not showering, now I will not for any reason go without showering. Even at the end of the day sometimes when I get into bed just wearing underwear and a ratty old night shirt(standard sleep wear), I smell it. Eww! I hop in the shower quick to get rid of it. If I would have thought about it at all I might have expected odor after my surgery but now?

Oh, and my cat has turned into a stalker. Follows me everywhere, licks my toes, lays on my cloths and in general being much weirder than before. He even will lay down where I was sitting if I get up. Just odd.

[VivianJane]

I think it is safe to say that we all start to smell different and it is partly because of the hormones at least.
I don't remember when it started but I did notice the genital smell changed early after starting hormone therapy.
Somewhat later I noticed a similar change under the arms.
This effect will be variable as to how much and when it happens just like all the other effects of hormones.
Consider that your levels are fluctuating for a while.
Your concern about having a 'tell' that others may pick up on, is this because you still present as a guy?
If so then I can understand that you are concerned about smelling opposite to how you present.
I wouldn't worry as I can not think of what if anything would happen to cause a problem.
It would be fascinating thing to scientifically study.
There likely is a cause and effect thing happening but what matters for you is whether or not there is any possibility of this causing you trouble.
From experience I would say this, you will eventually in some way telegraph to people, especially those close to you, that you are changing in some way. Most if not all of them will not guess what is happening.
It might be your scent but likely it will be something else since most of our stimulus is visual.