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 think its just marketing.
11 Men's Grooming Products That Secretly Work Wonders For Women
http://www.thegloss.com/2014/06/04/beauty/best-mens-grooming-products-for-women/
Try searching google using this, as I got heaps of hits
female using male deodorant
Quote from: WolfNightV4X1 on February 25, 2016, 02:32:25 AM
can I keep using my axe spray?
No. Axe smells terrible :P
In all seriousness though, I think it's mostly just marketing schemes to gain more profits. Don't worry too much about what gender a product says it is. It usually comes down to scent or color differences. Just get what looks or smells right to you.
Personally, I do have one reason I stay away from men's deodorant. Men's deodorant usually comes in a clear solid or gel form, both of which leave a nasty rash on my skin. I stick to powder deodorants, which is usually in the women's section, but not always.
Please don't use axe.
Also, deodorant marketed to men and women is a sham, they are essentially the same product. It just depends on whether you want to smell like a human, an axe, or a bunch of flowers.
Hugs,
- Katie
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Eevee on February 25, 2016, 02:59:54 AM
No. Axe smells terrible :P
In all seriousness though, I think it's mostly just marketing schemes to gain more profits. Don't worry too much about what gender a product says it is. It usually comes down to scent or color differences. Just get what looks or smells right to you.
Personally, I do have one reason I stay away from men's deodorant. Men's deodorant usually comes in a clear solid or gel form, both of which leave a nasty rash on my skin. I stick to powder deodorants, which is usually in the women's section, but not always.
Haha, touche I guess x3 I honestly have axe right now because its the first kind I could grab from home before moving out. Id probably branch out to more efficient brands.
Admittedly since men and women's deodorants seem to be the same anyways I guess that means I shouldnt care about which ones I use. But alas, there is very little I can control about my gender so as silly as it is being able to align myself with male clothing and products generally fits my well-being better. Especially seeing how relieving it is to ditch roles I'd been forced to live all my life and being told the lies I was
Quote from: WolfNightV4X1 on February 25, 2016, 03:32:21 AM
Haha, touche I guess x3 I honestly have axe right now because its the first kind I could grab from home before moving out. Id probably branch out to more efficient brands.
Admittedly since men and women's deodorants seem to be the same anyways I guess that means I shouldnt care about which ones I use. But alas, there is very little I can control about my gender so as silly as it is being able to align myself with male clothing and products generally fits my well-being better. Especially seeing how relieving it is to ditch roles I'd been forced to live all my life and being told the lies I was
Men's deodorant is usually cheaper anyway
Hugs,
- Katie
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hello everyone, we have discussed the deodorant issue on this forum before. But for those readers just tuning in, here's the recap on using such products. I don't use any! Two months after starting HRT all body odor ceased and has not returned. Its a true mystery. I can work long long stressful days without a hint of odor. My CIS friends can't believe it either.
A little bit of a shame since I like the smell of original scent Secret. Still get pretty sweaty and I do get that not so fresh feeling down there. But in my case HRT has made the use of deodorant unnecessary. YSMV (your scent may vary)
Thank you,
Anne
I'm in the same boat, OCAnne. When I was still using deodorant I used unscented. The smell of men's deodorant disturbs me.
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Men supposedly sweat more so the deodorants/anti perspirants do seem to be stronger. I compared the ones I used to use (female) with the ones I use now. There's a few that are non-gendered as well that are either weak or strong.
The other thing would be perfumey smells in a deodorant would be noticeable on a guy. Don't think I can use those rose soaps and scent some relative got me any more, as I guess I'm really not supposed to smell of roses out there. Honestly anything strong smelling gets on my nerves anyway so I just go for functionality with deodorant antiperspirants.
Quote from: WolfNightV4X1 on February 25, 2016, 02:32:25 AMMy 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
.... :P
What does your dad think happens when you wear Axe? That the smell of you is going to confuse everyone nearby? "Kind of BS" is, in my opinion, a very friendly and mild description of his opinion about this.
Yes, scents interact with your natural scent. But in the end scents are just scents and it´s human beings who put a little stamp on it: "for women", "for men", then decorate it with some crap to make it look allegedly really male or female.
So the question is not whether you need scent that has a gender label on it, but one that matches your own scent and you really like.
I believe it is only a fragrance difference too. I went from things like Mennan years ago to Secret and the like. I have read that a secret to men's fragrances is that they contain vanilla. Useless trvia but interesting.
Ok personally I don't use regular deodorant. I use crystal rock deodorant. And the packaging is different between men and women and its the exact same product for both genders. The men's one is bigger cause I guess men have larger hands... it really is all marketing.
My dad says the only deodorant that works for him is secret. And a lot of cis guys have said the same thing.
I use mens razors cause I get a closer shave. My mother always bought only men's razors for the family because regulated longer.
My dad was a chemist and made lotions and all kinds of products. The products are all the same base just different fragrances. We had this discussion the other day. He also mentioned that the aluminum that is used in deodorant is toxic to the lungs while in production and the silica zinc in it is also bad for you. That is why I switched to Crystal rock deodorant. It's approved by the cancer association. It has no fragrance and you run it under your arms right after a shower while they are still wet from your shower. It also lasts about a year since its a rock. Amazon sells it at 3 packs for about $11.
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As a male, I have gone through many deodorant products unable to control my odor by end of day. Since switching to my wifes deodorant two months ago, my wife noted a couple of times my odor issue has disappeared. I am pre HRT but have had out of whack hormone levels for years... low testosterone, high prolactin levels
Pure marketing. In comparing my girlfriend's to mine just now, they have the same active ingredient. Hers is just in a higher percentage (3% higher). They still have the same function, just a different smell. It really just comes down to the scent.
Also, ditch the Axe :)
Only the scent is different.
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Actually, since men tend to sweat more, men's deodorants tend to be stronger/have stronger scents. I can't use women's deodorant because it just wears off, but when I use my right guard (intended for men) I can go more than two days without topping up (to note, it's a 96 hour one, and i really don't sweat much despite binding). My uncle uses women's deodorant because it's more gentle and he doesn't sweat much, and he finds it works better.
Although, I found in the US the deodorant was basically the same unlike the EU (the difference here is smellable) just with different scents. Over here there's only a few choices in scent that are barely distinguishable, but the selection in the US is huge... I always cave in and buy ridiculously scented products because I can. :P
Noto Bene: Ditch Axe. Doesn't really work for... anyone, really... and it's more like a body spray. Right guard, old spice, even the adidas brand are all better, last longer, and don't smell as strong. Also, I've seen women mistake Axe for perfume, so it likely doesn't help passing either.
Please don't use Axe, especially Axe body spray, its more "odorant" than deodorant. Most women do not find it very alluring. Go with just about anything else (except Old Spice).
Also, although you are more comfortable with scents people label masculine, your choice of deodorant or other hygiene products will not cause people to misgender you when you are FTM. Its the same basic stuff, different scents, although Secret Powder Fresh has probably worked better for me than anything else before I started spiro and E. Just go with what you like as long as its not Axe or Old Spice.
I had to answer this. Geez. Please don't use Axe. It smells and those whom raise teenagers knows that stuff gets on the laundry of others and is hard to wash away. Some mothers call it eau de Boy. There are some differences as well with some transwomen and the cis-women. Some of us on Spironolactone has an effect that the sebaceous sweat glands shut down while on the stuff due to its peculiar diuretic effect. What kind of deodorant you use depends what the need is. Some people need a prescription version.
Joelene
What happened to stuff like CK one?
xoxoxo Winter (15)
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).
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..
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 ;D
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.
Quote from: WolfNightV4X1 on February 25, 2016, 02:32:25 AM
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.
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.
If one's sweat has a strong smell pre T and then gets T how strong will it become? ???
Quote from: jossam on March 16, 2016, 06:03:01 PM
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.
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
Quote from: RebeccaM on March 26, 2016, 01:19:24 PM
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
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Once again, welcome. Hope you find what you are looking for.
With warmth,
Joanna
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!
Quote from: RebeccaM on March 26, 2016, 01:19:24 PM
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?
Quote from: alienbodybuilder on March 27, 2016, 05:36:31 AM
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.
Quote from: suzifrommd on March 27, 2016, 06:01:32 AM
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!!!
I think that Dial deodorant soap smells very masculine, especially right after a shower. It's supposed to be a gender neutral product.
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.
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.
Quote from: Cindi Jones on April 02, 2016, 02:08:23 PM
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?
Quote from: KyleEdric on April 03, 2016, 10:04:06 AM
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.
Quote from: Obfuskatie on February 25, 2016, 04:59:49 AM
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?
Quote from: mac1 on April 10, 2016, 10:53:22 AM
Could that be because women will willingly pay more if they think it is specifically for women?
I think it's more to do with sexism. Most if not all products targeted at women are more expensive than the exact same brand and type of product that is targeted towards men.
Quote from: mac1 on April 10, 2016, 10:53:22 AM
Could that be because women will willingly pay more if they think it is specifically for women?
Partially it's because of the feminine tax our culture has on feminine products. If cis men bled from their genitals cyclically, pads, liners and tampons would be if not free, then very cheap. The other part is marketing. Men on average have a lower limit on price they are willing to pay for hygiene products. Women are expected to have better hygiene and rely on the associated products more, thus their spending cap is higher because of the cultural double standard.
Companies could willingly sell us all mostly unisex hygiene/beauty products, but they don't as they've realized there's more money to be made by making them 'gendered' and claiming they're something special.
I remember that Oil of Ulay thing years ago, my mother had some and nobody could figure out what it was supposed to do except some idea about younger-looking skin? But there was no actual proof of that obviously, nor any statement from the company that made it about anything. If people will buy stuff that easily they hardly even have to try. *shrug*
Someone must have told some of these companies that women do most of the casual spending in the world and therefore they'd be happier shelling out more for a "female version" of something. But you don't have to for everything. Like apparently there's Bic "for her" pens and Bic normal pens... and the "for her" pens are supposed to be more ergonomic for women and are more expensive... I mean c'mon. It's a pen. Everyone can use pens, they were designed for anybody to write with. If you're gonna buy a pen because you buy into the idea it's better for your hands because you're female... well... what can I say, that's wanting to be ripped off.
And now it's ok for men to be beauty-conscious or skin conscious they've started selling specialized products to men for that and they ain't all that cheap either.
Of course I do agree the price of some essential feminine products like tampons is stupid. Those are things you need. But we do buy a lot of stuff we don't need and it's our own fault. We let companies convince us we need this stuff. I've seen those razor commercials that say the women's razors are somehow specially designed for women and yadda yadda and I've tried all kinds of razors for body hair... they all work pretty much the same. A razor is a razor - a cheap crap razor is cheap and crap, and the better ones are a certified rip off any day of the week. But there's little difference between men's and women's. Face care products are a bit different though, the men's ones are supposed to be for thicker skin and some hurt like a ----- so they're out for me for now.
I'll just buy whatever is a deal and don't pay the gendering much mind. If it's stupidly expensive and claims to reduce wrinkles I'll avoid it.
Quote from: Elis on April 10, 2016, 12:39:29 PM
I think it's more to do with sexism. Most if not all products targeted at women are more expensive than the exact same brand and type of product that is targeted towards men.
Except underwear, apparently. :( My wallet got bodyslammed this weekend. Never paid this much for undies in my life.
Quote from: T.K.G.W. on April 10, 2016, 06:34:35 PM
I'll just buy whatever is a deal and don't pay the gendering much mind. If it's stupidly expensive and claims to reduce wrinkles I'll avoid it.
I'll do you one better. I have a serum that PREVENTS wrinkles. They call it ... Coppertone.