Does scent really matter?

[Quixotica]

I'm a congenital anosmiac. For those who are unaware, that means I was born without a sense of smell. I really want to try new soaps, but seeing that I can't actually smell any of them, does it really matter what scents I get from say, Mike's or Mama Bear's or Mystic Waters? Do they all lather the same, but with different scents?

On the bright side, I can probably use Arko without big complaint. That's been on my to-try list for a while.

Something tells me that I'm missing out on a pretty big part of the wet shaving experience when I can't smell the sandalwoods and bay rums of the world.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I'd go with unscented from artisans if you can't smell em anyway. Less chance to have a reaction to scenting agents.

 

[superbleu]

One good thing is that you can get most soaps in unscented form. Since you wouldn't notice a difference and you reduce the risk of having an allergic reaction/sensitivity to the Fragrance oils or Essential oils used to scent the soaps. A good scent is nice, but I don't think there would be a measurable difference in performance with/without fragrance.

 

[vertelselaar]

Well for me smell is very important. It can heighten or degrade the pleasure of a product. Bad smelling soaps or creams will have a short life and won't return to my den. But smell isn't everything. If a good product smells not too good it still wins from a product that smells heavenly but is rubbish. But really obnoxious odours (and it's all personal taste and preference) get out no matter how good they will be. Smell is difficult to ignore, at least for me. So have you got a blessing in disguise? Sometimes yes and sometimes no, I think it really difficult to say.

 

[Cochese2323]

I agree with the others. If you can't smell it, I would go unscented all the way. Eliminates any chance of irritation from fragrance additives. Also eliminates the odds of another person being offended by what you smell like too.

For Mike's and Mystic Water specifically, I have tried almost every scent both of them offer and performance is uniform throughout. No difference in how they shave between scents, other than Mike's soaps with ecualyptus didn't agreen with my skin. But that is specific to my skin. The lather still worked the same while actually shaving.

 

[Mr5x5]

I'd go with unscented from artisans if you can't smell em anyway. Less chance to have a reaction to scenting agents.

+1

Scent is a big part of my shaving experience, sorry OP is missing out on that.

 

[Niles]

My sense of smell is not as keen as I wish it were. But the scent of wet shaving products is a big draw for me and can make certain products work or not simply from the scent. As others have said, this could make it easier for your skin if you were to go with unscented products.

 

[tinashubby]

Mystic Eucalyptus & Spearmint doesn't seem to lather up as nice as her other products that I've used.
Sorry to the OP for his olfactory issues, damn so many things he can't fully enjoy...

Now that I think about it, I had to edit this, Whatever will he do with "The Veg"! No offense intended, there may be a brite side here!

 

[john parker]

Anosmia certainly means that the scent cannot be perceived. But to add to the experience, could some other sensation be used to enhance the experience, such as menthol or mint for a cooling sensation? Or something that would provide a tingling sensation provided it didn't cause a skin reaction. In my case TOBS Sandalwood does cause a burning/tingling feel.

 

[alabamalawyer]

Sense the scent of the soap is no factor for you, the unscented versions will be fine as they perform equally with scented versions. If you like having a menthol kick or other such cooling sensation, then you can opt for versions that have those added features.

 

[Galengwath]

One good thing is that you can get most soaps in unscented form. Since you wouldn't notice a difference and you reduce the risk of having an allergic reaction/sensitivity to the Fragrance oils or Essential oils used to scent the soaps. A good scent is nice, but I don't think there would be a measurable difference in performance with/without fragrance.

+1. it's not uncommon for fragrance oils to cause skin irritation, so in your case I would reccommend going without them. You'll also get to avoid the heartbreak some of us feel when a product we love the smell of doesn't agree with your skin (I'm still sad, AOS Sandalwood).

 

[n.solo88]

Scent is huge for me

 

[Viseguy]

To look on the bright side, your anosmia opens up the whole world of soaps to you, whereas scent rules out a lot of soaps for people who can smell. Knock yourself out trying them all!

Or just get yourself some Mike's Natural Unscented and move on to some other AD.

 

[Predict]

I would use unscented soaps. they are usually in stock and less chance of having a reaction

 

[takeshi]

Does scent really matter?

Subjective/YMMV. For me, yes.

 

[bvance554]

Since the scent of a soap is gone as soon as I rinse it does not matter to me. I care more about what my AS smells like.

 

[boogieman_]

Scent is nice but it's really performance that matters. It has been said, but you can still get some "variety" by using menthol soaps for cooling, citrus gives a different feel also. Oh, and Genuine Ogalala Bay Rum with limes and peppercorns gives a good "heating"/hot feeling.

 

[sparco]

For me scent is 90% of the experience and 10 % of the actual shave. Therefor I tend to judge a product by its scent, but off course if the slickness and lather is horrible It turns out that I stay away from it. And vice versa...

 

[celestino]

For most gents, 99%, yes, scent is important. Good luck to you.

 

[El-a-Menthol]

I think most people did NOT get the question.
He was asking if scent is important FOR PERFORMANCE, not for experience.

Do they all lather the same, but with different scents?

That depands on the brand and soap. For most it doesn't (ignoring the possibility for physical reactions), but I remember reading more then a few times that of the same brand and even line of products one scented soap performed different then the other (un)scented one.