My obsession took me somewhere I didn't want to be

[dtezla]

I'm in the car business and every now and then, I get the joy of going for a test drive with a customer when all the regular salespeople are tied up. Yesterday, I was helping a customer by going over the features of the vehicle and then we went on a test drive. The whole time I was helping him though, I kept getting a whiff of his cologne/after shave. It smelled so good that I was having a personal argument with myself whether to ask him what it was. I really wanted to know, but at the same time I didn't want him to think I was attracted to him or freak him out and lose the sale.

In the end, I never asked him what cologne it was and now I fear I will never know.

 

[spedbp]

Do a phone fallow up and if the deal is a no go ask him what it was as if it were a side thought at the end.

 

[Toothpick]

I'm in the car business and every now and then, I get the joy of going for a test drive with a customer when all the regular salespeople are tied up. Yesterday, I was helping a customer by going over the features of the vehicle and then we went on a test drive. The whole time I was helping him though, I kept getting a whiff of his cologne/after shave. It smelled so good that I was having a personal argument with myself whether to ask him what it was. I really wanted to know, but at the same time I didn't want him to think I was attracted to him or freak him out and lose the sale.

In the end, I never asked him what cologne it was and now I fear I will never know.

I can understand not wanting to "creep him out" and loose a sale. But personally I would have asked anyway. I'm glad when folks ask, that way I know its a good cologne.

 

[Ron Scott]

It seems fine on this board, but asking a guy in person what cologne he's using? Not me...

 

[seanusa]

You can still pay the man a compliment and ask what the scent was, just don't wink and scoot over next to him when you do it and all should be fine.

 

[ateace]

One way to avoid awkwardness is to say that the scent is really familiar, but you can't place when/where you remember it from. Then ask.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

I'm asked what scent I'm wearing (or clothes, watch, hair product, etc) quite often in many different situations. I've never been creeped out by the questioning.

 

[Teppanyaki]

You could also preface your question with a comment such as "I have a personal hobby of collecting colognes/aftershaves/et cetera. I'm curious what cologne you are using, as it reminds me of . . . whatever." I would think that a prefacing comment that explains why you are asking and that it relates to a hobby of yours would defuse most if not all of any potential tensions.

 

[Okla1911]

Tell him you think your wife/gf would love it....

 

[JCinPA]

Holy smokes! Another Phoenixvillian! There's two of us!

 

[Haggises]

Did you do a test drive today John?

 

[rebos]

Hah. I wouldn't be weirded out if a dude asked me what I was wearing.

But I see how this is a touchier issue with some fellas.

Is there a standard of decorum for this kind of thing?

 

[JCinPA]

Did you do a test drive today John?

Hahaha! No, I'm in Chicago, will be home Saturday. I spend most of the time working in Chicago, but I'm back in Phoenixville next week.

Well, and Baltimore, Washington, Richmond and Raleigh. Plus some Phoenixville. Mama can only take me in small doses.

 

[JCinPA]

Hah. I wouldn't be weirded out if a dude asked me what I was wearing.

But I see how this is a touchier issue with some fellas.

Is there a standard of decorum for this kind of thing?

I wouldn't be either. But I think the standard of decorum is "wait until after he writes the check."

 

[rxonmymind]

Meh, it depends how you put it. Guys always compliment my "Elvis" hair. Lol. It's all good. One gent who does I compliment him right back wishing I could grow a beard like him. He wishes he could have my hair. Lol.( He's bald)

 

[NCJack]

If he's wearing it, he's expecting it to be noticed. I don't think a straightforward inquiry is out of place.

 

[Mad Man]

It's a tougher one to ask Down Under where blokes are blokes, wives and girlfriends are sheilas and no man should spend more time grooming than a woman.

So what I do is usually drop my voice an octave, put on my most ocker accent and say " (sniff) hey you smell alright mate, I reckon my Mrs would go for that 'cause she's always tellin' me I pong - (sniff) .......whatsitcalled?"

Scratching your nether regions while you say it and spitting mid-sentence should help allay any fear that it's a pick-up line...

(that's not a pick-up line....now THAT'S a pick-up line!...apologies to Croc Dundee!)

 

[ZackP]

I've asked before, I just go..."Yo, I smell come cologne" and they always respond

 

[anes1]

I'd ask the guy. If you did it in a way that showed true curiosity I don't see the problem. If the guy wearing the cologne gets creeped out then he has his own insecurities he needs to work out.

 

[Eeyore]

It seems fine on this board, but asking a guy in person what cologne he's using? Not me...

Really depends on the country you are in, I think. I probably could ask in Sweden, but people in Belgium would look funny at me.