Odd predicament

[scrumbles]

I'm getting married at the end of the year, so unfortunately I can't just get rid of my girlfriend to accommodate my shaving regimen. Although I have considered it

I've been wetshaving for a month and a half or so now I guess, and have tried many products. The other day my girlfriend told me that she doesn't like that I've been "smelling like a girl" recently and she wished that I smelled more manly and liked the way I used to smell.

Pre-B&B I used canned goo and either a M3 or a Braun electric razor and would shower afterwards. No aftershave at all (didn't even understand the point) so my only fragrance was my deodorant and sometimes my cologne, but usually just my deodorant and natural scent. I used Old Spice Pure Sport and loved the scent.

Since converting to shaving like a real man, I've been using Proraso shaving cream, then a jump into the shower and a cold water splash, followed by a healthy helping of witch hazel and a liberal application of Aqua Velva. She insisted that the scent she objected to was witch hazel, but I picked up Pure Sport aftershave today and used it for the first time and she really seems to like it.

My dilemma is I miss the cooling kick of Aqua Velva ...Old Spice feels like I've put warm water on my face in comparison.

She really didn't like the way Osage Rub or Pinaud Lime Sec smelled.

My question is what should I try next? I was PIF'd a Proraso ASB and she seems kind of indifferent to it. I'd really like to get something that has a cooling effect but smells more "manly", although I can't understand how Aqua Velva comes off smelling girly.

Any suggestions? Oh yeah, my witch hazel is the standard "stinky" generic store brand stuff and I actually like the smell. I guess one option is to try to get a witch hazel that smells less and use an unscented aftershave.

 

[mdunn]

old spice/brut/tabac/clubman smells can probably be considered manly, i guess youve gotta try some and see what she likes. And you can get Thayers witch hazel in scented and unscented, which should eliminate the witch hazel funk.

 

[instpasr]

Have her pick your next scent as a gift to you. Or you could tell her all the best men smell like girly men.

 

[mmack66]

ManDom

 

[cfriend]

ManDom

 

[The Nid Hog]

That's tough. If she thinks that AV smells girlie, it's hard to say where to go from there. Have you tried the Proraso after shave (not the ASB)? It has a light, herbal smell that fades fast, but it gives you a nice chill.

The nice thing about after shaves is that they aren't terribly expensive. Why not go through the reviews and pick up a bunch of likely ones? Do a testing with her and you can unload all the ones that don't pass muster on the BST. If you want to check out the higher end ones, you can order a bunch of samples from Rorschuck.

http://www.badgerdecants.com/oldmain.html

It's been a while since I've been a newlywed, but as I remember, there comes a time when you don't spend every waking moment with the missus. Why don't you save your Aqua Velva for work days? Slap it on when you're heading out the door--you get to enjoy it and it'll be gone by the time you get home.

 

[blackfoot]

That's tough. If she thinks that AV smells girlie, it's hard to say where to go from there. Have you tried the Proraso after shave (not the ASB)? It has a light, herbal smell that fades fast, but it gives you a nice chill.

The nice thing about after shaves is that they aren't terribly expensive. Why not go through the reviews and pick up a bunch of likely ones? Do a testing with her and you can unload all the ones that don't pass muster on the BST. If you want to check out the higher end ones, you can order a bunch of samples from Rorschuck.

http://www.badgerdecants.com/oldmain.html

It's been a while since I've been a newlywed, but as I remember, there comes a time when you don't spend every waking moment with the missus. Why don't you save your Aqua Velva for work days? Slap it on when you're heading out the door--you get to enjoy it and it'll be gone by the time you get home.

Your only other option is dump her.

 

[scrumbles]

Your only other option is dump her.

Tell me more about this...dumping.

 

[blackfoot]

Tell me more about this...dumping.

 

[Gruder]

SCS Blue Line is more cooling than AV, with a scent that goes away quite quickly. While you're at it, enlist her help in choosing a cologne or two from SCS to try -- she'll have a harder time disagreeing with something she helped pick out!

 

[blackfoot]

SCS Blue Line is more cooling than AV, with a scent that goes away quite quickly. While you're at it, enlist her help in choosing a cologne or two from SCS to try -- she'll have a harder time disagreeing with something she helped pick out!

The Mod Psychologist speaks!

 

[Johnny Dale]

It's been a while since I've been a newlywed, but as I remember, there comes a time when you don't spend every waking moment with the missus. Why don't you save your Aqua Velva for work days? Slap it on when you're heading out the door--you get to enjoy it and it'll be gone by the time you get home.

Use what you like! My wife hates pretty much every AS I like but we have been married for 22 years! Of course every fragrance she buys I say "I Love How It Smells"!

 

[Dink]

Try Alt-Insbruck, very cooling and manly. Hattric is another nice one.

Cheers,
David

 

[Captain Morgan]

Try taking her to Bath and Body Works and get her to smell the C.O. Bigelow line that they are carrying. Once she decides on one, you can read the description online and get an idea of the types of scents that she thinks are manly. It seems that they are also carrying a Bay Rum ASB but I have not seen it in the store yet (but I have been in to check either). Odds are, she is looking for something woodsy or musky. Another place to take her is Crabtree and Evelyn. Let her smell the items that they have there. They cost out the wazoo but if she likes it, let her buy it!

By the way, try and keep her focused when you go.

 

[Lowstandrd]

I hear you can add menthol crystals to an AS and make it as cooling as you like. I have no first hand knowledge of this but here's the B&B thread where it was mentioned.

If it's true, you can find any aftershave she likes and menthol it up!

 

[Obsessed]

Get an unscented aftershave and use a cologne that she likes.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Get an unscented aftershave and use a cologne that she likes.

Jeez, you might just as well wave the white flag! I thought that we were trying to figure out how to make her think she's getting what she wants while actually getting what we want. No better marriage prep than learning how to do that.

 

[Fnord5]

Relationships are all about compromise.

You use AV, and she has to deal with it.

I mean seriously, you are already getting married, it isn't like the first week of dating or anything where she can call it off because you smell funny.

My girlfriend doesn't like Lilac Vegital, but I still use it. She also doesn't like Clubman, at least till it has been on me for an hour or two, but that won't stop me from smelling like an old man.

She loves the Bay Rum though,

 

[scrumbles]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do.

On the one hand, if I keep her around it would be a good excuse to go shopping for some new aftershaves. I can always combo that up with a new brush or something too, since she doesn't really know anything about wetshaving and is pretty tired of hearing me talk about it. I'm thinking something along the lines of "well, I have to buy a new badger brush since the one I have won't work with this aftershave." It doesn't have to make sense. Works even better with the shaving cream -- "if I use my old shaving cream, the new aftershave will mix with it after I shave and it could cause chemical burns. You don't want me to have chemical burns, do you?"

On the other hand, if I give her the boot there are several upsides to it:
1. My mancave doubles in size instantly
2. I will never have to watch Desperate Housewives again
3. I could buy a lot of shaving stuff with the money we're going to spend on rings
4. I can buy a bottle of English Fern and not have to sneak it into the bathroom ("what is this new bottle I haven't seen before?")

Obviously I have some real soul searching ahead of me.

 

[The Nid Hog]

You're watching Desperate Housewives? That's a blank check to fill up the shave den with whatever you want. Check it out--it's written right there in the rules.