They’re manly yes, but I like them too

By Deborah Fulsang

I have never considered myself girlie despite the fact that I’ve lived more than 20 years of my professional life as an editor of things style-related—fashion, beauty, decor. I don’t have an inner princess; it’s more like an inner queen—or king.

It goes without saying then that flowery-smelling women’s deodorant makes me cringe. Generally they’re too powdery, too fake and too child-woman for my tastes.

I have long worn men’s deodorant. It smells better, more alive, and sexier. It is also often, generally speaking, a better deal: FYI, Naomi Wolf pointed that out in her 1991 feminist manifesto, The Beauty Myth; it costs less than the same stuff that is marketed and sold to the fairer sex.

Forget that noise.

But it isn’t price that pushes me to the men’s counter. It’s strictly a fragrance-motivated decision for me.

My choice of the last couple of years: Old Spice. Yes that’s right. And I switch it up between the brand’s fresh and spicy Cyprus, Denali and the Fiji scented sticks.

Erika Bearman, the stylish and connected SVP of Global Communications for Oscar de la Renta in New York—known famously by her Twitter handle @OscarPRGirl—also let it drop recently that she too has long worn men’s deodorant. Old Spice, to be exact.

A recent visit to L’Occitane also unearthed another winner: the irresistibly scented men’s deodorant stick in the brand’s Eau des Baux collection. It comes without alcohol, parabens or aluminum salts too. Cypress and incense make it super sensual but clean-smelling.

You can go designer level with your deodorant too. Tom Ford, who walks the gender divide with such panache, offers many of his intense and sexy scents in deodorant form. One could also apply Pasha de Cartier, Gucci By Gucci Pour Homme, John Varvatos Vintage, Hermès Eau d’Orange Verte or Thierry Mugler’s A*Men in deodorant form.

And hey, if your main man vehemently avoids the fragrance aisle despite your impassioned efforts to convince him otherwise, he might easily adopt one of these practical but great smelling products into his grooming regime without much convincing. And that, dear reader, would be a bonus for both of you.

Pasha de Cartier deodorant, $33, www.shop.nordstroms.com
L’Occitane Baux deodorant, $24, www.loccitane.com
Old Spice Cyprus deodorant, $5, www.oldspice.com
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, www.holtrenfrew.com