Smells like a...

Disclaimer;

This is a piece I had posted on my former blogging site hosted by WordPress. The post raffled a few feathers. At the time, I read the Kenyan constitution to ensure I understood my rights as a blogger. Suffice to say, this post is 100% my thoughts and opinions. Now, enjoy the next three minutes of your life you will never get back. But, I guarantee you will learn something.

Recently, I was out and about, minding my own business on the streets. Behind me, there was a young couple with a young child who the father was carrying. I was inwardly admiring this couple until they passed me and left behind a disgusting smell of cologne. It was so foul that I had to spit out saliva. This incident made me start thinking of the frenzy that has become of using cheap cologne and perfumes to mask sweat.

I missed the days a guy would pass me by and stink of sweat. Of course, the first impression was always, "Dude, take a bath." However, the afterthought would be that this man was from working hard to earn a living for himself or his family. Nowadays, men have all sorts of smells, and most are not half bad, while others smell worse than a latrine toilet that has not had any wash for weeks. The sad thing is that women are repelled by awful colognes more than a sweaty man. If you come close to me when I am on my period, for instance, I will vomit all over you due to that smell. The other aspect is that women attach emotions to everything. Case and example, I had a boyfriend who applied Versman cologne. Once he became an ex, I associated the cologne with the failed relationship that wasted my time (a story for another day). I'm not saying the cologne smells bad, no. I just have negative associations to it. Now, when a man steps up to me with the same smell, I step back and am like, "Oh! hell no!"

Women are not left from this double-edged sword of ricking smells either. One time I was going to town, and the lady who sat next to me filled the whole matatu with her very strong perfume. To my dismay, these are the refill perfumes sold at every corner building in Nairobi, ranging from Kshs. 100 onward.

The sad part about the female customer is that the perfumes, however strong, are so common. Inevitably, all women will end up smelling like each other. It will no longer be like, "Oh! I like your perfume which brand is it?" but the "Awh! This lady also refilled Pink Chiffon like me (FYI I also like this brand).” These small quantity perfumes can be smelt a mile away or after every 20 people you pass.

We need to add value when we present ourselves to the outside world. How we smell is now an obsession that is fixated in our minds. I was a victim of this mentality as well until my nose could not smell it anymore. I love Shirley May and it is mild but serves the purpose, that is just my preference. There other products that mask your sweat like roll-ons and body sprays.

My advice is that we all invest in perfume and cologne that does not leave innocent strangers gagging for air or trying to hold down their meal as you pass them. Let us bring back the days when we would spoil our loved ones with these gifts, which costs a small fortune from the supermarkets or well-stocked cosmetic shops. It may be Kshs. 1,000, Kshs. 5,000 of Kshs. 500, but it will be of value provided we stop smelling like strong industrial chemicals that may bring us breathing complications or other health issues we are yet to uncover.