Wear what you enjoy. Oh really? A revelation

[anewtypedude]

This other day when I was taking a bus to work. During one stop, a guy who is clearly a hobo stepped onto the bus. This guy must have not taken a shower in YEARS. I was sitting near the middle of the bus and I could smell his piss stench when he was still at the front. The seat next to me was empty and as he walked towards me I prayed that he does not sit down next to me. Thank god he decided to just stand by the rear exit, but the smell he was projecting was absolutely disgusting. At the next stop, the bus driver got up and asked the guy to get off. After he did, the entire bus applauded for the driver, who then had to spray air freshener to get rid of the stench.

What made me realize is the scent you put on inevitably invades other people's private space. Say you wear Kouros in public which some have compared it to urinal cake, it is bound to make people around you gag, no matter how much you enjoy it and how confident it makes you feel. So please, think for people around you the next time you are going to wear a "bold" scent in public.

[JiveHippo]

You're comparing a smelly ass hobo, that stinks of piss to a perfume? If the guy was freshly showered and wearing Kouros do you think he would have been kicked off the bus?

[DanielPlainview]

I have always feared Kouros Bashers.

[sjg3839]

Strange comparison. But you learn well young Jedi.

[DanielPlainview]

Once I wore five sprays of Ambre Sultan at the Symphony Hall in Boston, and it was a disaster. The guy next to me kept fanning himself during the entire performance.

[mikesc]

Before I knew the power of New Haarlem I must have put on about 5 - 6 sprays. I was at Costco later that day and heard a couple of women about 10 feet away say, "Oh wow it smells so good, I think they are making cinnamon buns." I was really hoping they were making cinnamon buns. Costco was not making cinnamon buns.

[fragrance123]

I'm very conservative in sprays...usually 1 spray .

[Bigsly]

I don't know how many times I've smelled someone wearing too much of a powdery/sweet/woody scent, and it's unpleasant. I don't wear much, usually one full spray, but if someone can't handle that, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

[hednic]

You're comparing a smelly ass hobo, that stinks of piss to a perfume? If the guy was freshly showered and wearing Kouros do you think he would have been kicked off the bus?

Agree, not a fair comparison.

[staticx]

Everything you wrote made a good sense to me until you named Kouros!

[Renato]

Oh well - it is your prerogative whether or not you wish to hide yourself away.
Though I am unsure about your motivation in encouraging others to follow your example and do the same.

And I note that the main "offenders" of this scent invading private spaces "problem" don't get a mention - i.e. women.
Regards,
Renato

[hedonist222]

Apparently in your social circle you cannot enjoy yourself. Too bad for you.

[Primrose]

I never douse myself with strong scents. I always get nice compliments.

Scent can be like sound. A screeching, crying baby is music to his parents ears, yet others around think it's horrid noise.

[anewtypedude]

Apparently in your social circle you cannot enjoy yourself. Too bad for you.

In my social circle we believe in enjoy ourselves but not at the detriment if others.

I believe it is a fair comparison since the hobo obviously had no problem with how he smelled, but we all did

[Bigsly]

Apparently in your social circle you cannot enjoy yourself. Too bad for you.

This reminds me of the SA who said, "this is the scent for you, you'll smell like everyone else." I would still wear that scent (don't remember which one) if I enjoyed it, however.

[Tony T]

kouros is pretty bad though

[DanielPlainview]

I like to be bold sometimes, not caring about other peoples reactions. Sometimes I wear 10 sprays of Polo Green. 5 sprays of Ambre Sultan to the neck, Or 15 sprays of Eau Sauvage. I just feel like making a statement. I smell, therefore, I exist.

[heperd]

In my social circle we believe in enjoy ourselves but not at the detriment if others.

I believe it is a fair comparison since the hobo obviously had no problem with how he smelled, but we all did

Its not a fair comparison. Its a really dumb comparison.

[Diamondflame]

I agree with that part about not invading another's private space, be it intentional or otherwise. But how extended is one's personal space? I'd say no more than a foot. In a packed commuter's train, this rule is clearly suspended. I'd much rather smell another's SotD than the stink of BO & sweat-soaked pits.

Feel somewhat sorry for the hobo. He has as much right as anyone else to be on that bus. At the very least you could have offered him a decant. If anyone has problems with the way he smell they should get off at the nearest stop and wait for the next bus. Too bad for the driver though - he just have to tough it out as one of the job's 'hazards'.

[mtheory8]

This conversation comes up every now and then.

Basically, putting on a lot of cologne is forcing a sense onto other people and they have no choice to avoid it. You wouldn't walk around with your iPhone speaker on high and blast your favorite music and force everyone to listen would you?

A lot of people on this board go overboard.

First there is this obsession with wearing fragrance 24/7 everywhere. Leading people to think of what to wear to interviews, and god forbid, funerals.

Then there is the obsession with other people smelling you. Leading the ten sprayers...

Bottom line, you can enjoy this hobby without being a dick.

[Kindred809]

Yeah the metaphor is a bit off... But I agree that one should have a bit of reasonable discretion when applying fragrances. Even if you don't mind 8 sprays of DHI, other people might.

[Kagey]

And I note that the main "offenders" of this scent invading private spaces "problem" don't get a mention - i.e. women.

"Men" in general didn't get a mention either. The person in the original example was a man, and so far most of those responding have been men, but other than that you're the only one who brought up gender. What's the difference?

In any case, in my experience, the overwhelming majority of people whose fragrance chokes those around them in the office, on trains, or at restaurants, have been men.

[Ivan D' Great]

I've smelled Kouros on other people and I can't find it offensive.

[anewtypedude]

"Just do what you enjoy". Sounds like an advice Britney Spears would give to her kid, or an advice Paris Hilton's mom gave her.

[badarun]

If this hobo did pay, what the driver did can get the city sued...I totally agree to this statement--->>>

Feel somewhat sorry for the hobo. He has as much right as anyone else to be on that bus. If anyone has problems with the way he smell they should get off at the nearest stop and wait for the next bus.

These guys live on the streets, the least we can do is not to be this offensive...

[anewtypedude]

The way he smelled, I thought we are all going to get infected with mad cow bacteria

[dreamer81]

Basically, putting on a lot of cologne is forcing a sense onto other people and they have no choice to avoid it. You wouldn't walk around with your iPhone speaker on high and blast your favorite music and force everyone to listen would you?

You are right. Unfortunately I see many (teens) doing this.

Bottom line, you can enjoy this hobby without being a dick.

Agree.

[Akahina]

Before I knew the power of New Haarlem I must have put on about 5 - 6 sprays. I was at Costco later that day and heard a couple of women about 10 feet away say, "Oh wow it smells so good, I think they are making cinnamon buns." I was really hoping they were making cinnamon buns. Costco was not making cinnamon buns.

This made me laugh so hard...

[heperd]

The way he smelled, I thought we are all going to get infected with mad cow bacteria

You should thank him next time you see him for inspiring the worst comparison of all time.

[Ken_Russell]

I almost never or never wear some of my scents public, especially not in confined/somehow cramped spaces like public transportation.