Does he think you’re supposed to apply it using another man’s penis?

TIL it’s manly to smell like an onion that just worked out

he’ll change his mind if a girl he likes tells him he stinks… is it the ‘because’ he offers that upsets you or the smell he gives off?

Most BO comes from the bacteria that grows on the armpit hair after sweating, so while he’d probably have issues with the “manliness” of this suggestion, if he just shaves his armpit hair it’ll take a bit longer for the BO to develop. As long as he’s showering regularly, that is…

But it’d probably be better to just tell him that cleanliness and showing that you have personal hygiene (by washing regularly and using deodorant) is most definitely manly. Having BO doesn’t make him manly, cause I’ve got news for him: women have BO too.

Whats up with you guys? I’d rather have a fresh out of the gym teenager next to me in the bus then an Justus who smells like an axe factory.

How normal body odor is a tabu in some cultures and where deo ads which tell you its bothersome if you smell normal is still a thing in 2025 really grinds my gears

Tell your son there is nothing less manly than doing what someone else tells you is or isn’t manly.

Get him a few Louis L’Amore books.

How does he like sleeping in the back yard?

Tell him deodorant doesn’t block sweat but anti-perspirant does. There’s a big difference.

Deodorant kills/lessens the odour causing bacteria, so if he’s worried about pheromones or some junk he read/heard online he’ll be fine with deodorant.

Also maybe mention worrying about whether things are manly or not is not particularly manly, but I too went through a phase of trying to figure out what that meant for me.

Probably the most cringe was my teenage attempts to grow a moustache and beard. It did not turn out well. I got an intervention by my boss handing me a razor, escorting me to the washroom, and telling me not to start my shift until I’d shaved.

Here’s the trick to that.

It’s their body, so they have a say in things. Ideally, anything that’s about their body would be their choice, but some stuff just isn’t realistic, like medical decisions as one example.

However, they’re also going to deal with the fallout of such decisions.

A lot of kids, not just boys, go through a phase where they reject the seemingly arbitrary enforcement of hygiene standards.

So, when they make an adult decision, they can deal with adult consequences.

You aren’t required to sit in a car with someone that smells unpleasant. Nor at a dinner table, or on the couch.

Now, if them not using a given product doesn’t cause them to smell bad, there’s zero harm in it, so a parent would be a dick for trying to enforce an unnecessary thing, even by that method. If you’re trying to enforce pointless things, you’re fighting the wrong fight. Believe it or not, deodorants and antiperspirants aren’t the only way to keep oneself from smelling bad, and not using them doesn’t always result in an unpleasant smell. There’s a lot to be said for just bathing daily and giving the pits and crotch a scrub when you’re in the bathroom for other things

However, if they aren’t willing to do what it takes to not stank, remind them that adult choices have different consequences, and that you aren’t obligated to take them places, let them use your vehicle, sit around the dinner table with everyone else, snuggle on the couch for movies, or even sit on the couch at all. You can also enforce that they clean their private spaces (bedroom or other spots that they have where they have an expectation of privacy) more often so that those places don’t start to smell bad either

A stanky adult is quickly going to discover that people don’t want them around when they stank. Might take a while for friends and family to start objecting seriously, but out in the world, it can happen fast.

But respect body autonomy while doing so. It really, truly is something that they need to have. And it’s important to teach them that they should be able to expect body autonomy, even when there are consequences to some of the choices made.

It works. I’ve seen it work dozens of times, because I come from a big extended family that used to spend a lot of time together. Every generation of kids, there’s going to be a handful of them that express their body autonomy like this. Maybe it’s not bathing, maybe it’s deodorant, or hair washing, or a clothing issue. Staying gentle, but not backing down about it, you both keep their trust, and show them that every choice has consequences, even if tiny ones.

My personal phase, it was very effective. My grandmother, if I was smelling rough, would tell me to go wash up as soon as I walked in the door. After the first few times, it was “you know where the washcloths are.” If I didn’t wash, I could bloody well sit outside if the weather was safe. My mom and dad enforced similar boundaries.

Took maybe a couple of days before I got the point, and a couple of weeks before my stubborn ass decided they had a good point, and improved my routine.

Will it absolutely work for everyone, every time? Of course not. But it’s a gentle way that helps foster a sense of self control, of having a say in their life, as they’re needing to explore who they are the most. The key though, is gentle but firm.

You don’t say “you stink, go away” or some shit. You say “washing up is mandatory if you want to sit with the rest of us.” You make it a choice, if a limited one. Give them as many options as possible, too. If they’re objecting to deodorant in specific, maybe offer washing up, or changing clothes if the smell is more from that.

In other words make it about the actual problem rather than them. It isn’t that they’re bad or dumb, or anything else like that. It’s that personal hygiene is important for skin health, and social interactions. They don’t necessarily have to shower to be clean. They don’t have to use deodorant to not smell bad, or to smell good. So present them with alternatives after figuring out why they don’t want that specific method

What exactly is not manly about deodorant?

Vikings were successful with other countries women cuz they did basic hygiene. Shaved, washed, some hair stuff. They ‘conquered’ just from cleanliness. If Vikings aren’t manly enough idk what this kid is on about lol.

Teenagers are making that tough transition into adulthood. Unless he absolutely reeks I say let em figure things out. They’re exploring new ideas, and if they’re to be an adult they should be able to make their own decisions (within reason).

I mean, most deodorants have heavy metals and aspartame in them. He’s 50% correct in this decision.

Now he just needs to gain some empathy for others and start using something like a Mineral Deodorant Block

They’re cheaper, last 50x as long as normal deodorant sticks, and only need to be applied once generally, even if you sweat during the day.

(this is satire) have they tried the drug estrogen, been taking it for 10+ years, it really helps!

Get him to watch the hilarious old spice commercials that were on when I was a kid. Worked for me. That shit is hilariously hyper masculine and funny as fuck.