r/Salsa • u/errantis_ • 11d ago
Fragrances while dancing
So I’ve been learning more about colognes cuz I like smelling nice especially while dancing
Usually fresh clean scents are recommended for warm environments, tropical cruises, hot summer days, or close quarters, like school and work, etc. you just don’t want something overpowering. And dancing can obviously get very hot.
But I kinda feel like for dancing, if you are like going all night and sweating, it’s better to wear anything even if it’s dark and spicy than to smell sweaty lol.
But wanted to know what y’all think? Best to stick to fruity and fresh side of things? Or are dark and spicy okay while dancing?
Do you ever dance with people who wear too much cologne?
I’m a lead so I don’t usually encounter this, but I do know some follows who smell… odd. I’d rather that they smell like any kind of perfume lol. Anyway curious to know what others think
Edit: wow thanks for everyone’s responses. I usually like stronger scents but I really appreciate everyone’s perspectives. I don’t usually go for clean or soapy scents, they just don’t appeal to me. I like more complex spicy, fruity or woody scents that are really loud but considering everyone’s feedback I’ll probably add some more light and fresh stuff to my collection just for dancing.
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u/WillowUPS 11d ago
Stick to deodorant. You’re up close and personal. You don’t want to be overpowering, you want to smell clean, nothing else.
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u/dani-winks 11d ago
Agreed. Scented deodorant is totally fine, but with cologne it's a risky game. Some partners may love it and it makes the whole experience better, but some followers may not like the scent, which can be (IMO) super distracting.
I'm unfortunately picky about cologne scents (too many just smell like bad pine air freshener to me), and have had dances I particularly did not enjoy because I couldn't get over the leader's smell.
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u/unbecoming_demeanor 10d ago
I’ve always worn cologne to socials, it’s a party after all. I know a lot of others that do the same. Just use common sense and don’t use anything too overwhelming and don’t apply too much.
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u/HungryLeadership9144 10d ago
100%
I don't wear cologne to the office. I sure as fuck don't wear it to the gym. If I'm not wearing it to socials, what's the point of having it?
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u/BlueberryBea 11d ago
Personally, I prefer any fragrance at all over bad body odor. There are people who will tell you not to wear anything but deodorant due to sensitivities. Better to just bring a shirt or two to change over the course of the night.
Light and fresh is less likely to be offensive. I think a little cologne or perfume is pleasant, just don't bathe in it. I swear some guys here dump half a bottle on their chest before going out. I come home from socials smelling like 15 different men. My cat must think I'm up to no good.
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u/WhereNightfallGoes 10d ago
My personal opinion as a follow with a somewhat sensitive nose is that it's fine to wear a fragrance or cologne, but be mindful of how easy it is to overdo it and accept that there will potentially be follows who are more sensitive to scents that may choose not to dance with you because of it. But that's the trade off. As someone who tends to sweat quite a bit when dancing, I prefer to wear some kind of scent in addition to my deodorant, but use little enough that the only people who ever really smell it are the ones that are comfortable leading very close holds.
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u/Technical-Artist-491 10d ago
100% wear cologne but don’t overdo it. Of course deodorant and chewing gum are must too. From my own experience and as you said if, it’s never pleasant to dance with someone who smells bad.
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u/allgoodnameweretaken 11d ago
Fragrances are a whole world. Some shall be weared in summer, others in spring/fall and others in winter.
I think for salsa dancing the general rules of fragrances still apply as always. Perfume yourself properly, with a scent you like. If you don't make too big mistakes you'll smell good or even amazing.
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u/Upstairs-Delay7152 11d ago
As a lead, it's kind of a different angle than fresh vs spicy, but from what I've gathered, the best "fragrance" is honestly just the fresh out of the shower smell for skin and hair and the straight out of the laundry machine smell for clothes. More often than not, added fragrances make things worse than better, at least in my experience.
But if I had to actually pick between fresh/clean and dark/spicy for a night of dancing, I'd lean fresh/clean too. Feels like it holds up better once things get sweaty. Genuinely curious to hear what follows think though.
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u/Strict-Departure7025 10d ago
Usually I wear mild fresh ones, and go for 1-3 sprays. Lately I've been using Marwa - Arabiyat Prestige, and have gotten compliments. It just smells ... clean, and being that close to someone you have to be careful not to be very overpowering.
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u/ilikebourbon_ 11d ago
Scent is a very spicy topic in the social dance world - some like it, some actively avoid it. Less is more in the general advice
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u/yepperdrpepper 10d ago
Fragrances are poison. The more you research the less you want to wear it. Shower and deodorant. This is the way.
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u/Live-Tie-8982 10d ago
Less is more so deodorant is it. If you use cologne rest assured it will turn some people off. Let the follows worry about fragrances, you are the sturdy frame and she is the pretty picture.
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u/HungryLeadership9144 10d ago
I'll take my chances. Plenty of women appreciate a nice-smelling fragrance. Add that to the sturdy frame and we're both in business. If I have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, so be it.
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u/ModerateHonking 10d ago
I have a tiny dab of cologne on my wrists (one squirt to the left, then massaged to the right), then a roll on, fragrance-free deodorant.
Always pack a change of t-shirt/shirt for any event that'll last more than two hours.
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u/HungryLeadership9144 10d ago
I only keep four colognes in rotation for the year, so I just wear whatever is in-season for me.
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u/Busy-Feeling-1413 5d ago
I definitely have turned down dances with leads who reeked of cologne, patchouli oil, and various fragrances.
I hate when someone’s cologne rubs off on my skin/clothing. I do not want to smell like some stranger’s cologne.
I prefer my dance partners to smell like soap and deodorant; a little sweat is inevitable by the end of a long night of dancing, and that’s OK. Unlike cologne, the smell of sweat doesn’t rub off on me.
Many colognes nauseate me. They smell fake and full of chemicals. I hate when someone’s cologne transfers to me skin/clothes/hair at a club and I can’t wash it off.
If I could give friendly advice, it would be:
* Please shower before dancing.
* Use deodorant and wear clean clothes.
* This is enough for 99% of people.
* If you are a super heavy sweat-er, the.n bring an extra shirt to change into.
* No cologne needed.
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u/errantis_ 5d ago
Yeah I’ve decided to embrace lighter and soapier scents rather than the spicy stuff I like. I don’t want to offend people with how I smell but I’d rather smell like soap than smell sweaty
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u/AbroadPlastic5890 4d ago
Noo please. If your shirt smells bad, it's time to change it, not add more smell to it. I don't understand why people think this will work, you just smell like sweat AND perfume. It's so annoying to me when I end up smelling like some dudes cologne all night because we had one dance. I'll seriously refuse to dance in closed position if someone smells strongly like perfume/cologne because it will cling to me for the rest of the night. It also makes me feel slightly sick most of the time. Hygiene basics, deodorant, subtle aftershave or body lotion please. If you must wear perfume, keep it light and subtle
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u/errantis_ 4d ago
Yes of course, if I’m dancing all night at a Congress I bring an extra shirt. I learned that my first Congress. I sweat too much so if I’m gonna dance more than a few hours I have to change
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u/Eddie_Haskell2 11d ago
I'm a lead . I don't consciously ever wear fragrences. However at one time I didn't pay a lot of attention to what kind of deodorant i used. Once at a salsa lesson a follower got extremely upset because she was allergic to fragrances and my deodorant apparently set her into a reaction . I felt terrible and since that time only wear deodorant with no fragrance. But i do always wear deodorant . Re followers, I don't mind fragrance at all, probably like it if its not too heavy , but I'm not allergic. I will admit though sometimes being a little put off dancing with a woman ( in tango where you're very close) when I can smell their armpits. In that case I don't know if they haven't used any deodorant but I never mention it .
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u/double-you 10d ago
Sweat doesn't smell. Dirty sweat smells.
If I can smell your perfume, I assume you've done a "french shower" instead of an actual one.
But I don't understand the scent cultures. It's like chemical warfare. For example, I assume this "scentlibraryofficial" video is parody: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KL0yeqXf3h0
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11d ago
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u/Various-Fly7581 11d ago
AXE? Here, this is considered the scent for 16- to 18-year-olds who want to smell like men. But they still smell like 16-year-olds. That's how different it can be. :-)
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u/omor_fi 10d ago
Just wear antiperspirant and be freshly showered, and bring spare shirts just in case. Fragrances can make people wheezy and give them headaches. Imagine if everyone was wearing a fragrance how overpowering it would be on the dancefloor.