Question:
(When I did a search, I didn't find a thread that addresses this.)
I just read through the "fragrances chicks dig" thread, and found myself wondering whether there is a relationship between individual fragrance preferences (notes or categories), and responses to the scents of bodies themselves, beneath the fragrance, or the scent of unfragranced bodies.
E.g. do those who go in for the animalic and leathery also find that they are not put off--or perhaps even prefer--a partner who is at least occasionally a bit funky smelling? Or, do those who prefer very fresh, light scents, prefer a partner who always smells squeaky clean?
Example? I tend to be particularly drawn to fragrances with animalic notes, and those of of smoke, tobacco, chocolate, leather, roots, mosses, evergreen herbs; florals generally leave me cold, and I dislike amber and musk. I also haven't got a huge problem with my SO skipping a shower, forgetting deodourant for a day, etc. In fact, given a choice of his skipping a day, or using a scented deo., I'd prefer the former.
I admit to being far less liberal in my attitude toward others, and have never come across a fragrance that in any way modified my overall reaction to the man himself.
N.B. This is NOT intended to be restricted to to either gender or sexual preference, although the response to partners vs. others/strangers is one aspect I'm curious about.
If this question seems too personal to answer specifically, theories and empirically based observations would also be interesting to hear
P.S. (edited in) I hope this is the right forum for this? The "scents chicks dig" thread was here, but perhaps this belongs off-topic, after all?

Answer:
What a great question!!! If I really enjoyed my SO's natural scent, I'd definitely let her know. Of course if she wanted to wear frags I'd let her, but it wouldn't be a requirement. Especially if she had a heavenly natural scent! I think that would be such a turn on. And likewise, I'd like my partner to be honest about how I smell.
My ex's natural scent was really nice...except she insisted on covering it with heavy cigarette smoke .
Fragwise...I like both heavier muskier frags and light fresher frags. I guess that kind of goes with how I respond to natural bodies! Clean bodies are nice...but I would not reject someone who hasn't taken a shower for a bit if they smelled nice.

Answer:
That is a great question. I happen to love water and practically live in it. Take at least two baths a day. Love to sit in a Jacuzzi and many water sports. Unfortunately, I live in the desert right now, but where ever there is a pool, I'll find it. I will be getting a pool this summer. I love clean bodies and so the same with my husband. For me scent comes after real clean. I love Orientals most then Gourmands, some musks and chypres.
Like florals on others, but not me.

Answer:
I have no problem with my SO skipping a shower. He smells delicious, kinda spicy and musky, and I don't wash his pillow cases when he's away. I've had a couple of boyfriends that smelled kinda sour/bitter--for them, shower please. It just depends on the natural chemistry. For strangers or friends, once a week would be fine, as I just don't mind average body odor at all. Happy coincidence for my line of work, since lots of people aren't at their perky best before surgery!
It's funny, though, the SO is very self conscious of body odor. This last visit, he stopped at a truck stop and showered and shaved.
For me, I like florals and can't bear to be less than fresh so I'm in the two shower/bath a day group-just quick ones, and always a new scent afterward! It's not so my smell that gets me, it's a sticky feeling. In training, if we did a long or bad case in the night, I'd still shower right afterward--2am, 4am, not a problem.

Answer:
Here's a thread relating to that.
Myself, I am definitely in favor of someone's own musk. My wife and I have a definite mutual admiration society in that regard, and I consider myself lucky, of course.
But of course, anyone can think of people whose smell could not only stop a clock, but maybe even a sundial.
I think a lot of it has to do with what we put in our bodies, and that we tend to have a nice smell until we ruin it with chemicals, or have a severe health problem.
To me, sweat can be earthy, sensuous, and sexy. But I know many will disagree. I've met people who will never eat garlic, for instance.

Answer:
I knew a guy who didn't wear any fragrance and you could often smell his sweat. And he smelled GREAT. It was weird, because he wasn't that attractive in other ways...but his natural smell was amazing. That sounds pretty gross, I know, but I couldn't help it. Must be a hormonal thing.
My own boyfriend also has a great natural smell. Although I do like him to be clean, I prefer his sweat to his deodorant any day.

Answer:
I can't tolerate bad breath (especially coming from a colleague). I also hate the stuffiness in the bus / train and BO coming from people who have no sense of personal hygiene. The smell of clean sweat could be nice, but L'eau de Armpits after a long day...
I have been told by my ex and other people that I have very good BO. I guess everyone has their own preferences. I have a habit of washing myself twice a day, particularly before I go to bed.

Answer:
good question!

i never like the smell of dirty hair, on anyone. but BO can be a very pleasant smell, if the BO is on the right person. i didn't like my ex's BO, but i like my current boyf's BO! i guess that means we were meant to be. i find it to be almost an aphrodisiac? but he can get sweaty and smell "strong" and other people tell him he stinks. i always think, "yes, but he smells so good!"

BO is one of those smells, like gasoline, that is bad/good. borderline offensive or gross, but somehow really compelling.

Answer:
Originally Posted by mysteriousmongoose E.g. do those who go in for the animalic and leathery also find that they are not put off--or perhaps even prefer--a partner who is at least occasionally a bit funky smelling? It's true at least in my case. The natural smell of a man is one of the key factors: if I don't like his smell, no frag can change it, and if I do like his smell, well... no frag necessary but a good scent won't do any harm, either.
An ex-boyfriend used to bath three times a day and the day he hadn't the chance to do so was the day I went Since then I have been very wary of überhygienic people, I suspect they have something to hide.
Don't get me wrong, I do prefer people to take care of their personal hygiene but overdoing it is a put-off. I prefer a bit more relaxed approach.
(Viggo Mortensen has never looked as sexy as he did as Aragorn in LotR. )

Answer:
Clean is good, but over-clean, all the time doesn't seem natural.

If it's me who is sweating hard, I'll tend to shower afterward if I can, but mostly because I'll get a chill if I don't.
I think climat has a lot to do with BO as well. In more humid climbs odors are often accentuated, whereas in drier areas sometimes you hardly need to use a deodorant. Also, different times of the year affect my sense of smell too. During a hot, sticky summer I'll tend to want to shower more and appreciate someone smelling clean also. While in the bone-dry winter, skipping a day hardly seems a tragedy.
The bottom line for me- personal hygiene is important but a healthy, clean sweat never bothers me.