Brody and I talk about important stuff out here on the road. We’re at Panera Bread outside of Chicago (traffic sucks, btw) pondering something and we wander what you think, ladies.
Question: If a man tells you that “you smell good” do you think he’s flirting?
Cali Amy says:
context?
Cristy says:
Generally, I think no. If it’s accomapanied by a look that involves raised eyebrows, a smile and a head nod, then maybe. That would even be a little creepy. I think it has less to do with the words “you smell good” than it has to do with the facial expressions and body language that go along with those words. IMO anyway.
anne jackson says:
only if he grabs my butt during the process.
Becca says:
I agree. Depends on the situation, who the guy is, and how close he got before knowing what I smell like (as in leaning in for the aforementioned butt-grab). If you are asking if this is a good idea for a married man, I’d stay away from it. The comment and the grab. I don’t want any man other than my husband telling me I smell good. Creepy.
Becky says:
Any man that’s close enough to smell me and then comment on it would probably be flirting. Yes.
Charlie Park says:
IANAL. I’m assuming Guy in Question doesn’t know Girl in Question. Say … it’s a random person in line at … say … Panera.
If you wouldn’t say it to a guy you didn’t know (like, you’re at a bar, dude has cologne, you comment on it), you probably shouldn’t say it to a girl you don’t know. Assuming, of course, that Guy in Question is married.
Courtney says:
I would be sort of creeped out if any guy I knew told me I smelled good. I would consider that pretty blatant flirting. Personally.
Karen says:
Well, I know I’ve told men I know before that they smell good and I wasn’t flirting at all.. If it was a guy I didn’t know, I probably would say something along the lines of, “I like the cologne you’re wearing. What is it?” I would expect a guy to use the same type of comment if he didn’t know the woman he was talking to.
Cpt. Crayon says:
Quote from someone else…
I definitely get the feeling that sometimes when I talk to a girl before I really know her that she’ll read something into “hi”
ally simpson says:
my wife says yea,,, flirting!! i would def not tell another woman she smelt good……….no way
grace says:
Yes, smell is too intimate for public comment.
I wouldn’t mention taste or feel either.
Of the five senses, look and sound are okay if you are careful in how you say it, like “you look nice” or “you sound nice”, but not “oo la la!”
ginger swann says:
that highly depends upon the distance at which he lingers after the said compliment…
kathryn says:
i agree with everyone here. it all depends. . it doesn’t have to be meant that way or taken that way, but the potential is there.
Shawn bashor says:
I think if a woman does not want to be told she “smells good,” then she should not wear perfume that…well, what the heck do you know, smells good!
angie says:
Perhaps, “ What’s the name of your perfume, it smells good.” Instead of making it personal. Of course, if you’re trying to flirt, go for it, every girl likes to be noticed and feel pretty.
Zach says:
Mr. Shaun Groves, sir, I think this version of your website will make you laugh.
Link to Gizoogled Shlog
– Zach
Shawn says:
Ok, please consider this as well…
I go to the same Starbucks on my way to work and there’s this girl that’s normally working the drive thru window. She changes her hair all the time, like full on different color dyes, etc.
One day I pull up to get my drink and her hair was fairly normal looking and a normal color. It looked nice! So I said, “hey, your hair looks nice today.” She’s been cold to me ever since.
She thought I was flirting, wasn’t she? ‘Cause I wasn’t.
Fa realz.
Charlie Park says:
Your Starbucks has a drive-thru?
Zach says:
Also, I’m sorry about that link I posted. It might bring up some pg-13 content, I didn’t see it do that before.. sorry, I feel pretty bad about that.
An answer from me as a guy – I would think it depends on the situation, your relationship with the girl, etc. I think it would definitely feel a bit flirty if you didn’t know the girl very well.
Kayla says:
Personally, I think if a girl immediately thinks she’s being flirted with because someone notices she smells nice, it either means she doesn’t get flirted with very often or she’s known for not taking showers… and it definitely means she’s a little full of herself.
But if it makes you feel better to complain later about the guy that so obviously flirted with you, go ahead. You’d probably be saying that even if he’d just said hi anyway.
Anon says:
If you don’t know the girl, it will most likely be taken as flirting. If you commented on something the smell reminded you of then you might be alright. If you inquire after then name of the perfume, you may also be safe, but telling someone you aren’t yet friends with that she smells good is considered flirting.
Shaun Groves says:
Public opinion here seems to be overwhelming in favor of “yep, he’s flirting.”
Here’s the context. The other day my wife went to pick up produce from the farmer’s co-op we’re part of. Farmer Heath, this young cowboy in jeans and a button up shirt, late twenties, was on duty and handed her a box of veggies and said “You smell good.”
She told me, laughing, that Farmer Heath flirted with her. I ‘m not sure about that, I said…and promised to become non-non-violent if I was wrong and he tried any funny stuff when I’m out of town.
I think it’s assuming a lot is all. My wife is very attractive, I think, sure, so it’s highly probable this guy finds her attractive. But it’s also true that some guys just notice things like smell and new earrings or cool shoes and mention it because, well, they’re nice guys. I’ve told women I barely know that they smell nice or I like their hair that way. I don’t say “you smell good” but, hey, I’m not Farmer Heath. I say something like “something smells good, is that you or me?” Maybe Farmer Heath just isn’t funny or is just more plain spoken…or maybe he does dig my wife.
Either way, I think I’m picking up the produce from now on. Thanks for the dose of paranoia. Geez.
randy says:
as a guy, I would be guilty as to what the second comment says. only my eye brow wouldnt look sleezy and my head nod would look like an old man.
Zach says:
Ok – saying ‘something smells good, is that you’ is a very good way to go, I think. But, of course, what’s most important is how it comes across. You know, what is actually communicated rather than what was meant to be communicated. But as for the real question, is it flirting?.. That is all in the heart and intent of the guy. It could be obvious, but it may also be very hard to tell sometimes. Tough one.
todd says:
Farmer Heath is the mack.
Nancy Tyler says:
The only thing better than receiving an innocent, flirtatious comment is to go home, tell your husband, and watch him light up like a Christmas tree over it.
Shawn bashor says:
Shaun,
your wife is hot? I don’t think I have ever seen a picture of her. I think you should post a picture on here and let the guys on here tell her she “smells good.”
On a real note, I think that guy was nice for saying that. Did he follow it up with “can I have your number?” “is there a Mr. Smell Good?” “Can I carry your groceries for you to you’re super hot mini-van?”
Or was maybe saying “you smell good,” was really something on the order of saying “don’t miss the tip jar their ma’am.”
Cristy says:
Okay, I’m thinking he’s a farmer, he may not smell good things often… maybe it WAS totally a smell thing.
Anne Jackson says:
I’ve been told I smell good by guys and I’ve never found it to be creepy. Girls have told me the same thing. So it just must be true.
However guys who say that and then sit next to you at Starbucks for 25 minutes that don’t shut up…that would be flirting.
Of course, with Farmer guy…I agree, he probably doesn’t smell things lovely often.
Seth Ward says:
On the edge of flirt cliff, unless you were saying it to Brody or your mom.
“something smells good, is that you or me?” -nice.
My wife would say, “I think I stepped in some poop… (then she’d check)… what was the other option?”
Aims says:
It would depend on how he looked at me when he said it and the tone of voice. If it’s just a “hey you smell nice/good” after a hug then it’s hardly flirting. I’d be flattered but I would hardly consider it flirting. Now if it was something like a nice big sniff from him and then him going “Ah you smell great!” Working to hard there buddy quit flirting.
*2 cents*
Brian Seay says:
“Something smells nice – is that you or me?”
That sounds like a cheap bar pick up line to me.
Shaun Groves says:
You’re the expert, Brian.