Smellmaxxing
Trend involving use of fragrances
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Smellmaxxing is a term describing a phenomenon where pre-adolescent and adolescent males use fragrances to enhance their body odor.[1][2] This trend occurred in 2024 and was fueled by social media, specifically TikTok.[1][3] Designer fragrances are often used to achieve this, frequently at a high cost.[1][3]
Background
As adolescent males progress through puberty, body odor is a frequent occurrence; a stereotype that has persisted in the United States is teenage males using Axe body spray as their primary fragrance.[1][4] With the ubiquity of social media, the trend of smellmaxxing became prominent.[5] As lower-end brands like Old Spice lost favor amongst Gen Z, more premium brands enjoyed a higher degree of popularity.[5][6] Due to peer pressure in social arenas such as school, teenage boys conform to the trend.[5]
Description and aspects
TikTok influencers often recommend using different scents for different occasions.[1][3] Other aspects include where on the body to apply the fragrances, where to store the fragrances, and how to make the smell last longer, for instance by first applying a moisturizer.[3] The language used to describe the smells is not unlike that of sommeliers.[1]
Motivation
Impact
A survey by Piper Sandler Companies, an investment bank, demonstrated that since the spring of 2023, the annual spending on fragrance amongst teenage males rose by 26%.[1][3] Dior, Chanel, and Tom Ford were particularly popular brands.[3] Teenage males often obtain these high-end items by saving their personal money and/or requesting them as gifts for birthdays or Christmas.[1][3] Some classrooms have banned applying fragrances, and broken glass bottles of fragrance in backpacks became a regular occurrence.[1]
The trend has been pervasive in Western markets, but it also has gained traction in China.[7] However, cultural factors such as price sensitivity, fragrance preferences, and consumption patterns affect the Chinese market differently.[7] Nevertheless, the personal fragrance market demonstrated marked growth in China and is projected to grow.[7]