Why Smelly Men?

I’m James, the founder of Smelly Men.

The idea started on the jiu-jitsu mat, where very close contact makes body odour impossible to ignore!

I realised men’s personal care hadn’t evolved— for decades, we've had the same old chemical-laden, plastic-packaged options with those awful artificial fragrances that often irritate the skin.

As a dad of three boys, I saw they had even fewer choices. We care about what we put on babies' skin, but once they grow up, the options are full of dodgy chemicals.

I knew we could do better, naturally.

Smelly Men is about more than just smelling good—it’s about looking after ourselves, our health, and the planet.

I’m committed to helping men and boys smell and feel better, naturally.

FAQs

Why should I buy natural soap and not cheaper soap you can get anywhere?

Not all soap is the same.  Soap in one form or another has been used for a very long time (around 5,000 years) but it was relatively recently that soap was made using industrial chemicals to reduce costs and manufacturing time. As a result, many people think soap is bad for your skin. Because of cheap degreasers like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and artificial preservatives like parabens, cheap soaps often dry the skin and cause irritation.  Natural soaps are very different - the ingredients result in an excellent cleanser leaving the skin feeling soft and supple, not dry and taut.

What is natural deodorant?

Natural deodorant uses a different strategy to dealing with body odour.  Most deodorants just mask odour with artificial chemicals. Anti-perspirants will typically use aluminium to block sweat pores, to reduce sweating.  Neither of these approaches is very effective or healthy.  Natural deodorant instead neutralises the odorous chemicals from skin bacteria that try to break down your sweat. Combined with essential oils, your armpits will smell better, naturally!

Do you use artificial ingredients in your products?

No.  We absolutely won't sell products with artificial ingredients such as SLS, parabens or parfum that can cause skin irritation.  'Parfum' is an umbrella term used by the cosmetics industry to disguise the inclusion of numerous artificial scents and you have no way of knowing exactly what you're putting on your skin.   All our products are 100% natural and only use essential oils for scent.

Are your products cruelty-free?

Yes - all our products are vegan and definitely not tested on animals -  although you don't have to be vegan to buy or enjoy them!

What about packaging? Is it sustainable?

Toiletries and cosmetics use an enormous amount of single-use plastic that can't be recycled. When we throw this away it often goes to landfill and doesn't break down. This is a simple change to make and reduce this pollution.   We take a lot of trouble to use packaging that can easily be recycled - almost all of it is cardboard - except our beard oil which uses glass and bamboo.  We also make sure that the cardboard is from FSC approved sources or has been recycled.

Why does natural soap cost more?

It's a hand-made product with far more time, skill and effort required to make it than cheaper counterparts. It can take weeks to properly cure a natural soap.  But your skin will thank you when you experience washing with it.

What's the best way to use natural soap?

Many people will wet the soap bar and their hands and then rotate the bar to create a lather - you don't need too much. They'll then apply the lather to wet skin with just their hands. Rinse and repeat as necessary.  However some people like to use a wash cloth or a loofah or even rub the bar directly on their skin - it's very much up to you.

How should I look after natural soap?

Our soap is a natural product that will dissolve if wet - so when you've finished using your soap bar, make sure it's not sitting in water.  A  bamboo or teak soap dish (not plastic) or soap tin with a drainage tray is ideal to maximise the life of your product.

Why should I use natural deodorant instead of body spray?

In our experience natural deodorant just works far more effectively -  hours of sweaty jiu jitsu sparring has proved that to our testers! Your clothes will also smell better without repeated washing.  We think the scent is way better than the typical sprays you buy in the supermarket and you're cutting out unnecessary packaging like aerosol cans and plastic containers. Our products just use cardboard tubes.

I've never used natural deodorant before - how do you apply it?

Make sure your armpits are clean and patted dry after showering or a bath and preferably keep any hair trimmed (too much hair makes deodorant trickier to apply). Our deodorants are in stick form to make them more convenient. Remove the lid, then holding the tube in one hand, gently push up from the base using your other thumb untila small amountof the deodorant stick is above the container edge - around a millimetre or or so is enough.  Then, gently hold the stick against your armpit for a few moments to warm. Then apply sparingly to both armpits. 

How do you get the deodorant out of the tube?  I'm struggling.

Our deodorant is a natural product so it's temperature sensitive.  If it's cold or has been on a window sill in cold bathroom for example it will harden and can may be harder to push up.  One method around this is to hold the tube in your hand for a minute or so and gently squeeze the edge of the tube all the way around to loosen it.  You can also use a hairdryer or fan heater to gently warm the cartridge up.  Then, holding in one hand, use your thumb and first finger to grip the base at the edge and push your thumb up. You only need a small amount to appear above the cardboard tube.