History Main / JerksUseBodySpray

Body scents can be a nice way for a guy to spice up his attractiveness, but when used inappropriately, they can give an air (so to speak) of smarmy overconfidence and overestimation of charm, to the point of coming off as sleazy or creepy. Cologne and aftershave are the classic avenues for this, but in modern days the go-to is body sprays, especially brands like Axe and Tag. If a male character is known for using body spray, the chances are very good that he's a clueless lout who thinks that smelling good is all that's needed to be attractive, or is using it to mask his insecurity and lack of game, or he sprays himself down so heavily that people can't stand to be around him. He may even use it as a substitute for proper hygiene. [[{{Perfumigation}} The actual odor itself can also be offensive.]]

This negativity comes from blowback against advertising for body sprays. They were usually marketed as the aerosolized key for a man to draw the attention of every woman in olfactory range. However, some brands ran that theme to over-the-top and borderline misogynistic levels that began to draw the ire of both women and media.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' has Dudetime body spray, that advertises itself pretty much like AXE, but in action smells terrible, and all it actually attracts are jackassed FratBro unicorns. And considering the legends around unicorns and their attraction to virgins...

%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!

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[[quoteright:275:[[Webcomic/EnnuiGo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_rsz_spray.png]]]]
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* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10264509/48/Tales-of-Fairies Never Believe Adverts]]'' inverts this for laughs in this ''Manga/FairyTail'' ModernAUFic. Natsu, Gray, Elfman, Jet, and Droy (who for the most part are {{Nice Guy}}s) all bath themselves in Lynx bodyspray, but with the exception of Gray they end up repelling the girls with how strong and repulsive their overuse of the scent was (and in Gray case, it's only because [[MadLove Juvia is so madly in love with Gray she can push through how the scent is burning her eyes]]). When [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Gajeel]] used the bodyspray, however, he used a more moderate amount compared to the other guys, and is better able to impress Levy while taking her to the nurse.

* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': In "The Date", Lord Hater douses himself in a ridiculous amount of body spray before going over to talk to a disguised Sylvia.

->''Lynx''[[note]]the UK brand name of Axe[[/note]]: ''for that cheap teenage smell of desperation.''

One particular brand of male {{Jerkass}} is often referred to as a "douchebag". The term carries certain connotations about his personality, clothes, hairstyle and/or accessories, but (over)use of body spray is a very common association.

* An episode of ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' had a variation with a "Joker vs. Joker" challenge between Sal and Q. In the challenge, they were supposed to present a fragrance to a panel, and Sal's fragrance was called "Eu Ver Compensat" (overcompensate). The packaging featured an overconfident looking guy [[CompensatingForSomething kneeling in front a sports car]]. The "Inside Jokes" version states that the art department was asked to use the "douchiest" looking stock photo they could find.

'''Connor:''' I mean, I'm like in the one meter radius and I can smell the Axe body spray, I don't need this!

* The LiteratureDorkDiaries book ''Tales from a Not So Smart Miss Know It All'' has Nikki head an advice column for the school paper. One boy writes in and asks if girls will like him if he uses the body spray he saw advertised on TV. Nikki tells him that advertisements will say whatever they think will get you to buy the product. She advises him to save his money and take a shower.

-->-- ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner''

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': In the WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail "[[Recap/StrongBadEmailE185Nightlife nightlife]]", Strong Bad douses himself in body spray (which he insists is "the blood of slain warrior mammoths") while preparing for a night at the "cloughb". It fits with his personality of a JerkAss and CasanovaWannabe who tries to look cool and tough.

[[quoteright:275:[[Webcomic/EnnuiGo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_rsz_spray.png]]]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* {{Parodied|Trope}} in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'', when a [[LawyerFriendlyCameo fake brand]] of body cologne is used to repel aliens because it is just that gross.
* ''Series/TheOfficeUK'': When [[SmallNameBigEgo David Brent]] affects a contrived cool-guy persona for a motivational speaking gig, he changes shirts in front of his bemused client and hoses himself down with body spray, catching his BeleagueredAssistant in the face. He isn't hired back.
* An episode of ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' had a variation with a "Joker vs. Joker" challenge between Sal and Q. In the challenge, they were supposed to present a fragrance to a panel, and Sal's fragrance was called "Eu Ver Compensat" (overcompensate). The packaging featured an overconfident looking guy [[CompensatingForSomething kneeling in front a sports car]]. The "Inside Jokes" version states that the art department was asked to use the "douchiest" looking stock photo they could find.

* ''Series/CougarTown'': In "Little Girl Blues", Travis behaves like a jerk to his girlfriend because he's insecure about his sexual performance. When he promises to make it up to her, he mentions putting on body spray for their date and then nixes the idea when she expresses dislike of the idea.
* ''Series/{{Fam}}'': In episode 4, Shannon's neglectful, irresponsible father is said to wear Axe body spray by his ex-wife.

* In WebVideo/DerrickComedy's "Bro Rape" video, one sign of being a [[FratBro Bro]] is use of body spray, with one of the bro rapists using a can and a half of Axe Body Spray on a dildo he intended to use on another bro.

->''Lynx[[note]]the UK brand name of Axe[[/note]]: for that cheap teenage smell of desperation.''

* Subverted in one ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJohnStewart'' segment where Creator/JohnOliver is replaced by Creator/PatrickStewart in a bad toupee [[http://www.cc.com/video-clips/2bpti9/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-daily-show-correspondent-strike and five tons of stage ham]] to parody an NFL labor dispute. Jon starts fanboying over Patrick, even thinking he can smell Patrick's cologne.

* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': During the Time Heist, Scott and Tony are in charge of stealing the Tesseract from ''[[Film/TheAvengers2012 Avengers]]''-era Tony. The plan starts with Scott shrinking down to slip inside past Tony's shirt.

Body scents can be a nice way to spice up your attractiveness, but when used inappropriately, they can give an air (so to speak) of smarmy overconfidence and overestimation of one's charm, to the point of coming off as sleazy and/or creepy. Cologne and aftershave are classic avenues for this attitude, but in modern days it's very heavily associated with body sprays, especially brands like Axe and Tag. If a character is known for using body spray, the chances are very good that he's a clueless lout who thinks that smelling good is all that's needed to be attractive, or is using it to mask his insecurity and lack of game, or he sprays himself down so heavily that people can't stand to be around him. He may even use it as a substitute for proper hygiene. [[{{Perfumigation}} The actual odor itself can also be offensive.]]

** Axe and Tag were parodied by a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzbIXOAhCaM commercial for Nivea body wash]]. The commercial opens with assorted gangly adolescents and man-children criticizing the product for failing to make women want to have sex with them. Finally, a clean-cut young businessman takes a look and says "It won't dry my skin, it doesn't reek... isn't that the point?" followed by the tagline "Nivea For Men: the body wash for grown-ups".

[[folder:Film]]

-->'''Todd:''' No, Donny, I don't have any Axe body spray because I'm not a fucking douchebag.
-->'''Donny:''' That's a douchebag thing? When did that become a douchebag thing?
* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': During the Time Heist, Scott and Tony are in charge of stealing the Tesseract from ''[[Film/TheAvengers2012 Avengers]]''-era Tony. The plan starts with Scott shrinking down to slip inside Past!Tony's shirt.
-->'''Scott:''' Ugh! Is that Axe body spray?
-->'''Tony:''' I keep a can in the desk for emergencies, calm down.

* {{Parodied|Trope}} in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'', when a [[LawyerFriendlyCameo fake brand]] of body cologne was used to repel aliens because it was just that gross.

-->'''Jon Stewart:''' Is it a hint of lavender with a trace note of cedar and a ''soupcon'' of Balinese ocean sand, is that what it smells like?
-->'''Patrick Stewart:''' It's Axe body spray.

* The Music/GarfunkelAndOates song "This Party Just Took a Turn For the Douche" gives this as one of the signs that the party they just walked into has...well...:
-->The techno music starts to play
-->And the room smells like Axe body spray
-->I'm like Golda Meir with no gold in my ear
-->Please tell me what the hell happened here

[[folder:Web Media]]

* {{Invoked|Trope}} in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2khfk7mp5o Disney Villain Therapy Session]]". [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]] claims to hide his insecurities behind "muscles and tough-guy cologne", part of his overly masculine facade to hide the fact that he's gay.
* Thought Catalog's post "[[https://thoughtcatalog.com/lorenzo-jensen-iii/2016/06/31-hilarious-ways-to-explain-exactly-what-a-douchebag-really-is/ 31 Hilarious Ways to Explain What A 'Douchebag' Really Is]]" included this:
-->In terms of geography douchebags can be found nearly anywhere. For instance, douchebags can be seen in New Jersey where fake diamond earrings, frosted spiked hair, Razor phones, half a can of Axe [...] are considered "tight."

-->'''Joey''': It's 2019, who does this?! [...] It just looks really rapey to me!
-->'''Connor:''' I mean, I'm like in the one meter radius and I can smell the Axe body spray, I don't need this!

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In "Spray", rather than using the school's showers after gym class, Max's nemesis Skyler saturates himself with Ass body spray. He thinks it attracts girls, but when he walks by Max's friends Calixta and Bee, Bee remarks "Ugh, what smells like piss?", which echoes Max's opinion of how it smells.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' has Dudetime body spray, that advertises itself pretty much like AXE, but in action smells terrible, and all it actually attracts are jackassed FratBro unicorns. And considering the legends around unicorns and their attraction to virgins...
* ''WesternAnimation/PickleAndPeanut'': The episode "Body Spray" has [[JerkJock Lazer]] selling Crossbow Body Spray, an amazing-smelling yet extremely expensive (a hundred dollars for just ''one'' can) body spray that makes anyone who wears it popular with everybody in town. He later throws a party that is exclusively for people who wear the spray, though Pickle is quick to point out when the duo get turned away that the party is nothing but obnoxious guys obsessed with smelling each other. Peanut couldn't care less and tries to sneak in to steal more Crossbow, only to be threatened to be shot by Lazer with a ''literal'' crossbow. Luckily, [[BigDamnHeroes Pickle saves him]] using their {{Gonk}}-inducing homemade body spray and a small army of animals that are attracted to it.
[[/folder]]

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Indexes: AdvertisingTropes, TheJerkIndex, {{Stereotype}}

* Subverted in one ''Series/TheDailyShow'' segment where Creator/JohnOliver is replaced by Creator/PatrickStewart in a bad toupee [[http://www.cc.com/video-clips/2bpti9/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-daily-show-correspondent-strike and five tons of stage ham]] to parody an NFL labor dispute. Jon starts fanboying over Patrick, even thinking he can smell Patrick's cologne.

-->'''Connor:''' I mean, I'm like in the one-meter radius and I can smell the Axe body spray, I don't need this!

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In "Spray", rather than using the school's showers after gym class, Max's nemesis Skyler saturates himself with Ass body spray. He thinks it attracts girls, but when he walks by Max's friends Calixta and Bee, Bee remarks, "Ugh, what smells like piss?" which echoes Max's opinion of how it smells.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' has Dudetime body spray, that advertises itself pretty much like AXE, but in action smells terrible, and all it actually attracts is jackassed, FratBro unicorns. And considering the legends around unicorns and their attraction to virgins...

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-->'''Connor:''' I mean, I'm like in the one meter radius and I can smell the Axe body spray, I don't need this!

* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': In "Spray", rather than using the school's showers after gym class, Max's nemesis Skyler saturates himself with Ass body spray. He thinks it attracts girls, but when he walks by Max's friends Calixta and Bee, Bee remarks "Ugh, what smells like piss?", which echoes Max's opinion of how it smells.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' has Dudetime body spray, that advertises itself pretty much like AXE, but in action smells terrible, and all it actually attracts jackassed, FratBro unicorns. And considering the legends around unicorns and their attraction to virgins...

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Indexes: AdvertisingTropes, TheJerkIndex, {{Stereotype}}