What's that smell?

[Local Talent]

I know I can sound like an old fart (hey, it's OK, I'm getting up there), but I once read that you should be able to smell a woman's perfume in her wake, never a man's. But some younger, newer agents (and even some "seasoned" pros, who should know better) seem to think nothing of dousing themselves with fragrant lotions. You'll shake their hand, wash yours, and still be able to smell them on your skin for hours... :mad: To the GF: "No, honey, I swear, it's just that dude at work!"

I wonder what makes them think that it's OK to stink up the clients' environment (let's not even talk about their co-workers'). Not to mention that some folks can have allergic reactions to some perfumes. Can you imagine being asked to step out of a car because the principal can't breathe?

Then, tactically speaking, leaving an olfactory signature is just dumb. Remember that story I told about becoming aware of a smoker's presence (http://www.socalbodyguards.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224)?

No, to me, a fragrant agent is just trying to be too "fashionable" for the job. Kinda like those guys in double-breasted or four-button suits: if you can't keep your jacket open, how will you access your gear in a hurry? :rolleyes:

Only a woman should be able to smell you... provided that she's close enough for that. ;)

OK, time to step off the :rant:. What's your take on this, guys?

[Mata-Leão]

This one doesn't apply to me very well since my client wears some fairly offensive colognes that inundate the interior of the vehicle. He finally bought one that smelled quite nice and I think it was a cologne by Abercrombie and Fitch. I complimented him on the elevator hoping that the compliment would extend into exclusive usage of THAT cologne and not the other hunters doe scent he was wearing.

I learned many years ago when I was a teenager working as a waiter at a country club not to wear cologne in an environment that could offend. EP work requires you to be around a client for an exorbitant period of time and EVERYTHING you do can/will be scrutinized consciously or sub-consciously by the principal. It seems every facet of your being has to meet that happy medium. AND, that happy medium is one of which you perceive FROM your client.

Bottom line is: Some people put on enough cologne/perfume so that THEY personally can smell it. This is not your goal. If cologne is part of your daily routine, then make it discreet enough to where someone would need to be against your neck to smell you.

Another thing that's quite pungent, are certain after shaves. I can tell you when Mr. Old Spice himself walks in the door. *pow*

Speaking of body sprays, I have banned students from wearing any of that AXE 'shtuff' to class. Here, they spray AXE and other potent spray deodorants on before training and it flat messes with everyones bronchial tubes.

All about finding that medium that works for your client.

(funny, I wrote this reply post about 5 hours ago and never hit the 'submit reply' button :rolleyes:)

[Local Talent]

I learned many years ago when I was a teenager working as a waiter at a country club not to wear cologne in an environment that could offend.
Yep.
If cologne is part of your daily routine, then make it discreet enough to where someone would need to be against your neck to smell you.
Exactly.

[Note to self: Quick! Too obvious! Find ways to disagree with yourself before folks start wising up to the fact that you're posting under two different handles!... :eek: :D]

[flash]

This is interesting, I never really thought of this. I'm not much of a cologne guy, unless I have a date...so I don't wear it very often.
But I have some strong scented shaving cream. People ask me "Whats the smell" all day. I tell them what it is, and they ask where they can get it. I too can smell it at certain points of the day. It's faint, but "tuned in" people do notice.
Do you think this falls into the same category?

[Local Talent]

Do you think this falls into the same category?
I'd have to smell ya! :)

Seriously, I think it might. You know what they say - if there's a doubt, there is no doubt! And I think the answer has already been given: [...]make it discreet enough to where someone would need to be against your neck to smell you.
Now if your client somehow ends up with his/her nose on you, that's their pb (could quickly become yours, though! :D).

OTOH, is this a real issue or just one of the many pet peeves of an OCD freak (that would be me)? I dunno, and we'd have to have more people's opinions on this.

I've noticed that a lot of guys, when "formal" wear is spec'ed, don suit AND cologne automatically. Could be a generational thing, like not wearing socks, or non-white shirts at job interviews. :eek:
Personally, I really think that EP agents should take their cues from the military and LE worlds. A "little" conservative maybe, if not square, but we're not taking chances if we stick to those guidelines.
If a DI could smell a rookie (or spot gel in his hair), what would he say/do?! Hmm...

ETA: a lot of rules simply fly out the window as soon as we're talking about clients from the entertainment world, however. From experience, young and hip VIPs don't like their protectors to look (smell?) like a bunch of old G-men.
But corporate types, esp. older and conservative, that's another story. I had one client request no facial hair on her detail!
In general, you won't be faulted for playing it safe.

[Mata-Leão]

Yep.

Exactly.

[Note to self: Quick! Too obvious! Find ways to disagree with yourself before folks start wising up to the fact that you're posting under two different handles!... :eek: :D]

HAHA. You would be skilled to mirror an IP Address in Central America.



Flash, I am most certainly not telling you what to do, and have no idea how heavenly your after shave is...but, when you mentioned that people are constantly commenting on your after shave - this is because a lot of people can smell it when in your general space. Although it might be appeasing to the noses of 95% of people, there more than likely will be those persons that would disagree. In the world of close protection, you do everything possible to maintain a slight invisibility to your client.

"I am here just as soon as you need me, but also discreetly off to the side for all the other times."

Most people have never had another grown man following them everywhere they walk. Once there is something that your client identifies as a bothersome idiosyncrasy, it can ruin your future with that client. Whether it be an odor, your hairstyle, posture/how you carry yourself, speech or how his business acquaintances/family/friends receive you - all can adversely affect HIM.

Another VERY important thing a close protection agent has to take into consideration is his personal protective choreography when moving with the principal. Hmmm, this should be another thread altogether, sorry. ;)

[Local Talent]

In the world of close protection, you do everything possible to maintain a slight invisibility to your client.

"I am here just as soon as you need me, but also discreetly off to the side for all the other times."

Most people have never had another grown man following them everywhere they walk. Once there is something that your client identifies as a bothersome idiosyncrasy, it can ruin your future with that client. Whether it be an odor, your hairstyle, posture/how you carry yourself, speech or how his business acquaintances/family/friends receive you - all can adversely affect HIM.

Another VERY important thing a close protection agent has to take into consideration is his personal protective choreography when moving with the principal. Hmmm, this should be another thread altogether, sorry. ;)
Darn, I wish I could disagree with you at least once in a while, bro... :)

The above is very true and frankly crucial to your success when working one-on-one. If you can't do this you'll always be in the chase car or working the back door at parties, wondering why some guys get to travel...

I had an epiphany about that once when working for a pretty difficult client. Everybody working for him was getting the idea that they wouldn't last long (I did about 2 years before leaving on my own, but it was never pleasant). So his butler, who had gone through the same stuff, explained to me that when serving, he'd basically melt/disappear into the background, only to quickly but discreetly "reappear" when needed (to take a plate, refill a glass, etc.). If done smartly and smoothly, he'd become an extension/enhancement of his client's "power".

As an EP agent, I try to do the exact same thing when around my clients. They are only vaguely aware of my presence, in the periphery, and my hand will briefly appear once in a while (as if "by magic") to open a door, or hand them a phone, or push someone aside, or whatever.
Now if you take this litterally and disappear completely, they'll freak out, of course. They have to be aware of your reassuring presence, but don't want you in their face. It takes a while to find the right equilibrium, and you need to study a new client in order to find their personal rythm(s) and habits.
That's a big part of what I meant when I posted somewhere else that one should be a perceptive individual to do this job. After a while, it'll feel like you're reading your client's minds and they won't be able to function w/o you around. :)

To expand on what Mata-Leão only alluded to, our presence, needed as it is, is often resented (esp. by male clients, who should in theory be able to defend themselves). So clients may end up having a love-hate relationship with you: you're more likely to be perceived as a "trained pig" (the Clintons' lovely moniker for the USSS, apparently :mad:) than a guardian angel, unfortunately.

With all this in mind, it's obvious that you should do your best not to get on their nerves with squeaky shoes, overwhelming cologne, or a big mouth.