While most people take the liberty of clubbing these two products together, they do have separate and distinct functions. Men generally tend to use deodorants more actively than women, which is why there is a plethora of brands that offer deodorants for various activities –- from regular to sporty.
Meet Selwyn (name changed). He would die before he admits to his female colleagues that he keeps a deodorant in his office locker. "I started using it the day someone joked in the men's loo that it was probably not the loo but me that smelled," he recollects. "Of course that was nasty but it drove home the point that much as I loathe it, I would need to use a deodorant regularly."
As for perfumes, earlier, men had to hunt for perfumes like Hugo, CK, Polo, Black and the like. However with most malls selling all international brands, shopping for perfumes is not such a difficult task anymore.
Men tend to use perfumes for formal occasions and not for everyday use. "First of all the cost is prohibitive and secondly, the scent is very evening wear," says Selwyn.
Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Also read: Hair grooming for macho men