Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

boop — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:44:47 GMT

Ha! Carla's got it exactly right. Cubans *drench* their babies in Agua de Violetas, which is a violet-scented cologne. That smell still brings me back to my childhood instantly! I like the way babies smell, but that stuff holds so much nostalgia value for me that I slather some on my baby too. Anyway, this stuff is probably not targeted to "americans obsessed with cleanliness" -- more likely latinos in the US.

cubanfoodmarket.com/.../merchant.mvc

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

Treespeed — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:41:47 GMT

Oh Boo Hoo. it's culturally insensitive to talk about babies not needing perfume? What a bunch of cultural relativism nonsense. It's your right to douse your baby in perfume, and other's right to talk about how sad it is that some people can't appreciate the natural smell of their children.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

Manjari — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:46:32 GMT

Carla, I had no idea whatsoever that there was a cultural tendency to put cologne on babies. Now I know. Sorry to offend.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

carla — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:33:16 GMT

You should do some research before you make fun of something that is very popular in some cultures. I'm Cuban-American and my family and all my Latina friends would be horrified at the idea of NOT putting cologne on a baby. It's part of our culture; it's what our memories of babies smell like. We don't use the J&J stuff but usually Para Mi Bebe or Violetas. Since the day my daughter was born we've splashed some baby cologne on her and everywhere she goes people gush about how amazing she smells. Consider being more culturally sensitive when writing about something you don't know.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

Manjari — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:52:06 GMT

Babies don't need perfume.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

MomofBeans — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:44:19 GMT

I used to wear this stuff in college! It was the best spring/summer perfume. I used the ones in the green and blue bottles, though, and it was only availabe at the Filipino store. I don't think I would actually put this on my baby...she smells rather nice already. I wonder if you could put this on a dog. I don't care for the natural aroma of my dogs.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

HDCS — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:34:12 GMT

Now that my two year old has developed severely stinky summer feet, this doesn't seem like such a bad idea. I saw this stuff in the baby isle at Target last year and then thought it was patently absurd. But now with those little tootsies developing such an unbelievable locker room funk, maybe sprinkling a bit in his shoes will not leave people thinking I never bathe my child.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

MissB — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:47:31 GMT

I've seen J&J Baby Cologne for sale at the Supermercado for some time. I always thought it was some odd cultural difference.

re: Baby Smells Awful? Like Hell!

Melissa — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:22:53 GMT

Someone actually got this for me at my shower. But I have only used it once. Who puts cologne on a baby? Maybe I'll wear it myself. I love the smell.