Humans smell. Bad. No matter how many times a day we shower, we just stink. And we stink especially well to animals that are equipped with millions of times more olfactory receptors than we have such as any game animal we are hunting. Cover scents don’t work because wildlife, especially those in the deer family, can just sort out an additional scent in their environment, which still includes human. Scent away sprays help to reduce odors, but they don’t eliminate them. And, you’re not going to be able to stop your body from producing sweat, waste, sulfur odors from your digestive system, skin oils etc to prevent you from just overriding that scent away spray before you reach your stand or the water hole. Nevertheless, you should make an effort to not smell like the flowery potpourri that soaps, antiperspirants and laundry detergent make you smell like on any other given day.
There are a few products that I firmly believe in to get you through a hunt with minimal shower availability.
Lets start with Scent Away Deodorizing Shampoo and Body Wash. This is like your one stop shop at the Super Walmart for your body. It takes care of everything, but if you have long hair, prepare for frizz, the start of a rat’s nest and static up the ying-yang. To combat that, I found a scent-free conditioner in Rocky Mountain Soap Co.’s Wild Kindness Conditioner. It is made with natural ingredients and moisturizers that leave those huntress locks manageable.
For the days when you can’t shower, try Balleck Dry Shower. Talc free. This works as a dry shampoo, a deodorant and you can even rub it into your skin to get the grime off. No water required. I even use this at home between hair washes to freshen up my scalp and get rid of oil.
My favorite deodorant/antiperspirant that actually works is MYRO in Open Air which is scent free. This plant based formula is spectacular at keeping a person dry and odor free when it counts. You can customize your case and refills and choose different scents for when you’re not trying to stay scent free. Each scent is super light and not overpowering and there is no baby powder aroma here.
I wash my hunting clothes, and all of my other clothes in scent free detergent but when you wear the same clothing day in and day out, they start to accumulate your stench. The HME Scent Slammer is awesome for combatting this. Charge it with a micro USB, throw it in a bag with your hunting clothes and let the ozone work it’s magic. A couple hours will do the trick on even your nastiest footwear.
The great thing about these products is they are gentle enough, but also effective enough to use daily even when you’re not hunting. It sure has simplified preparing for each season.
Links for products:
Scent Away Body Soap and Shampoo: https://hunterspec.com or any one of your favorite sporting goods stores
Wild Kindness Conditioner. www.rockymountainsoap.com
Balleck Dry Shower: Available on Amazon, Sportsman’s.com and other retailers
MYRO Deodorant: https://www.mymyro.com
Scent Slammer: sporting goods retailers like Bass Pro, Cabelas, Sportsman’s, or Amazon.
