1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: What is the way a man is supposed to smell like? 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: I don't know, put truly sandalwood, musk like these like 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: wood like you's. 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: I'm Jessica Bennett and I'm Susie Bannacharam. 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: And this is in retrospect, where each week we revisit 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: a cultural moment from the past that shaped us. 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 2: And that we just can't stop thinking about. 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: So if you listen to our episode about Pacey and 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: Dawson's Creek, you'll know that we spent a lot of 10 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: time dissecting what was happening during that era. But Susie, 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: here's the thing. I just in recording that, I felt 12 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 1: like you cannot truly understand that era without really understanding 13 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: the scent that emanated from the halls of every middle 14 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: and high school. And that scent was Ax's body spray 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: really in the. 16 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: Two thousands, because yeah, because my era really had Dracar 17 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: Noir that was are sent and I think they're similar. 18 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 1: Sense actually, well, okay, so here's the thing. I have 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: a little surprise for you. 20 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 2: Amazing. 21 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: I have a couple of bottles of acts. I'm so 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 1: excited that I got here, and the sense are anarchy 23 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: and let me look at this one dark temptation, So 24 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: why don't you just give them a little spride? See 25 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: see what you think about? Not amy, please? 26 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: No, not on you, not on you? But am I 27 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: just like spring it in the air? 28 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 3: Okay? 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: Oh that's okay, that's does that smell agnarchy? No, that's 30 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: dark temptation. 31 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 2: That's dark temptation. That does smell like gracar with like 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: a little extra vanilla in it. Okay, let's smell anarchy. 33 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: The scent of anarchy which. 34 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,919 Speaker 2: Said that it is dark pomegranate and sandal wood scented. 35 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: Hold please, oh god, that also smells like your car, 36 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 2: but with baby power, like I don't understand. 37 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: It's all right, So I have a headache. 38 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 3: Now. 39 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: This is actually we should have done this. 40 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: Out. 41 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: Second, is this last recording? Because now we have to 42 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: sit in this all day? Oh my god. So anyhow, 43 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: I wasn't sure if you remember what ax smelled like, so. 44 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: I didn't, So this is amazing. I mean I am 45 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: just a touch older than you, so we did not 46 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: have X body spray when I was in the hosol. 47 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 2: My god. 48 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: Okay, So I mean this episode is really dedicated to 49 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,119 Speaker 1: all the prepubescent boys of my high school and probably 50 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: yours if you're listening, and lived in the early two thousands, 51 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: and let me just give you a little background body, 52 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: because I mean, I don't know if people know the basics. 53 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: So for what it's worth, the sex body spray that 54 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: I've just sprayed for you was purchased at a Daine 55 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: read in South Williamsburg and so you can still get 56 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: it today. And also shouts to A Jada who was 57 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: the checkout woman who spotted my husband's sixty five cents 58 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: to be able to buy both bottles because his credit 59 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: card was or something happened, So thank you to her. Now. 60 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: Axe Body Spray was actually developed in France and it 61 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: first launched in Europe, which makes it sound like much 62 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: fancier than you might think. But it came to the 63 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: US in two thousand and two. And it was the 64 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: first cent that could do two things, which was be 65 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: a deodoran, an antipersponant, and a cologne at once. Oh interesting, 66 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: And so for guys of a certain era like that 67 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: was really you know, killing two birds with one stone, 68 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:33,839 Speaker 1: I see. 69 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: So like before you had to put on deodorant and 70 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: like go to the drug store and buy drecardnoir, which 71 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: I guess some people may not know what that is, 72 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: so I should explain it. Dreccardnoir was this, I guess 73 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: perfume or I guess for Bennettes cologne that was available 74 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: in my high school years, mid middle school, high school, 75 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: and it was kind of the only scent that boys 76 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: of that age used, and it was very pungent. It 77 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: was very distinctive, and people would sort of like drown 78 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: themselves in it. But it definitely wasn't a deodorant. And 79 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: I just have to say, because I'm looking at the 80 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: packaging here that there's a couple funny things here. One 81 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: is is that it says it's forty eight hours of 82 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: high definition sense, so that is a long time for 83 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 2: your scent to last, I just want to say. And 84 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: also the directions just say spray to neck and chest, 85 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: which is like, but doesn't your deander go under your arm? 86 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 1: Is very confused, Say, you're right, that is weird, okay, 87 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: But there are different versions of it, so maybe this 88 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 1: is actually the scent version. 89 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: So it says deodorant body spray. 90 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: I don't know, but honestly, like I can taste it 91 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: in my mouth, so now. 92 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 2: I mean I actually, let me say something, if you're 93 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 2: a thirteen year old boy, you probably smell pretty bad. 94 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: This is probably an improvement. 95 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: And that is literally what one of the add people 96 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: who came up with all of Access branding said in 97 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: multiple articles. It was like, sure, AX smells disgusting, but 98 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: have you ever smelled with their year old boy? 99 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 4: Yeah? 100 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: I mean thirteen year old boys smell bad. 101 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: And so I mean that's really that's what we're talking 102 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: about here. This saw us the sense of, you know, 103 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: a certain kind of prebevescent boy. And I weirdly know 104 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: a lot about Acts because a few years ago they 105 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: were trying to rebrand and I was going to do 106 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: a story about it. 107 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 2: I kind of remember this. They were like trying to 108 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: be more progressive, right, because it was such like a 109 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: male thing. It was like a rite of passage into 110 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: sort of like a very typical heterosexual masculinity. 111 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: Well, and so Access branding and marketing was famous, and 112 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: they in the early two thousands were in fact the 113 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: most sold, the most popular of this type of product, 114 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: and they were making millions and millions of dollars, so 115 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: it was very popular. And they got that way through 116 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: this kind of packaging and marketing, which was basically like 117 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: spray acts and you're gonna get ass. 118 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 2: As the smell the ladies love, You're gonna get all 119 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 2: the way. 120 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: But let me actually I wrote down suwhere okay, here 121 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: was the official tee spray more, get more, And so 122 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: it's basically all about sex. And they had these flavors 123 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: or scents or whatever. They were all like yeah, like 124 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: erotic sunshine or sorry, like hold. 125 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 2: On hand up, what is erotic sunshine? 126 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: Honestly, I think I just made that one up, but 127 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: they were like that, and so it was always like, 128 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: you know, what is the way a man is supposed 129 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: to smell? Like? I don't know, put truly sandalwood musk, 130 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: like these like wood flavors. And so the early advertisements 131 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: for acts, which if you grew up in this area 132 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: you probably remember, but let me just remind you of 133 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: a couple of them. The first real US ad was 134 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: called Mannequin, and it was like basically, a hot woman 135 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: shopping at a department store, she's like testing this axe 136 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: and she sprays it on a mannequin to smell it. 137 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: Here's the new do you call acts sprayed under your arms? 138 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: And then she's so turned on by the scent that 139 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: she has the mannequin spank. She's banking herself with the 140 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: mannequan's farm. 141 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 3: Oh, I have been naughty. 142 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 2: She's like bank me mannequin. That doesn't make any sense, okay. 143 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: And then there's another one called Billions, where quote unquote 144 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: billions of women are like running towards some dorky guy 145 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: who sprang ex body spray. And I think that's a 146 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: critical thing here too. It wasn't like targeted it guys 147 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: who were already traditionally hot or chiseled or popular. It 148 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: was targeted at the dorky guys who wanted to get girls, 149 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: and they really weren't shying away from like being kind 150 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: of raunchy. So there was another one in twenty ten 151 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: called clean your Balls. 152 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: The axe body spray was called that, or the ad. 153 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: The ad was called that, but it was for the 154 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: new maybe not new, but shower body wash. So it 155 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: was like and there was like a tennis player in love. 156 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: So no one wants to play with dirty equipment. 157 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: That's why I have to keep balls clean. 158 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: It's not bad advice for a boy. 159 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: Clean your ball. I can't even say that because It's 160 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: just a ridiculous wasn't there also when I'm bigly remembering 161 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: with Ben Affleck great memory. 162 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, this is so funny because I feel like Ben Affleck, 163 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: he's now grown on whatever, but he kind of embodies 164 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: this kind of like his like early So okay, yes, 165 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: Ben Affleck starred in one of these ads. He plays himself. 166 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: He's like going around l A doing errands like an 167 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: average day, and he's telling the number of women who 168 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: check him out. So okay, fine, as one does as 169 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: one does. So then he gets into an elevator with 170 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: like this you know, geeky guy, and the two compare 171 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: their numbers, and the joke, of course is that the 172 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: geeky guy who's wearing AS has way more chicks checking 173 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: in that. 174 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 2: I also like the idea that you can tally who's 175 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: checking you out, like what like what? 176 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 3: Yeah? 177 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: Amazing. 178 00:08:55,880 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: Clearly that advertisement would not in retrospects sex, so it's 179 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: also worth noting. Honestly, this is I'm not dramatic effect 180 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: AX has. When I was thinking about doing the story, 181 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: which I never ended up doing and I sort of regret, 182 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: but I was talking to them about how AX has 183 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 1: a real perfume mirror about how you say, how you 184 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: say word behind it, like there are real, very respected 185 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: people developing these fascinating and I think in Europe and 186 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: in the UK it was not marketed in the same 187 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: kind of like trashy, low brow way as it was 188 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: in the US. And interestingly, one of our friends who's British, 189 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: who's like you know, now in his early forties and 190 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: has a kid like still wears ax Bie ray, which 191 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: in the UK is called links, So it just doesn't 192 00:09:59,080 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: have quite the stick. 193 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: Can I say something with love about our European brethren 194 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 2: like they? I mean, I picture European men spelling like this, 195 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: like truly with love, Like I love European men. But 196 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 2: this is kind of the scent, you know, It's like 197 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 2: they have a kind of vibe that that this vibe 198 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 2: is with absolutely you know what else this kind of 199 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: reminds me of from this era, from the same era 200 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 2: is like the rise of the pickup Artist? Were you 201 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 2: ever did you ever watch that show on MTV about mystery? 202 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 2: Do you know what that show was? There was a 203 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 2: show on MTV. Of course I watched it because I 204 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 2: love every kind of trashy TV. It was about a 205 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 2: pick up artist named Mystery, and he would teach other 206 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: dorks how to become cool like him, and pick up 207 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 2: chicks meet the world's most successful pick up artists a 208 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 2: man who goes by only one name, Mystery, and then 209 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 2: there would be like challenges, like they take them to 210 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: the bar and they would teach them about negging. 211 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 1: Do you remember neggi? 212 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 2: Which is like when you say something mean to someone. Yeah, 213 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: So there was like this whole kind of era. Yeah, 214 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 2: that was the pickup artist. 215 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: Okay, yes, wasn't this also the era of that book 216 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: The Game. I think it's by Neil Strauss. But this 217 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: was very much a time, like you're saying, even for 218 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: women too, were like Hollywood movies. It was like there 219 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: was always that moment where you were like taking the 220 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: glasses off the girl and suddenly she's supposed to be pretty. Yeah, gentlemen, 221 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: may I present to you the new and improved Jennie Briggs. 222 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,559 Speaker 2: And also I think the thing about the pickup era 223 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 2: that's interesting is that it was involved this concept of peacocking. 224 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 2: Do you remember this, Where it's like part of what 225 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 2: you wanted to do as a man is stand out. So, 226 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: like the recommendation was that you wore like crazy hats. 227 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 2: You wore like a funny feather, like some weird I 228 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 2: really watched that show a lot. It was so bizarre. 229 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 4: But I. 230 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: To that right, like, you want to stand out, you 231 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 2: want to you want to have something that makes someone 232 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 2: like attracted to you, and this would be sort of 233 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 2: in that category of peacocking. I think. 234 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: Okay, So I have a horrifying thing to tell you, 235 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: which is that when I was well, actually, when my 236 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: husband went to go purchase these X body space for me, 237 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: I was like, so, did you react and he's like, no, 238 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: not really, but actually, like I sort of remember spraying 239 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: it on my ball. I'm sorry what, which goes to 240 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: the the ad campaign we spoke about. So, honestly, we 241 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: should just call him. 242 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean we should, because I want to understand 243 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 2: how the answer is, no, I did not, but yes, 244 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 2: I read it on my ball. 245 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: Also, I hate saying that word. 246 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:34,479 Speaker 2: It's so disguising. 247 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,079 Speaker 1: Is there some way to like, I don't know. 248 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 2: But the look on your face, like I really wish 249 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 2: people could see it because may be too. 250 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: Embarrassing to hear honestly, But well, but we'll call him 251 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: and we'll just like see how this works. 252 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: Okay, great, I can't wait. Hello Babe, Sam Hill, respect. 253 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 3: Oh my god, this has been my dream. 254 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 2: Oh my god, Sam. I have so many question Jenso. 255 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: Susie's going to leave this interview because I'm biased. 256 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 2: I mean, here's what I have to tell you. Yes, 257 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 2: is that the way Jessica presented your relationship to ex 258 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 2: body spray was to say, oh, I asked him if 259 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 2: you ever used it, and he said no, but sometimes 260 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 2: I sprayed it on my balls. And I guess I 261 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 2: don't understand how the answer can be no and yes 262 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 2: at the same time. 263 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's a fair question answer, Susie. I guess what 264 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:35,319 Speaker 4: I meant is like I didn't use it as deodorant. 265 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 3: I serve used it as like cologne. 266 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 2: Uh huh uh huh. 267 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 4: And you know, I feel like at some point in 268 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 4: my teens someone told me or gave me the idea 269 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 4: or maybe it was from Max's marketing that like you 270 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 4: had to make sure that, like you had good smelling 271 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 4: stuff on your jump. 272 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 2: What you want to know privates. 273 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 3: And so you know what I mean. 274 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 2: I have some I have some questions. I have some 275 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 2: follow up questions, like any good journalists would, So did 276 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 2: you have a signature sense or did you just use 277 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 2: whatever it was available to great questions. 278 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 4: No, I didn't have a signature scent, but like I 279 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 4: did love to sort of like see what the like 280 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 4: the goofy flavors that they would have would be like 281 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 4: I kind of yeah, I guess I was very susceptible 282 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 4: to their branding. I remember there was one called like Conviction, 283 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 4: which I thought was pretty funny. 284 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: Mom oh there was or was it convict? 285 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 3: I think it was Conviction. 286 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 4: I don't think I remember seeing it and being like, 287 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 4: I don't think that people are taking this the way 288 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 4: that they think they're taking it. 289 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: So you liked it, ironically, is what you're trying to 290 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: tell us? 291 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 4: Well, I went through different phases I think as a team. 292 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 3: No, there was not a ton of irony involved. 293 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 4: It was more like, oh my god, like I'll meet 294 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 4: women if I sprayed my balls with them. 295 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 2: God. So so basically the motivation was the ladies are. 296 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 3: Going to love this, yeah, obviously. 297 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 2: And did a lady ever encounter your axe, drun or 298 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 2: have a reaction to you? I feel like I can't 299 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 2: be traumatized gentlemen never tell Yeah, thanks babe, Yeah that's fair, 300 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 2: that's really fair. You're right, it's inappropriate for me to ask. 301 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 2: I just am trying to imagine myself coming upon like 302 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 2: just like a cologne drenched private part. 303 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 3: But I mean, I I no comment. 304 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: Okay, Sam, what about like, who were the guys that 305 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: were wearing like, how would you describe like an axe guy? 306 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 4: I mean, I would describe them as thirteen years old? 307 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 2: So let me ask you something. Do you ever even 308 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 2: wear cologne as a as like a grown man? 309 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 3: Rarely? 310 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think it's interesting. I don't know if it's 311 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 2: cologne less popular now than when we were growing up, 312 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 2: or is it just. 313 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: The people we know when you're that age, you're like 314 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: experimenting with sense. 315 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: But I just mean, I don't know any grown men 316 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: who were like my boyfriend doesn't wear cologne. But I 317 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: wonder if in general cologne was like a more popular 318 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: eighties and nineties thing. 319 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 3: That's a great question. 320 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 4: I don't know anybody that wears cologne either, but like 321 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 4: I wore coloone in my twenties and maybe when I 322 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 4: was in my early thirties, I think maybe. 323 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 3: Just a trend right. 324 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 2: Well, and also, now you've landed your lady, so you 325 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 2: don't need to attract ladies. 326 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 3: It's so true. 327 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: That was great, babe, Thank. 328 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 3: You, thank you so much. Know there's an axe flavor 329 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 3: called leather and cookies. 330 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: No, no, But one of the things I'm really enjoying 331 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 2: about this conversation is that you keep referring to them 332 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 2: as flavors, not sense, because you can literally taste axe bodies. 333 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: In the studio and it's awful. 334 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 3: Guys, are never going to be allowed back in the studio. 335 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: It's possible, that's possible. 336 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 4: Thanks you, guys. It's been a pleasure. I hope I 337 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 4: did a good job on your podcast. 338 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: You did agree, Now bye bye. 339 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 4: You know. 340 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: The funny thing is he keeps talking about being a teen, 341 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: but AX did not debut in the United States until 342 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: two thousand and two, so he would have been out 343 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,959 Speaker 1: of higher He graduated in nineteen ninety nine, so actually 344 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: he was in college. 345 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 2: So you're like fact checking and you're saying that he 346 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 2: was a college are like, yeah, So, I think the 347 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 2: one thing you mentioned earlier that we haven't really explored 348 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 2: that I would like to go back to is what 349 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 2: is the kind of new acts branding like this sort 350 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 2: of regressive acts vote. 351 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: So when AX debuted Premiered whatever you call it, emerged 352 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: into the US market. They hired this ad agency, and 353 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: the ad agency basically came up with this idea of 354 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: you knowing all about sex, and they came up with 355 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: this branding called the Axe Effect. And the AX effect 356 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 1: was basically sprayed on yourself and then people are attracted 357 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: to you. So fast forward here we are. That feels 358 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: like not the right marketing for today's meed. 359 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 2: It's kind of like the necessarily toxic masculinity exactly. 360 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: And so Acts I think rightly understood or AX marketing 361 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: team rightly understood that they needed to change it up 362 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: a little bit. And so actually they've done I mean, 363 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: we're totally dragging them in this episode, but they've done 364 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,400 Speaker 1: some good things too. They did like a big campaign 365 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: around getting vaccinated during the pandemic. They've like done some 366 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 1: partnerships with various nonprofit organizations, and they've actually done some 367 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: research too about men's attitudes towards sex and other things. 368 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 2: Well, and I want to say, in fairness to them, 369 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 2: like we're not really dragging them in that this was 370 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,959 Speaker 2: an extremely successful business strategy. I mean, this is this 371 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 2: is a reflection of the time, right, Like This isn't 372 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 2: about acts. They didn't create toxic masculinity. They just took 373 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 2: advantage of a thing that existed, which is this idea 374 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 2: that you know, your primary goal as a man is 375 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: to like attract as many ladies as possible. 376 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: And once that is your brand, it's really hard to 377 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: shake it, which I think is what they found. So 378 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 1: around twenty seventy and they basically started thinking, like, look, 379 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: we got to attract gen Z. The brand is not 380 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 1: doing as well as it once was, it's not as popular, 381 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: it's become a bit of a punchline, and so they 382 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: tried to make things a little bit less heteronormative. They 383 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: came up with a new tagline called find Your Magic, 384 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: and instead of spray more, get more, the tagline became 385 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: attraction for all. And so, you know, like many brands, 386 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: they were trying to be inclusive. They were trying to 387 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: take into account that a much higher percentage of gen 388 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: Z does not identify as heterosexual, like all of these things. 389 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: But it's hard to change the perception of a brand. 390 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, so baked in, Yeah, I mean, I can imagine that. 391 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 2: It's so hard. And there have been like a bunch 392 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 2: of headlines that haven't really helped. 393 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: Well, so I don't know if you remember, around the 394 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: January sixth riots, there were these photos that emerged of 395 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: a couple of empty cans of Axe body spray, like littered. 396 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: I did not know that on the ground, and so 397 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: it was like too perfect. It's like put these two 398 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: things together. Oh here you have the anarchy, the actual 399 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: name of a sense of these riots. So when that happened, 400 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: the images, you know, went viral. It was like it 401 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 1: spawned every joke ever. There were many a lonely QAnon yes, 402 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 1: that joke and an axe The company actually had to 403 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 1: put out an official response. They said that they would 404 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: quote rather be lonely than with the mob. 405 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 2: Oh interesting. 406 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 1: So you know, it was unclear if like the rioters 407 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: were using X body straight on themselves, if they were 408 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: using it as an explosive device. But like, these things 409 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: were kind of too perfect, and so then so I 410 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: remembered that, and then I started doing a little research 411 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: into other headlines and around AX and basically over the 412 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: last ten to twenty years, the only headlines about Acts 413 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 1: have been these like really crazy things that have occurred 414 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: with the product, such as setting a dumpster on fire 415 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: using axe which was what a man in West Virginia did, 416 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 1: or a man arrested in rural Pennsylvania for stealing only 417 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: ax body spray from the store. And it's like, that's 418 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 1: not an important headline. This is a petty crime. But 419 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: why are they making it an actual article? Well, because 420 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: everyone thinks as a living stock. And then this one 421 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: was one of my favorites. A couple of years ago, 422 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 1: a school bus had to be evacuated and nine one 423 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: one was called over the smell of too much axe 424 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: body stray. This was in Florida. Obviously, I love that. 425 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 2: I mean, honestly, this should be the official scent of 426 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 2: Rohnda Santis' Florida. Amazing. I think we could just end 427 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 2: on that noteutly, ax body spray the official of ron 428 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 2: DeSantis's Florida. 429 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: SUSI, I think you've just come up with the political 430 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: tagline and the end of our episode. 431 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 2: Of rebranding for as Axlcenta Florida. This is in retrospect. 432 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. Is there a cultural moment you can't 433 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 2: stop thinking about and want us to explore in a 434 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,959 Speaker 2: future episode. Email us at inretropod at gmail dot com, 435 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 2: or find us on Instagram at in Retropod. 436 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: If you love this podcast, please rate and review us 437 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 1: on Apple or Spotify or wherever you listen. If you 438 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: hate it, you can post nasty comments on our Instagram, 439 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: which we may or may not delete. 440 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 2: You can also find us on Instagram at Jessica Bennett 441 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 2: and at Susie b NYC. Also check out Jessica's books 442 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 2: Feminist Fight Club and This Is eighteen. 443 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: In Retrospect is a production of iHeart Podcasts and the Media. 444 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,239 Speaker 1: Lauren Hanson is our supervising producer. Derek Clements is our 445 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: engineer and sound designer. Sharon Attia is our researcher and 446 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: associate producer. 447 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: Our executive producer from the media is Cindy Levy. Our 448 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 2: executive producers from iHeart are Anna Stump and Katrina Norbel. 449 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 2: Our artwork is from Pentagram. Additional editing help from Mary 450 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 2: Doo and Mike Cosperelli, sound correction and mastering by Amanda 451 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 2: Rose Smith. We are your hosts Susie Bannacarum. 452 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: And Jessica Bennett. We're also executive producers. For even more, 453 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: check out in retropod dot com. See you next week.