Boys. Let's talk personal hygiene.

Or to be more specific, let's talk smell. As in after-shave/cologne/body spray - call it what you will.

The cute boy moving to join my queue in the supermarket this afternoon caught my attention. Tall, light brown hair that flopped in his eyes, quirky dresser, nice smile... on first impressions he looked just my type. Then he moved close enough for me to notice his smell. If my groceries hadn't already hit the checkout conveyer, I would have moved to another checkout. Cheap, nasty, offensive, oversprayed Lynx (I'm guessing). Put me off completely.

This has to stop boys. Smell is important.

And contrary to popular male myth, its not a waste of money. Yes, most of the girls I know do spend a good deal of their income on products that make them smell good. But you boys appreciate that don't you? Really, how many of you like stinky girls? Sorry - can't see any hands raised there. And we girls know that you shouldn't skimp on the important things... personally, its Thierry Mulger Angel or its nothing. And we girls also know that you don't have to spend a week's rent on perfume when there are great places like Ebay where you can pick up good perfume at a fraction of the store price.

Now I'm not saying you boys have to go and spend a fortune on expensive cologne. Just please stop buying that cheap supermarket crap. Sometimes all you need is a decent soap. I'm a sucker for boys who have that "just stepped out of the shower" smell.

And here's an idea - take a girl with you when you're trying or buying that stuff. Most of us have a decent sense of smell and will be (sometimes brutally) honest with what smells good on you and what doesn't. I will happily offer my services to any boy who admits he needs help. All I ask in return is a ritual dumping of the aforementioned offensive products and a promise to never purchase them again. Oh and maybe a few glasses of red whilst watching AFL. If you're cute. And you make me laugh. And you know your footy. I know you exist. But maybe you already smell good. Anyway, that's not today's topic.

Finally, to that boy at the supermarket this afternoon - who will probably never read this - yes, I thought you were cute. But you smell. Bad. Sort it out.