One of the deal-killers with potential partners – and one of the bigger complaints from many men’s current partners – is the presence of a persistent and unpleasant male organ odor. Few things put a damper on a romantic mood faster than a stench wafting upward from a guy’s manhood. No matter how skilled he is with his instrument, or how otherwise impressive that manhood may be, male organ odor is a huge turn-off. Practicing better and more targeted member care can go a long way to addressing this issue – and is a much better idea than using cologne to try to cover up the aroma.

The cologne connection

On the surface, it seems to make sense to use cologne to keep unwanted male organ odor at bay. After all, many men dab a little cologne on their neck, chest, armpits or elsewhere in order to make themselves smell more appealing to a lover. Why not use it on the manhood? For a couple of good reasons, actually.

First, as a lot of men have discovered too late, most cologne is not a male member’s best friend. Splash a little on to the manhood, and within a few seconds most men will be yelping in pain. Cologne (like aftershave) tends to create a burning sensation in the member which can be quite intense.

That’s because cologne, in addition to water and scents, contains alcohol – denatured alcohol, to be precise. It’s a necessary ingredient because it takes the other components in cologne, breaks them down and then holds them together in a mixed state. Also, as alcohol evaporates, it spreads the scents in the cologne out into the air.

Unfortunately, the alcohol also irritates the male organ skin, which is more sensitive than skin on other parts of the body. And often the other elements in the cologne that produce scent provide further irritation.

Treating better than masking

The second reason to avoid cologne is that all it does is mask the unwanted male organ odor – it doesn’t actually make the odor go away. And in the long run, a man is much better off taking steps to help actually fight the stench.

What kind of steps? The following usually help a great deal.

• Simply wash. Too often, male organ odor is a result of just not paying enough attention to manhood hygiene. Odor can develop very quickly, especially during the summer months or at any time when a man is physically active. It’s crucial that the manhood be thoroughly washed regularly. Be careful to use soaps that are mild rather than chemical-laden, as they can dry out the skin or cause rashing or other irritation. And when the male organ skin is dry or irritated, it often holds on to odor more readily.

• Consider a shave. Manscaping – either shaving midsection hair to the skin or simply cropping it down to a shorter length – can reduce sweat and sweat retention, helping to reduce aromas.

• Have a good airing. Letting the manhood hang free in the open air can be a big help in dispensing odors. Men who live alone – or with understanding roommates – may want to walk around their home unclothed. Those without that option may still find that sleeping in the buff can be a big help.

• Apply an appropriate crème. One good way to fight odor without cologne is to daily apply a top notch male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best bet is to select a crème that includes vitamin A among its ingredients. Also called retinol, vitamin A is blessed with antibacterial properties which target many of the bacteria that can create a damaging male organ odor situation. Since keeping male organ skin healthy also helps fight odor, the chosen crème should include heavy duty moisturizing ingredients (such as Shea butter and vitamin E) and an antioxidant (such as alpha lipoic acid) to keep away free radicals.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common male organ health issues, tips on improving member sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy manhood. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.