By Adebeshin Idris Olamilekan
It was a hot Wednesday afternoon, and Kunle, a 200-level student, rushed into a lecture. His shirt clung to his back, the result of a sprinted walk from Zik Hall. Upon taking his seat, the pungent smell that pervaded the room was unprecedented . Some students around him shifted uneasily. It was later that evening that Kunle admitted before a friend: "I did not have time to bathe, so I used just body spray."
Kunle's story is not unique. For many undergrads, body sprays, perfumes, and deodorants are fixtures in their everyday lives, which is why some do not actually care about their own natural odour. But how students use these products, and the ways in which they use them, reveal a lot about hygiene culture, peer influence, and even medical risks among University of Ibadan students.
To most Zikites, air fresheners and deodorants are life-savers. Hostels can be stuffy, lectures prolonged, and the sun can merciless. A quick roll-on or spray is the difference between confidence and shame. Deodorants, typically antibacterial, work to reduce sweat smell by targeting bacteria. Body sprays and perfumes, on the other hand, essentially mask smells with pleasant fragrances. They provide social confidence in combination, such that students can socialise freely in lecture theatres, religious gatherings, or parties. "I feel naked without spraying something before going out," one student admitted.
The psychological pick-me-up is equally vital. Research has indicated that good smells can boost confidence and influence people's perception of us. For many students who are getting ready for presentations, dates, or debates, fragrance is as vital as looking neat and confident.
But also with the use of fragrance by students comes a challenge in its wake. The first is excessive dependence when there is poor hygiene.Kunle, like any other student, utilises body spray as a substitute for bathing. Although sprays might mask odour for the moment, they will never replace water and soap in clearing sweat, grime, and bacteria. As the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has repeatedly emphasised, proper hygiene begins with regular bathing and clean clothing, not with sprays (NMA, 2025).
Overuse is also a problem. Lecture halls inside or hostel rooms become a nightmare within seconds with a few students spraying too much. The National Institute of Health informs that perfumes and sprays, if used in excess, can irritate the respiratory tract and trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. It is not only a matter of etiquette but also health.
And there is also the issue of unregistered products. Nigerian stores are saturated with affordable, unlabelled perfumes and repackaged oils. NAFDAC has issued a number of public alerts and deodorant and body spray recalls with poisonous chemicals or without proper registration numbers (NAFDAC, 2024). Students buying from street vendors may unknowingly expose themselves to skin irritations or toxic chemicals.
The answer is not to discontinue the use of deodorants or sprays but to utilise them responsibly.
1. Always inspect for NAFDAC registration numbers prior to purchase. This guarantees that the product has cleared minimum safety examinations.
2. Utilise sprays in moderation; more does not equate to better.
3. Never replace sprays with bathing. Everyday hygiene using soap and water is the key to freshness.
4. Refrain from sharing roll-ons or sticks, as this can transfer bacteria.
5. Buy from authorised stores, not street stalls or roadside vendors.
Zik Hall is not just a hostel; it is a community built on camaraderie, and identity. How Zikites conduct themselves is a part of that collective pride known as Zikism. To smell nice is not only for personal comfort; it affects roommates, classmates, and the rest of the individuals one encounters in the course of each day.
Kunle has learnt better, though. He now jokingly remarks that "spray without bath is like perfume on a dirty rag — it fools no one." To Zikites, smelling good isn't just about it; it is living well with hygiene, moderation, and safety at the centre.
