I think the sock/scenting thing is a myth: I believe it's how you approach and handle him that makes him more relaxed and calm. For example, if you're nervous about getting bit or struck at and approach him in that way (ie not going right in there to grab him but kinda hovering around him to try to get a hold) they will sense how nervous you are and act accordingly. If you approach him confidently and just go right in there and pick him up he's less likely to get defensive (or "aggressive").

How are you measuring your temps, how is your setup, and what are you using for heating? If your husbandry is off, sometimes this will make a snake act differently than normal or defensively/aggressively. If he's been very jumpy, striking at you, and acting very defensive then maybe something in his environment is throwing him off and causing him to act this way?