There is nothing more intoxicating than a man who  smells fantastic. I often write about men characters who have a significant or signature scent that drives my female characters over the pheromone driven edge.  According to Psychology Today, scent is the most powerful trigger for memory. But how much is too much?  Scent or suffocate? That is the question with cologne.

The correct answer is scent. According to Darryl Rolle of Dapper & Company, a man wants to have a pleasant scent, perhaps one to be remembered, but not the type that kills a person’s ability to smell. Oh, it can happen.  If you have ever been in a perfume store, the initial scent of the store takes your breath away.  After smelling two or three of the aromas, it is hard to differentiate between one fragrance and another. After a while, everything smells the same.

The number of colognes on the market is overwhelming. There are six basic categories for fragrances, citrus, fougere, floral, oriental, marine, and green or cyprus. The true test, is how the fragrance works with your body chemistry.

The following categories describe the different cologne types available:

 Citrus describes fragrances with lemon, lime, and other citrus fruits and is usually associated with men’s cologne.
Examples: Eau De Citrus Perfume by Molinard, Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio

Fougere means fern in French. These fragrances are mossy and herbal. Examples: Adolfo Dominguez , Gucci pour Homme
 

Floral scents are those from flowers. Many types of flowers are used in preparations.
Oriental describes a spicy fragrance, usually full-bodied.
Marine describes an ocean Examples: Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme, Davidoff Cool Water
Green describes fragrances from plants such as pine, juniper, other leavers, and herbs.
Chypre describes earthy fragrances such as patchouli. Chypre is the French word for Cyprus. Examples: Hugo Boss ‑ BOSS , Tom Ford White Patchouchili

When you go to the store to try out various colognes, you really must spray them on your skin. You can begin your search by smelling the bottle to see if you like the scent. If you do, then spray it on your wrist. It is best to try only two per trial; otherwise, your nose will get overwhelmed. If there are coffee beans in the store, you can use these to cleanse your nasal palate, so to smell. Discretion is also very important as well.

When applying cologne, the key is to be discreet. If you are using spray cologne, use no more than two sprays. If you are using a pour bottle, be a “dabber” not a “splasher”.  A splash to you may smell as if you got drunk and are dating the bottle. A good application method is to apply it with one finger in various locations such as your neck, elbows, ankles, wrists, behind your knees and ears. These are the points on the body where heat is generated. Applying cologne at these points will make it last longer because these pulse points create a “pump” effect.

I have seen episodes on television where P. Diddy will spray his clothes.  He has a clothing business, he can afford to do that.  In the real world, spraying your clothes will probably stain them and your scent will be fleeting. The duration of the lingering effects of cologne is determined by the concentration of perfume to water and alcohol.

Here are some cologne terms that you might want to know, so the next time you are out shopping for a new scent, you are aware.

EDC – Eau de cologne is the least concentrated form of a fragrance  (2 – 5% perfume oil dissolved in water and alcohol)

EDT – Eau de toilette (4 – 10%)

EDP – Eau de parfum (8 – 15%)

PARFUM or Perfume (15 – 25%) is the most concentrated.

As a last tip, please, do not mix scents. Nearly every product on the shelf is scented. If you are a fan of the smell-good, find an unscented deodorant or shave cream.  The last impression you want to leave with your significant other is the idea you were playing at the fragrance counter in Macy’s.

Until next time….

Other Blog Post

Skin Care 101: https://www.dapperandcompany.com/skin-care-101

Stepping up Your Game: https://www.dapperandcompany.com/stepping-up-your-game