Testing Your Cologne: A Home-Based Guide

Testing cologne at home is a great way to find a scent that suits you. When testing fragrances, it's important to remember that your skin's natural oils and heat will alter the scent, so testing on paper blotters is a good first step. Spray the fragrance onto the blotter, wait for the alcohol to evaporate, then gently wave the blotter under your nose. To test on your skin, spray the fragrance on your wrist or the back of your hand, wait 20-30 seconds, then inhale the scent. It's important to only test a few fragrances at a time, as your sense of smell can become overwhelmed.

Paper blotters

To use a paper blotter, hold it away from you and spray the cologne onto the other side once or twice. Wait a few seconds for the alcohol to evaporate, then bring the strip to your nose without touching it, and inhale. Bend the fragrant side of the strip upwards so that it doesn't touch the surface, and smell the strip every hour throughout the day to experience the cologne's complete fragrance cycle. If you are testing multiple fragrances, keep the strips away from each other to avoid mixing the scents.

When using paper blotters, it is a good idea to write the name of the cologne on the strip, and to use a different strip for each fragrance to prevent cross-contamination. It is also recommended to use thick, matte paper that is more absorbent than the glossy variety often found in shops.

Testing on skin

To test a cologne on your skin, start by choosing the one you want to test. Then, spray either your wrist or the back of your hand in a downward motion. Two spritzes should be enough. Drop your hand to your side and wait at least 20-30 seconds for the scent to settle on your skin. Once it has started to dry, bring your hand up to your nose and inhale without touching your skin. Keep your hand at least an inch or two away from your nose.

After testing on the skin, it is recommended to do something else for 15-30 minutes to allow the fragrance to play with your body's natural chemistry. Over time, the fragrance will deepen as you experience each of the levels of notes in its formulation. You can then take another sniff of your wrist or the back of your hand to see how the fragrance has developed.

It is also important to test colognes earlier in the day as our sense of smell is usually at its peak in the morning.

Avoid wearing fragrances when testing

When testing cologne at home, it is important to avoid wearing other fragrances. While you may love your everyday perfume, it could hinder your ability to experience a new fragrance.

It is recommended to test no more than three fragrances on blotters in one day. Your sense of smell can only handle a few scents before it becomes confused.

If you are testing a fragrance on your skin, it is best to do so immediately after a shower. This is because the shower will cleanse your body of any other scents and will open your pores, which helps the scent absorb.

When testing cologne, it is also important to give the scent time to develop. After spraying the cologne on your skin, wait at least 15-30 minutes before smelling it again. This will allow the fragrance to play with your body's natural chemistry and give you a true idea of what the cologne will smell like on you.

In between each sniff, it can be helpful to smell something different to cleanse your nostrils, such as coffee.

Coffee beans neutralise odours

Testing cologne at home is a great way to figure out if it's the right scent for you. Department stores can be overwhelming, and it's hard to get a true sense of how a fragrance will settle on your skin amidst all those other perfumes. So, how can you test cologne at home?

The first step is to get samples of the colognes you want to try. You can then test these samples on paper blotters—those white cardboard strips you find next to tester bottles. Spray a couple of quick sprays in a downward motion, then pass the strip through the cloud of fragrance. Without touching the strip to your nose, bring it to your nose and inhale.

If you like the scent, the next step is to see how it smells on your skin. Spray the cologne on your wrist, wait 20 seconds, then bring your wrist to your nose and inhale. Now comes the important part: wait 30 minutes, then smell your wrist again. This will give you a true reading of how the cologne interacts with your body chemistry.

If you're testing multiple colognes, it's important to take steps to avoid confusing your senses. Avoid wearing other fragrances when testing something new, and don't test more than three fragrances in one day. You can also use olfactory palate cleansers to reset your senses between fragrances. Coffee beans are often used for this purpose.

Coffee beans are great at neutralising odours. They have a very strong scent, which can quickly fill a room and mask other odours. They also contain nitrogen, which can absorb sulphur—a molecule often associated with foul-smelling things. Coffee beans don't just mask odours, though; they also absorb them. This is why they're often placed next to perfumes and colognes in stores. They neutralise the air and cleanse your palate, allowing you to differentiate between different fragrances.

Test fragrances in the morning

Testing fragrances in the morning is ideal because your sense of smell is at its peak. This means your perception of fragrances will be sharper, and you'll be able to make a better assessment.

Additionally, due to the higher moisture content in the air during the warmer months, our nasal receptors are more refined, and your sense of smell may be better. However, some fragrances may have notes that are more effective in the autumn and winter due to associations.

When testing fragrances, it's important to remember that your sense of smell can easily be overloaded. It's recommended to limit the number of scents you test at one time to three, as your brain can't discern between more than three.

If you're testing fragrances at home, it's best to get samples and wear them for a few days. This way, you can experience the complete fragrance cycle and understand how it fits into your lifestyle. You can also test fragrances on paper blotters or strips, which are made from absorbent, porous material that allows fragrances to be absorbed quickly.

Frequently asked questions