The Art Of Applying Cologne: Finding The Perfect Balance

Knowing how to apply cologne is an art form. Too much and you risk becoming that guy who chokes everyone in a room with his scent, but too little and your fragrance will fade almost immediately. The key is to apply sparingly and strategically.

Firstly, always apply cologne to clean, dry skin, preferably straight after a shower. The shower will cleanse your body of any other scents and open your pores, helping the scent absorb. Hold the bottle 3-6 inches from your body and target pulse points, or the warmest areas of your body, such as your neck, wrists, chest, and inner elbows. These areas will help diffuse the scent throughout the day.

When it comes to how much cologne to use, less is more. Start with one spray on one area, such as your neck or forearm, and build up from there if needed. You can always ask a friend if your application is appropriate, as it's easy to become nose-blind to scents you wear often.

Apply to pulse points

Applying cologne to your pulse points is an important step in ensuring your fragrance lasts throughout the day. Pulse points are areas on your body where your heart pulse can be felt, and they include your wrists, neck, chest, behind your ears, inside your elbows, and behind your knees. These areas produce a lot of body heat, which helps to diffuse the scent of your cologne. When applying cologne to your pulse points, remember to:

• Hold the bottle 3-6 inches away from your skin when spraying. Spraying too close can lead to over-application, while spraying from too far may result in under-application.
• Apply sparingly. Start with one spray on a single pulse point, such as your neck or wrists, and assess if you need more. You can always add another spray to a different pulse point if needed.
• Avoid rubbing the cologne into your skin after application. This can alter the scent and cause it to fade faster. Instead, let it dry on the skin.
• Reapply to your wrists or other pulse points when the fragrance wears off.
• Be mindful of your surroundings and avoid applying too much cologne. A subtle scent is more appealing than an overwhelming one.

Hold the bottle 3-6 inches away

Holding the cologne bottle the correct distance from your body is a crucial step in applying the right amount of cologne. Hold the bottle 3-6 inches away from your body when spraying. Holding the bottle any closer than 3 inches risks over-application, and spraying further than 6 inches away will likely result in under-application. This distance allows you to focus the scent on a specific target (the pulse point) without over or under-concentrating it.

Holding the bottle too close to your body can cause the cologne to drip down your shirt, and the high concentration of alcohol in cologne may cause your skin to turn red. Conversely, holding the bottle too far away will cause too many particles to be lost from a poorly targeted spritz.

Don't rub it in

Rubbing cologne into your skin is a common mistake when applying cologne. It is important to know that rubbing cologne into the skin changes the way it smells and causes the scent to fade faster. This is because the friction generated by rubbing can break the molecular bond in the fragrance. Instead, the correct way to apply cologne is to spray or dab it on and let it dry on the skin.

If your cologne does not have a spray nozzle, you can use the dabbing method. Cover the open bottle with your finger, tip the bottle, then right the bottle and put it down. Then, dab the liquid on your finger onto the area where you wish to apply the cologne. Remember to only dab once – do not double-dab. Wash your hands after using this method to avoid transferring cologne to other things you touch.

Another common mistake is to spray a cloud of cologne and walk through it. While it may seem like this prevents over-application, it is incredibly wasteful and ineffective. To get the most out of your cologne, it must be applied directly to the skin.

Don't spray on clothes

Spraying cologne directly onto your clothes is one of the most common mistakes people make when applying cologne. Here's why you should avoid doing this:

It Prevents the Scent from Developing

When you spray cologne onto your skin, it mixes with your natural oils and body chemistry. This is what gives cologne its unique quality and allows it to develop a signature scent that's specific to you. Spraying it onto your clothes prevents this process from happening, leaving you with a flat, single-note scent.

It Could Damage Your Clothes

The high alcohol content in colognes can cause certain fabrics to stain or discolour. To avoid ruining your favourite shirt, it's best to avoid spraying cologne directly onto your clothes. Instead, spray it onto your skin, being careful to avoid areas where the scent could transfer to your clothing, such as the collar or cuffs.

It's a Waste of Cologne

Cologne applied to the skin will last much longer than cologne sprayed onto clothes, as the heat from your body helps to diffuse the scent throughout the day. By spraying it onto your clothes, you're not giving the cologne a chance to fully develop and be appreciated.

How to Apply Cologne Correctly

So, where should you be applying your cologne? The best spots are the heated areas of your body, such as your neck, chest, pulse points, forearms, and inner elbows. These areas will help to diffuse the scent throughout the day and allow it to develop into your signature scent. When applying, hold the bottle 3-6 inches away from your skin and start with a light application—one spray is usually enough.

Reapply to wrists

Reapply to your wrists when the fragrance wears off. The insides of your wrists are a good spot for cologne. However, don't reapply too often. You'll quickly grow accustomed to the scent of your cologne, to the point where you might think it's completely worn off, but other people will still be able to smell it. You probably don't need to apply cologne more than once a day, right before you go out. If you absolutely feel the need to put on some more, keep it light.

The wrist is a great method to place the scent on the skin, as it is also a pulse point itself, and you can get a lot more bang for your buck. When you apply cologne to your wrists, press them into your skin so that the cologne sits below the skin at the pulse point and not above the skin, where it will slowly fade throughout the day.

Frequently asked questions