Choosing The Right Cologne: A Guide For Men

Choosing a cologne can be a complicated process, but it's worth taking the time to find a scent that suits you. After all, fragrance is an invisible part of your personal style, and it can have a powerful effect on how people see and remember you. The best way to choose a cologne is to test it on your skin and see how it interacts with your body chemistry. You can do this by spraying it on your pulse points and wearing it for a full day. Ask friends and family for their opinion, but ultimately, you have to love the fragrance you're wearing.

Understand fragrance notes and families

Understanding fragrance notes and their families is a key part of choosing a cologne. Fragrance notes are the individual components of a cologne that, when combined, create an overall scent. These notes are typically classified into three categories: top notes, heart/middle notes, and base notes. Each note has a specific role in the development and longevity of the cologne.

Top notes are the scents you detect first after spraying a cologne. They form the initial impression and usually consist of lighter molecules, such as citrus scents like lemon, orange, and bergamot, as well as light floral scents like lavender and rose. Top notes evaporate quickly, lingering for only the first five to fifteen minutes.

Heart or middle notes make up the "heart" of the cologne and are what remains after the top notes evaporate. They typically last 3-5 hours on the skin and are often full-bodied, aromatic floral oils like jasmine, geranium, neroli, and ylang-ylang. Spicy notes like cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom can also be found in the heart of a cologne.

Base notes form the foundation of the cologne and provide it with staying power on the skin. They are rich, heavy, and long-lasting, kicking in about 30 minutes after application and lasting for six hours or more. Popular base notes include vanilla, amber, musk, patchouli, moss, and woody notes like sandalwood and cedarwood.

These three types of notes combine to create a unique scent experience, and each note will affect the overall composition differently depending on the other ingredients used.

Fragrance notes can be grouped into fragrance families, which refer to broad groupings of scents based on their common characteristics. Examples of fragrance families include floral, fruity, woody, oriental (also known as the amber family), and fresh/aquatic.

The floral family is one of the most popular and broadest families, with fragrances ranging from light and delicate to complex and intense. Fragrances in this family typically include notes of roses, jasmine, lilies, and peonies.

The fruity family includes fragrances with notes of blackberry, apple, strawberry, and other fruits, adding depth and a juicy vibe to the cologne.

The woody family features resinous ingredients like cedarwood, patchouli, and sandalwood, providing a deep earthiness that is perfect for colder weather.

The oriental family (also known as the amber family) includes warm, sweet, and spicy fragrances with notes like vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, incense, and amber. These fragrances often contain floral notes for added complexity.

The fresh family includes fragrances with zesty, aromatic compositions backed by underlying woody notes. Citrus, white flowers, and bergamot are common notes in this family.

Identify fragrance types

There are four prominent fragrance families: woody, oriental, floral, and fresh. Each of these families has distinct subcategories from which characteristic aromas are formed.

Woody Scents

Woody scents are warm and comforting. They may include notes of earthy vetiver, dry cedar, and pine.

Oriental Scents

Oriental scents are exotic and intricate. They often consist of warm spices, herbs, light florals, musk, rich sandalwood, and patchouli.

Floral Scents

Floral scents are indicative of spring and summer. They may include bouquets of evening lilies, fresh flowers, sweet fruits, and slight aromatic spice.

Fresh Scents

Fresh scents are green, tart, and fruity. They may include crisp oceanic tones, zesty bergamot, freshly cut grass, and subtle raw herbs.

In addition to these four main fragrance families, there are also several other types of fragrances, including:

• Parfum: The most concentrated and expensive of all fragrance options. Parfum has the highest concentration of fragrance and uses less alcohol. It lasts the longest after application and has the most prominent scent.
• Eau de Parfum: The second-highest concentration of fragrance. Eau de parfum will last between 8 and 12 hours.
• Eau de Toilette: A delicate scent composed of fragrance and alcohol. Eau de toilette is often more affordable and will last around three hours.
• Eau de Cologne: A light, fresh, and fruity scent with less fragrance than eau de toilette. Eau de cologne typically lasts for about two hours.
• Eau Fraiche: The most diluted version of fragrance, with the lowest concentration. Eau fraiche is best for those who desire an airy, light scent and is perfect for sensitive or dry skin.

Research scents and ingredients

Researching fragrances is a great way to discover new scents and find the perfect fit. Understanding the ingredients that make up each note will help you identify the elements that appeal to you and narrow down your search.

There are four major fragrance families: woody, fresh, floral, and oriental. Woody scents are warm and comforting, with notes of earthy vetiver, dry cedar, and pine. Fresh scents are green, tart, and fruity, with notes of crisp oceanic tones, zesty bergamot, freshly cut grass, and subtle raw herbs. Floral scents are indicative of spring and summer, with bouquets of evening lilies, fresh flowers, sweet fruits, and slight aromatic spice. Oriental scents are exotic and intricate, with warm spices, herbs, light florals, musk, rich sandalwood, and patchouli.

Within these four families are distinct subcategories that create characteristic aromas. For example, the woody family may include notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, and vetiver, while the fresh family may include notes of citrus and aromatic elements. The floral family may feature notes of rose, jasmine, and lavender, and the oriental family may include notes of vanilla, amber, and cinnamon.

Online resources such as Fragrantica, Basenotes, and Parfumo can help you read fragrance reviews, compare scents, and explore fragrance families. You can also join online fragrance communities to connect with other enthusiasts and gain insights. Additionally, fragrance reviews can provide valuable information about the notes, longevity, and projection of different scents.

Another way to research and discover new fragrances is by asking others about the colognes they wear. Engage with family, friends, or fellow fragrance enthusiasts to learn about the scents they prefer and why. You can also visit stores or fragrance events to discover new scents and ask for recommendations.

Pick a scent to match your desired mood

Picking a cologne is a very personal choice, and the right scent can help you express your mood. The fragrance you choose can paint a vivid picture of your emotional landscape, conveying whether you're feeling playful, romantic, confident, or introspective.

Floral and citrus scents are often associated with happiness and energy. They're uplifting and invigorating, perfect for when you need a mood boost. On the other hand, woody and earthy scents can evoke feelings of calm and relaxation. They're grounding and comforting, ideal for when you want to unwind.

If you're feeling energetic and want a perfume to match your high spirits, opt for fragrances with citrus notes. Citrus scents are bright, refreshing, and energizing, making them perfect for everyday wear. They're also a great choice if you want to feel confident and put-together.

For romantic moments, choose perfumes with floral notes. Floral scents are perfect for when you want to feel romantic and sensual.

If you're in the mood to relax and unwind, go for perfumes with woody or earthy notes. Woody and earthy scents are grounding and comforting, perfect for when you need to de-stress and relax.

When you want to feel confident and powerful, choose perfumes with bold notes. Bold scents can make you feel bold and empowered, helping you exude confidence and power.

If you're in the mood for some mystery and intrigue, opt for oriental fragrances. Oriental fragrances create an air of mystery and intrigue, perfect for when you want to keep people guessing.

Remember, these are just guidelines. The beauty of perfume is that it's deeply personal. What matters most is how a scent makes you feel. So, don't be afraid to experiment and find the scents that resonate with your unique mood and personality.

Explore and experiment

The best way to choose a cologne is to smell it on your skin. Top notes may be alluring when smelled from the bottle, but the scent can change once applied. This is due to the skin's unique pH level or individual dietary differences.

To test a cologne, spray it on your pulse points (where veins run close to the skin). This provides the fragrance with warmth, allowing the scent to develop faster and reveal its true depth.

The maximum number of scents to try at once is four, although it is recommended to only test two (one on each arm) if you are a beginner. Avoid the cards department stores provide to smell the colognes. They only allow you to smell the top notes and not how the cologne smells on you.

Between smelling each cologne, refresh your palate with something strong, like coffee or tea. Try to smell all the notes. As we have explained, you can expect the scent to change over the next few hours.

Walk around the department store and smell the fragrances at various intervals. Take notes on your phone or journal as to which you like and why.

If you are looking for ideas, consider trying the colognes of famous men.

How to Apply Cologne

• Spray perfume on dry skin, preferably right after a shower.
• Hold the spray nozzle 3-6 inches from your skin while applying.
• Start with one single spray on your chest.
• Apply fragrance to heat areas. Your body heat will push the scent throughout the day, creating a nice scent trail. Start with the warmest parts of your body: chest, neck, lower jaw, wrist, forearm, inner elbow, shoulder.
• Do not spray on all these points at the same time; start with one and then, as you learn the scent, spray 2-3 other spots.
• Re-spray only when required. You can add more sprays to your wrists depending on how long the scent lasts.
• Do not rub the perfume into the skin – this breaks the molecular bond, making the scent weaker.
• Do not spray and walk – most of the fragrance will drop to the floor.
• Do not spray fragrance on your clothes – the oils in a fragrance will stain many fabrics.
• Do not splash – if you are applying cologne from a regular bottle, take one finger and press it against the opening, then tip it over gently. Dab onto the parts of the body described above.
• Less is more – fragrance should be discovered, not announced.

Additional Tips

• Consider synthetic ingredients – these can help make cologne more affordable, create a better consistency, and reduce the risk of allergies.
• Understand the pros and cons of natural ingredients – these can provide unique and complex scents, but can also be more expensive and prone to variations. Be aware of potential allergies or sensitivities to certain natural ingredients.
• Avoid overapplication – using too much cologne can overwhelm those around you.

Frequently asked questions