Antonio Mcgowan
Knowing how to apply cologne is an art form. If not done properly, it can lead to over-application or a scent that fades quickly. Here are some tips on how to apply cologne correctly and effectively:
- Apply to clean skin: Start with a fresh, clean canvas so that no sweat, sebum, or other buildup interferes with the perfume oils.
- Target pulse points: Apply cologne to the warmest points on your body, such as your wrists, neck, and chest. This helps build the best projection/cast/sillage for your scent.
- Hold the bottle 3-6 inches away: Holding the bottle this distance away from your body allows you to focus the scent on a specific target without over or under-concentrating it.
- Start with a light application: Choose one area, such as the neck or forearms, and start with one spray. You can always add more later if needed.
- Re-apply if needed: Depending on the type of cologne, you may need to re-apply, especially if you are going out in the evening.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How far to hold the bottle | 3-6 inches |
| Where to apply | Pulse points, neck, chest, wrists, behind the ear, inside the elbow, behind the knee |
| How much to apply | Start with one spray, add more if needed |
| When to apply | After a shower, when skin is dry |
| Skin type | Oily skin retains fragrance longer than dry skin |
| Clothing | Spraying cologne on clothes wastes scent and can cause stains |
What You'll Learn
Apply to pulse points
Pulse points are areas on your body where your heart pulse can be felt. These are the best spots to apply cologne, due to the warmth of your blood. The points are located behind your ear, at the bottom of your throat, on your wrist, inside your elbow, and behind your knee.
When applying cologne, hold the bottle about 3 to 6 inches away from the pulse point and spray. You can also dab the cologne onto your pulse points using your fingers. This is especially useful when re-applying cologne throughout the day or when travelling with a bottle that sprays too much with each spritz.
The heat from your pulse points will help diffuse the scent throughout the day and allows it to meld with your body chemistry to develop your signature scent.
If you are going out in the evening, you may want to re-apply cologne to your pulse points. You can also apply a small amount behind your ear so that when people lean in close to speak to you, they get an attractive smell to ponder on.
When applying cologne to your pulse points, be sure to avoid rubbing it into your skin. This can make the scent fade faster as it breaks the molecular bond in the fragrance.
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Spray from 3-6 inches away
When applying cologne, it's important to hold the bottle at the right distance from your body. Hold the spray bottle 3–6 inches from your body. Holding the bottle any closer than 3 inches risks over-applying the cologne, while spraying any 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.
The "pulse points" are the ideal spots to apply cologne. These are the warmest points on your body, where you can feel your blood pumping through your veins. They include areas such as your wrists, neck, bottom of your throat, inside your elbow, and behind your ear and knee. Applying cologne to these areas helps the scent to diffuse throughout the day and allows it to meld with your body chemistry to develop your signature scent.
When applying cologne, it's best to start with a light application. Choose one area, such as the neck or forearms, and start with one spray. If you notice that the scent fades quickly, choose another area and spray there the next time you apply. You can always add more cologne, but it's harder to remove it if you've applied too much.
Additionally, it's recommended to apply cologne to your bare skin rather than your clothes. Fragrances are designed to interact with the oils and pH of your skin, enhancing and prolonging the scent. Applying cologne directly to your skin will also help prevent staining or damaging your clothing.
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Apply to heated areas of the body
When applying cologne, it is important to target the pulse points, or the warmest points on your body, to help the scent perform to its fullest potential. These areas include the neck, chest, wrists, inside of the elbows, and behind the ears and knees.
The heat from these areas of the body will help diffuse the scent throughout the day and allow it to meld with your body chemistry to develop your signature scent. Applying cologne to these areas will also help to build the best projection/cast/sillage for your scent.
When applying cologne to the neck, spray from 3 to 6 inches away. For the wrists, simply dab the cologne on and then use your wrists to press it into the skin at the pulse points.
It is recommended to start with a light application. Choose one area, such as the neck or forearms, and start with one spray. If you notice that your scent fades quickly, choose another area and spray there the next time you apply. You can also ask a friend or family member for their opinion on whether the application is appropriate, as it is common to become nose-blind to scents you wear often.
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Don't spray on your clothes
Spraying cologne on your clothes is one of the most common mistakes people make when applying cologne. It is considered the worst way to apply cologne. Here are some reasons why you should avoid spraying cologne on your clothes:
Prevents Mixture with Natural Oils
Cologne is designed to interact with the natural oils and pH of your skin. Spraying it directly on your clothes prevents it from mixing with your natural oils, which is what gives it its unique scent. This interaction with your skin's natural oils is an important part of the fragrance's development, and spraying it on your clothes will result in a flat and monochrome scent.
Harmful to Clothes
The fragrance can also be harmful to some fabrics. It may cause staining or discolouration, so it is important to test a small, inconspicuous area first if you do decide to spray it on your clothes.
Ineffective Scent Diffusion
The heat from your body helps diffuse the scent throughout the day. By spraying it on your clothes, you miss out on this benefit, and the scent may not last as long. The best spots to spray cologne are heated areas of the body, such as the neck, chest, pulse points, forearms, and inner elbows.
Overpowering Scent
Cologne is a very strong scent, and spraying it directly on your clothes can result in an overpowering scent that may be unpleasant for you and those around you. It is recommended to start with a light application and adjust as needed.
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Reapply to wrists throughout the day
Reapplication is an important part of wearing cologne. Depending on the type of cologne you use, you may need to reapply it throughout the day, especially if you are going out in the evening. When reapplying, simply dab a little onto your pulse points.
The wrists are one of the best places to reapply cologne as they are pulse points, which are areas where your heart pulse can be felt. These are the best spots to apply scent due to the warmth of your blood. Applying cologne to these spots targets the "warmest" points on your body and helps the scent perform to its fullest potential.
When reapplying cologne to your wrists, remember not to rub your wrists together after spraying, as this can be bad for the scent. Instead, simply dab the cologne onto your wrists and let it dry.
It's also important to remember that your nose will get used to the scent, so just because you can't smell your cologne after a while doesn't mean that others can't. This is called nose blindness or anosmia. If you're unsure whether your cologne has worn off, you can ask a friend or partner to give you their opinion.
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Frequently asked questions
Less is more when it comes to cologne. You want the scent to complement your own, not drown it out. One spray on each pulse point is usually enough.
Apply cologne to pulse points, which are areas where your heart pulse can be felt, such as your neck, wrist, inside your elbow, and behind your ear and knee.
It's best to apply cologne on clean, dry skin immediately after a shower.
Hold the bottle 3-6 inches away from your body and spray. Don't rub the cologne into your skin, as this can damage the scent molecules and cause them to dissipate faster.
