The Art Of Wearing Cologne: A Man's Guide

The Art of Manliness is a website that provides a plethora of advice for men, including how to wear cologne. The website covers a range of topics, from fashion and style to fitness and health. One of the key aspects of personal style that the website emphasises is fragrance, which it claims is often overlooked. The website argues that fragrance is a powerful tool that can influence how people perceive and remember you. With the right cologne, a man can increase his attractiveness and confidence. The Art of Manliness provides a comprehensive guide on how to choose and wear cologne, covering everything from the different types of fragrances to the dos and don'ts of application. The website also offers insights into the colognes of famous men throughout history, allowing readers to connect with these notable figures on a more intimate level. In addition to cologne, the website offers tips on shaving, beard care, and choosing the right accessories to complete one's look.

Choosing a cologne that complements your natural body odour

Your body odour is a unique blend of your genetics, diet, and personal hygiene practices. When you sweat, the moisture mixes with the natural bacteria on your skin, creating a distinct smell. This scent can either complement your cologne or clash with it, so understanding this chemistry is essential when choosing a cologne.

Additionally, certain compounds in your body odour, such as androstenone and androstenol, can interact with the ingredients in cologne. This can either enhance the cologne's scent or conceal it, resulting in a unique olfactory experience tailored just for you.

To find the perfect cologne, it's crucial to understand the different fragrance families. Fragrances are grouped into categories based on their primary scents, such as floral, oriental, woody, fresh, and citrus. Each family has its own set of smells, and different families may work better with your natural body odour, creating a more balanced and enjoyable fragrance experience.

When choosing a cologne, it's essential to consider your skin type and pH level. These factors can guide you towards fragrances that complement your unique body chemistry. For example, oily skin and darker skin tend to retain scents longer and pair well with oriental, heavy fragrances or those with spices, sweetness, floriental, balsamic, musky, and leathery notes. On the other hand, dry, fair, and acidic skin may be better suited to more citrusy, green, ozonic, aromatic, fruity, floral, and woody notes.

• Try different fragrances: Experiment with various colognes to discover which ones appeal to you. Visit fragrance counters, ask for samples, and take note of the ones that make you feel good.
• Consider your style: Choose a cologne that aligns with your personal style. Decide if you want a classic, elegant scent or something more modern and vibrant.
• Seek expert advice: Fragrance experts can offer valuable guidance based on your preferences and body chemistry. They can help you find colognes that effectively complement your natural scent.
• Listen to compliments: If people frequently compliment your fragrance, it's a sign that it works well with your body odour.
• Trust your instincts: Ultimately, the choice is personal. Go with the fragrance that makes you feel confident and comfortable.

Remember, choosing a cologne that complements your natural body odour is a personal journey. Take the time to explore and experiment with different fragrances to find the one that suits you best.

The difference between fragrance, perfume, toilette and cologne

The Difference Between Fragrance, Perfume, Toilette, and Cologne

Fragrance is a generic term for perfume, which comes in many forms and is called different names. The different types of fragrances are:

Eau Fraiche

The most diluted form of fragrance, with 1-3% perfume oil in alcohol and water. It usually lasts for less than an hour.

Cologne (Eau de Cologne)

The oldest term for perfume, used in North America for masculine scents. It is light, fresh, and fruity, typically composed of 2-4% perfume oils in alcohol and water. It is used in fragrances for younger people and usually lasts for about 2 hours.

Toilette (Eau de Toilette)

A light spray composition with 5-15% pure perfume essence dissolved in alcohol. It usually lasts for about 3 hours.

Perfume (Eau de Parfum)

Historically genderless, used to describe both men’s and women’s products, and is the best term for describing a fragrance. It contains 15-20% pure perfume essence and lasts for about 5 to 8 hours.

Parfum

The most concentrated and expensive of all fragrance options. Parfum is composed of 20-30% pure perfume essence. A single application can last up to 24 hours.

How to Wear Cologne

When it comes to personal style, fragrance is often overlooked, but it is part of the impression you make. It influences how people perceive and remember you. Our sense of smell is much more sensitive than our sense of vision, and smell triggers memories better than any of the other senses.

• Apply cologne 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, and shoulder.
• Re-spray only when required. You can add more sprays to your wrists depending on how long the scent lasts.
• Don't rub the perfume into your skin as this weakens the scent.
• Don't spray and walk through the mist. Most of the fragrance will drop to the floor.
• Don't spray fragrance on your clothes as it won't mix with your oils and go through the stages of notes. The oils in a fragrance will also stain fabrics.
• Less is more. Fragrance should be discovered, not announced.

The two types of fragrances: designer and niche

There are two main types of fragrances: designer and niche. Designer fragrances are what you will typically find in most stores. They are mass-produced and designed for mass consumption. Designer fragrances are usually associated with a brand that has a huge market share and is famous for its products, be it clothing, accessories, or fragrances. Examples of designer brands include Armani, Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana. These fragrances tend to be safer, as they are designed to appeal to a wide-reaching audience and avoid strong reactions. They are also usually made from cheaper materials to save costs and enable volume production.

Niche fragrances, on the other hand, are the opposite. They are made by industry artists for a more selective customer who wishes to wear something distinctively bold or unique. Niche fragrances are not designed to have universal appeal, and they are sought out by fragrance aficionados who want to push the boundaries. These fragrances are usually made from more expensive and higher-quality ingredients. Niche fragrances are typically harder to find and are often only available at select department stores or luxury boutiques. They also tend to be more expensive than designer fragrances, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars per bottle.

While designer fragrances are famous for their branding and the celebrities who endorse them, niche fragrances are known for their uniqueness and individuality. Niche fragrances are made in smaller batches and are often advertised on limited channels, targeted towards a specific group of people. Designer fragrances, on the other hand, are heavily advertised on a larger scale, including in newspapers, magazines, billboards, and on radio and TV.

Despite their differences, both designer and niche fragrances can be of high quality. They are both made with premium ingredients, including essential oils and extracts, and the highest standards in the industry. The quality of the ingredients used and the way they are mixed determine the difference between the two types of fragrances.

Rules for fragrance application

We've all been around men who used too much cologne. To avoid this mistake, follow these rules for applying fragrance properly and sparingly.

Firstly, spray perfume on dry skin, preferably right after a shower. Hold the nozzle 3-6 inches from your skin. Start with just one spray on your chest, and as you get used to the scent, you can add a few more sprays in different areas.

Apply the fragrance to the warmest parts of your body: chest, neck, lower jaw, wrist, forearm, inner elbow, and shoulder. These areas will emit the most scent throughout the day, creating a pleasant trail. Do not spray all these points at once; start with one and add 2-3 other spots as you learn how the scent develops.

Only re-spray when necessary, usually in the second half of the day. Avoid rubbing the perfume into your skin, as this weakens the scent. Also, avoid spraying into the air and walking through it, as most of the fragrance will end up on the floor.

Do not spray fragrance on your clothes, as it won't mix with your body's natural oils and develop its full range of scents. The oils in the fragrance may also stain fabrics. Instead, dab the perfume on with your finger if applying from a bottle. Remember, less is more. Your cologne should be discovered, not announced.

The colognes of famous men

Knowing what cologne a famous man wears can give you an idea of what it was like to be in their presence. Here are the signature scents of eight famous men, most of which are still available to buy today.

George Washington

Number Six by Caswell-Massey. Washington liked this fragrance so much that he gave it as a gift to friends. It opens with the scent of citrus, neroli, rosemary, and amber, and then fades to rose, musk, and myrrh.

George III

Creed Royal English Leather. According to the perfumer, this was the first scent that founder James Creed created, and he made it just for King George. The base note is leather with sandalwood, and the top notes are orange and lime.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Jean Marie Farina Eau de Cologne. This fragrance features top notes of citrus and rosemary, before fading to cedar, vetiver, and musk.

General George Custer

Although not a cologne per se, Custer used cinnamon oil as a hair product, which became his signature scent.

Winston Churchill

Creed Tabarome. This scent starts off citrusy with bergamot and tangerine, then fades to ginger, and finally to a subtle sandalwood, ambergris, tobacco, and leather scent.

Ernest Hemingway

America One 31 by Krigler. This fragrance is musky yet floral and starts off citrusy and floral, then fades to a manly musk.

Errol Flynn

Cuir de Russie by Creed. This cologne starts out lemony and then fades to sandalwood and leather. Unfortunately, this fragrance is no longer available.

John F. Kennedy

Jockey Club by Caswell-Massey. This bracing, masculine fragrance starts off citrusy and has sandalwood base notes.

Frequently asked questions