The Art Of Wearing Cologne: A Guide For Men

Knowing how to wear cologne is an art form. It's important to know how to apply cologne correctly so that it doesn't fade too quickly or become overwhelming. The key is to apply sparingly and strategically. Cologne should complement your own scent, not drown it out. It should be discovered, not announced.

- Apply to clean, dry skin, preferably right after showering.

- Target pulse points, which are the warmest points on your body, such as the wrists, neck, and chest.

- Hold the bottle 3 to 6 inches away from your skin when spraying.

- Start with a light application—one or two sprays is usually enough.

- Reapply as needed throughout the day.

- Avoid common mistakes such as spraying on your clothes, rubbing it into your skin, or walking through a cloud of mist.

Apply cologne to the wrists, neck, and chest

Applying cologne to your wrists, neck, and chest is a great way to smell amazing without overdoing it. These areas are known as pulse points, which are the warmest parts of your body. The heat will help the fragrance to continue smelling great all day long.

When applying cologne to your wrists, hold the bottle a few inches away and spritz once or twice on one wrist, then rub your wrists together. You can also spritz your neck once or twice, but be careful not to overdo it. The same goes for your chest—one or two spritzes should be enough.

It's important to remember that less is more when it comes to cologne. You want people to notice you, not your cologne. Start with a small amount and reapply if needed.

Target the pulse points

Targeting the pulse points is key when applying cologne. These are the areas of your body that produce a lot of body heat, which helps the fragrance to continue smelling good all day long. The heat from these points will also cause the scent to spread more easily, meaning you can use less cologne.

The pulse points include the insides of your wrists, your neck, and your chest. You can also apply cologne to your inner elbows and shoulders, but these areas are not used as commonly.

When applying cologne to the pulse points, hold the bottle 3-6 inches away from your skin and spray. One spray per pulse point is usually enough, but you can add another if you feel you need it. Do not rub the cologne into your skin after applying it, as this will change the scent and make it fade faster.

It's important to remember not to apply cologne to all of your pulse points at the same time. Choose one or two spots, and keep it subtle.

Hold the bottle 3-6 inches from the skin

Holding the cologne bottle the correct distance from your skin is a key part of applying cologne correctly. Hold the bottle 3-6 inches from your body. Any closer than 3 inches and you risk over-applying, and spraying further than 6 inches away will result in under-application. Holding the bottle at the correct distance will allow you to focus the scent on a specific target, in this case, the pulse points. Pulse points are the areas of your body where your heart pulse can be felt, such as the neck, wrists, and behind the ears. These points are the best spots to apply scent to as they are the warmest points on your body. The heat helps the scent to diffuse throughout the day and allows it to meld with your body chemistry to develop your signature scent.

If you spray closer than 3 inches, you may find the scent too strong, and you risk turning your skin red from too much alcohol concentration. Spraying further than 6 inches away will result in losing too many of the particles from a poorly targeted spritz. A good rule of thumb is to hold the bottle no closer than the width of your palm.

If you are applying cologne to your chest, one pump from 6-9 inches away is enough. Two if necessary, but no more. You want the cologne to complement your own scent, not drown it out. It should be a subtle hint of fragrance that draws people in, not something that overpowers.

Choose different colognes for different occasions

Choosing the right cologne for the occasion is an important part of wearing cologne. You should select a cologne that complements your natural body odour and suits the event you're wearing it to.

For example, many men prefer to wear a lighter, citrus-based scent for afternoons and while at work, and a stronger scent with spice undertones or musky notes for the night.

When selecting a cologne, it's important to remember that cologne is designed to enhance your natural scent, not mask it. So, if you're going clubbing, for example, applying lots of cologne on top of your natural body odour might not be the best idea.

It's also important to be mindful of other people's allergies and sensitivities when wearing cologne, especially when spending time in indoor areas like an office.

Don't rub it in

Rubbing in your cologne is a common mistake. It might seem like the sensible thing to do, but it's actually one of the worst things you can do after applying your cologne.

Rubbing cologne into your skin can break the molecular bond in the fragrance, causing the scent to fade faster. Instead, you should just spray or dab it on and let it dry on the skin.

If you're using a spray cologne, hold the bottle 3 to 6 inches away from your skin and apply a light, quick burst. If you're using a non-spray cologne, place your wrist on top of the bottle, flip it twice, then put the bottle down. After this, dab your wrists together and use the cologne on your wrists to spread it to your neck and chest.

Frequently asked questions