In her song Before He Cheats, Carrie Underwood sings about her partner's infidelity, alluding to his excessive use of cheap cologne to cover up the scent of another woman. The line three dollars' worth of that bathroom cologne has sparked discussions and interpretations, with some speculating that it refers to establishments like restaurants and hotels that offer small trial-sized colognes in their restrooms, often sold in dispensing machines. This line adds a humorous and relatable touch to the song, showcasing the lengths people go to hide their cheating ways.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Mentioned in the song | "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood |
Refers to | Establishments (restaurants, hotels, etc.) that have a collection of cologne in their restrooms |
Refers to (cont.) | Cheap designer imposter cologne, worn in excessive amounts |
Refers to (cont.) | Someone bathing in cologne |
Refers to (cont.) | Covering up the scent of another person's perfume |
What You'll Learn
Before He Cheats lyrics
In the song "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood, the lyrics mention a man who is "probably dabbing on three dollars worth of that bathroom cologne/Polo". This is a reference to cheap knock-off cologne that was popular in the 90s and could be found in the bathrooms of restaurants and hotels. The implication is that the man is using excessive amounts of the cologne to cover up the scent of another woman.
The song "Before He Cheats" was released in 2005 as the third single from Underwood's album Some Hearts. It became the first country song in history to sell over two million digital copies and won two Grammy awards. The song's writers, Joshua Peter Kear and Christopher G. Tompkins, have said that the song was originally intended for Gretchen Wilson.
> [Verse 1] Right now, he's probably slow dancing
> With a bleached-blonde tramp
> And she's probably getting frisky
> Right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink
> 'Cause she can't shoot a whiskey
> Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool-stick
> Showing her how to shoot a combo
> And he don't know
>
> [Chorus] I dug my key into the side
> Of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive
> Carved my name into his leather seats
> I took a Louisville Slugger to both headlights
> Slashed a hole in all four tires
> Maybe next time, he'll think before he cheats
>
> [Verse 2] Right now, she's probably up singing some
> White-trash version of Shania karaoke
> Right now, she's probably saying, "I'm drunk"
> And he's a thinking that he's gonna get lucky
> Right now, he's probably dabbing on
> Three dollars worth of that bathroom cologne/Polo
> Oh, and he don't know
>
> [Chorus] Oh, that I dug my key into the side
> Of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive
> Carved my name into his leather seats
> I took a Louisville Slugger to both headlights
> Slashed a hole in all four tires
> Maybe next time, he'll think before he cheats
The lyrics describe a scorned woman taking revenge on her unfaithful lover by vandalising his car. The song has been interpreted as a warning to cheating men and has been praised for its empowering message for women.
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Knock-off colognes
The term "bathroom cologne" was popularised by Carrie Underwood's song "Before He Cheats", which includes the line, "Right now, he's probably dabbing on three dollars' worth of that bathroom cologne". This line refers to the fact that these knock-off colognes are usually very inexpensive, often costing just a few dollars.
While the quality of knock-off colognes may not match that of their designer counterparts, they can still be a good option for those looking to try out different fragrances without breaking the bank. Some companies even create premier alternatives to luxury fragrances by eliminating the "brand tax", offering similar scents at a fraction of the price. These alternative fragrances are developed with a focus on sustainability and transparency, using cruelty-free and non-toxic ingredients.
In addition to being more affordable, knock-off colognes can also be more convenient for travel and easy to apply. They are typically packaged in small, portable sizes that fit easily into pockets or bags. However, it's important to note that the quality of these colognes may vary, and some may not last as long as their designer counterparts.
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Carrie Underwood
In her song "Before He Cheats", Carrie Underwood refers to "3 dollars worth of bathroom cologne" or "bathroom polo". The song, which won Single of the Year at the 2007 Country Music Association Awards, is about a woman taking revenge on her cheating boyfriend by vandalising his truck.
The reference to "bathroom cologne" or "bathroom polo" relates to vending machines found in the men's rooms of certain US drinking establishments that dispense cheap, low-grade cologne. The cologne is often an imitation of more expensive fragrances, such as Ralph Lauren's "Polo", which was a popular cologne in the 90s. The song's lyrics suggest that the boyfriend is using an excessive amount of this cheap cologne to cover up the scent of another woman's perfume.
The inclusion of this detail in the song adds to the image of the boyfriend as being unfaithful and uncaring. It also provides a sense of humour and relatability, as many people are familiar with these types of cologne dispensers in bathrooms.
The success of "Before He Cheats" helped to establish Underwood's niche for songs that take down badly behaved boyfriends. Some of her later songs that incorporate this theme include "Cowboy Casanova", "Two Black Cadillacs", and "Dirty Laundry".
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Humidity and cologne
The phrase "3 dollars' worth of that bathroom cologne" is a reference to establishments such as restaurants and hotels that have a collection of cologne in their restrooms. This line was notably mentioned in the song "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. The reference implies that the man she is singing about is putting on excessive amounts of cheap cologne to cover up the scent of another woman.
Now, onto the topic of humidity and cologne. Humidity can affect how long a bottle of cologne lasts, but it depends on the storage conditions. Cologne is typically manufactured with shipping conditions in mind, so it can withstand some temperature fluctuations. However, extreme heat can speed up the aging process, and humidity can cause issues if a bottle is poorly sealed.
If you are concerned about humidity affecting your cologne, there are several storage options you can consider:
- Store your cologne in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or cabinet, away from direct sunlight.
- Ensure that your cologne is sealed properly to prevent humid air from getting into the bottle.
- Consider using a small wine cooler or refrigerator to store your cologne, as these can help regulate temperature and humidity.
- Use desiccants or silica gel packets in your storage area to absorb moisture from the air.
- Store your cologne on an inside wall, as outside walls tend to be hotter.
- Keep your cologne in its original box, as the cardboard can add an extra layer of insulation against heat.
In general, as long as you avoid exposing your cologne to extreme temperatures and direct sunlight, it should be fine. The normal shelf life of a fragrance already accounts for some temperature and humidity fluctuations.
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Cheap colognes
The phrase "3 dollars of bathroom cologne" is a reference to the song "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. In the song, the "bathroom cologne" refers to the free cologne that some establishments (like hotels and restaurants) offer in their restrooms, usually in small trial sizes for sale in a dispensing machine.
While it may be difficult to find a cologne for exactly $3, there are many cheap colognes on the market. Some popular discount colognes include:
- Cuba Gold Eau de Toilette Spray for Men by Cuba ($6-10)
- Cuba Blue Eau de Toilette Spray for Men by Cuba ($6-12)
- Cuba Jungle Snake Eau de Parfum Spray for Women by Cuba
- Cuba Royal Eau de Toilette Spray for Men by Cuba ($6-10)
- Cuba Red Eau de Toilette Spray for Men by Cuba ($6-10)
- Tommy Bahama Maritime Eau de Cologne Spray for Men by Tommy Bahama ($59.99-74.99)
- Nautica Voyage ($20)
- Drakkar Noir
- Versace Eau Fraiche ($30)
- Versace Dylan Blue
- Bentley for Men
- Encre Noir ($30)
- Rasasi Hawas ($30-40)
- Cool Water
- Rochas Moustache
- Versace Dreamer
- Juicy Couture Dirty English
- L'eau d'issey pour homme
- Bleu de Chanel
- YSL Y
- Dior Sauvage
- Versace Dylan Blue
- Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir
- Missoni Missoni Parfum
- Club de Nuit Blue Iconic
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase "3 dollars of bathroom cologne" is a lyric from the song "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. It refers to cheap knock-off cologne that can be found in some restaurant and hotel bathrooms.
"Bathroom cologne" is a reference to the fact that some establishments, such as restaurants and hotels, have a collection of cologne in their restrooms, usually small trial sizes for sale in dispensing machines.
The correct lyric is actually "three dollars' worth of that bathroom cologne". However, some people mishear it as "bathroom Polo" due to the similarity between the words "cologne" and "Polo", which is the name of a popular cologne by Ralph Lauren.