Finding The Perfect Cologne Gift For Your Husband

Choosing a fragrance for your husband can be a daunting task. It's important to know that fragrances have a powerful effect on how people see and remember you. A good cologne can make you more attractive and boost your confidence. When selecting a cologne, it's best to avoid blind buying and instead test how the perfume complements your natural body odour over the period of a day. Department stores are great for this purpose. Some popular colognes include Chanel Bleu de Chanel, Dior Sauvage, Ralph Lauren Polo EDT, and Armani Acqua Di Giò Eau de Toilette.

Know his personality

When choosing a cologne for your husband, it is important to know his personality. Is he extravagant or conservative? Does he like power or discretion? All these factors come into play when choosing a fragrance.

Take inspiration from his current scent. If he already wears and likes something woody or citrusy, then you are on the right path. You could also pick something you like—it is a two-way thing. If you like how he smells, you are more likely to want to get close to him.

If you are unsure of what he might like, it is best to stick to classic colognes such as Chanel Bleu de Chanel, which has pleasant omnipresence and tends to conjure happy memories in those who smell it. If you are looking for something low-key, Bleu de Chanel is also a good option as it is a fragrance for men who think they don't like fragrances.

If your husband likes something a little more unique, you could try a niche fragrance. These are usually more expensive and made from higher-quality ingredients. They are created by industry artists and tend to be bolder and more distinctive. However, they do not always have universal appeal.

Take inspiration from his current scent

When it comes to choosing a cologne for your husband, taking inspiration from his current scent can be a great way to go. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect fragrance:

Start by identifying the core notes in his current cologne. These can include woody, spicy, fresh, or citrus scents. Understanding these notes will help you determine what your husband likes and guide you towards similar fragrances. For example, if he currently wears a cologne with woody notes, you might want to look for other colognes that feature sandalwood, cedar, or vetiver.

Consider the fragrance families and their seasonality. Certain scents are more suitable for particular times of the year. For instance, warming fragrances with notes of tobacco, leather, or spice are ideal for winter, while fresh and aquatic notes are perfect for summer. You can use tools like Michael Edwards' Fragrance Wheel to explore different fragrance families and find similar scents.

Pay attention to the scent pyramid: top, heart, and base notes. Top notes are the initial smell that dissipates quickly, heart notes are the main element of the fragrance that develops after the top notes, and base notes are the bold scents that become more noticeable later in the day and have more longevity. Understanding these layers will help you identify which aspect of your husband's current cologne he likes and guide your selection.

Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. If your husband already wears cologne, the people around him probably associate that scent with him. By asking his friends, family, or colleagues about the colognes they wear, you can get ideas for similar fragrances that your husband might also enjoy.

Lastly, take your husband's personality and preferences into account. Fragrances can evoke different moods and emotions, so consider what your husband wants to convey. Does he want something classic and masculine, or is he open to more unique or niche fragrances? Would he prefer a subtle scent that only those close to him can detect, or does he want something with a stronger presence?

Remember, the key is to use his current scent as a starting point and then explore similar or complementary fragrances to find the perfect match for his taste and personality.

Pick something you like too

When choosing a cologne for your husband, it's important to pick something that you like, too. After all, you'll be smelling it just as much as he will!

Cologne is an invisible part of your husband's personal style, and it can have a powerful effect on how people perceive and remember him. A nice fragrance can make him more attractive and boost his confidence. It can also foster deeper emotional connections with people, as smell is our most powerful sense and is capable of triggering memories better than any of our other senses.

When choosing a cologne, it's important to consider the different fragrance families and identify which ones work in a given context. For example, woody, citrus, or aromatic colognes tend to wear well as daily "signature scents". These scents are bright, refreshing, and energizing and are better suited to year-round wear than more sensual spicy or leather options.

• Chanel Bleu de Chanel
• Dior Sauvage
• Ralph Lauren Polo EDT
• Armani Acqua Di Giò Eau de Toilette
• Hermes Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver EDP
• Gucci Guilty Eau de Parfum Pour Homme
• Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
• Louis Vuitton Imagination Cologne

Remember, the most important thing is to choose a cologne that you both enjoy. Happy shopping!

Play it safe and buy the one he already wears

If you're unsure about what cologne to buy your husband, you can play it safe and buy the one he already wears. This is a good option if you're worried about choosing the wrong scent, and it means you know he already likes it.

If you want to branch out and try something new, you could consider buying one of the flankers (or variations) of the cologne he already wears. For example, if your husband wears Aqua di Gio, you could try one of its flankers, such as Profondo or Parfum. However, be aware that some flankers are discontinued and may be difficult to find.

You could also look for a cologne with similar scent notes to the one he already wears. For example, if he wears a woody fragrance, you could try something like Armani Acqua Di Gio, which has masculine woody notes of green tangerine, persimmon, and rosemary. Or, if he wears a citrus cologne, you could opt for something like Chanel Bleu de Chanel, which has top notes of lemon zest, bergamot, and mint.

If you want to be more adventurous, you could try a completely different type of cologne. There are several popular colognes that your husband might like, such as Dior Sauvage, Chanel Bleu, or Chanel Allure Sport. You could also try a niche fragrance, which tends to be more expensive and unique, from brands like Xerjoff or Tom Ford.

Remember, choosing a cologne can be tricky, and it's important to know your husband's personality and preferences. It's also a good idea to test colognes before buying, as they can smell different on different people.

Test before you buy

Testing fragrances can be challenging, especially with the plethora of options available. It is important to test a fragrance before buying it to ensure that it resonates with your personal identity. Here are some tips on how to test fragrances before buying:

Testing Fragrances with Blotters

Paper blotters are commonly used to test fragrances. They are white pieces of card that you spray a fragrance on to test its scent. Blotters are a clean way to test fragrances as you don't get them on yourself, and they are usually available for free at perfume stores. However, they may not be of decent quality, and if you are testing multiple fragrances, it is a good idea to write their names on the paper to avoid confusion.

When using a blotter, spray the fragrance twice in a downward motion in front of you, then swiftly pass the blotter through the fragrance's vapour cloud. Wave the scented blotter under your nose, keeping it at least an inch or two away, and inhale. Refer back to the card regularly to test its life cycle.

Testing Fragrances on Your Skin

Testing a fragrance on your skin is a more effective way to get to know it and see how it evolves as fragrances are designed to react with the skin's heat. The heat and natural oils of your skin will allow the fragrance to go through its full life cycle. However, a skin test limits you to only one fragrance as spraying different parts of your body will result in contamination, and the scents will blend badly.

When testing on your skin, spray the back of your hand twice, leaving it to dry naturally without rubbing it in. Inhale the fragrance without letting it touch your nose, and keep your hand at least an inch or two away. Refer back to your hand over time to see how the fragrance evolves. Ensure your hands are thoroughly washed before and during testing, as soap and water can affect a fragrance's evolution.

Additional Tips for Testing Fragrances

• Avoid wearing fragrances when testing, as it can hinder your ability to experience a new scent accurately.
• Coffee beans are known to neutralise odours and can be used as olfactory palate cleansers between fragrance tests. However, they may be less effective with gourmand and oriental fragrances that contain similar notes.
• Test fragrances in the morning, as your sense of smell is usually sharper during this time.
• Take your time when testing, as something you love in the store may not be what you love at home. Do something else after spraying the perfume on your wrist to allow the fragrance to interact with your body's natural chemistry.

Frequently asked questions