Colognes That Won't Let You Down When You're Musty

While cologne can be used to enhance one's natural scent, it is not a cure-all for poor hygiene. Body odour is influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, diet, and personal hygiene practices. To effectively manage body odour, it is important to maintain good personal hygiene by showering regularly, using antibacterial soaps, drying off thoroughly, wearing clean and breathable clothing, and using deodorant or antiperspirant. Additionally, it is worth noting that cologne should complement one's body odour rather than simply masking it. The choice of cologne should be based on factors such as fragrance families, personal style, and body chemistry.

Apply cologne to heated areas of the body

Applying Cologne to Heated Areas of the Body

Cologne is designed to make you smell good, but it's important to understand the science behind it. It uses the heat of your body to slowly and consistently release the fragrance throughout the day. This is why cologne is designed to be applied to the skin, not your clothes. By spraying it on your clothes, you mute the scent and make it difficult to get the volume right.

So, where are the heated areas of the body that you should apply cologne to? Well, the pulse points—usually the wrists, neck, and behind the ears—are often considered the best places to apply cologne as these areas are typically warm. However, the rest of your body is also warm (unless you're battling the snow!).

When applying cologne, it's best to do so right after a shower when you're clean and dry. Start with a minimal application—a single spritz at least six inches away from your body. You can always add more later if needed.

Avoid spraying cologne directly on clothes

While cologne can be used to cover up unwanted smells, it is important to avoid spraying it directly onto your clothes. Here are several reasons why you should avoid spraying cologne directly on your clothes, along with some tips on how to properly apply cologne:

Muted Scent

The cologne is designed to interact with your skin and be released slowly and consistently throughout the day, utilising your body heat. Spraying it directly onto your clothes will mute the scent, defeating the purpose of applying cologne in the first place. The scent may also cling when you don't want it to and not work as intended.

Difficult to Control Volume

Spraying cologne onto your clothes can make it challenging to control the volume of the fragrance. The cologne may be absorbed unevenly by the fabric, resulting in an overpowering scent in some areas and a faint scent in others. This can be avoided by applying cologne to your skin, where it will be more evenly distributed.

Potential Staining

Some colognes contain oils or other ingredients that can stain or discolour certain types of fabrics. Spraying cologne directly onto your clothes may result in unsightly stains that are difficult to remove. It is always best to test a small area of the fabric first if you need to spray your clothes for a specific reason.

Proper Application Technique

The proper way to apply cologne is to spray it onto your skin, not your clothes. Apply cologne right after you shower and towel off. Hold the bottle at least six inches away from your body and start with a single spritz. You can always add more later if needed, but it's important to remember that less is more when it comes to cologne.

In summary, avoid spraying cologne directly on your clothes to ensure the scent is released as intended, to control the volume of the fragrance, and to prevent potential staining. Instead, apply cologne to your skin, following the tips outlined above, for a more pleasant and effective fragrance experience.

Apply cologne 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.

How to apply cologne to pulse points

• Spritz or lightly dab the cologne onto the pulse point.
• Using your wrist, press the cologne into your skin so it sits below the skin at the pulse point and doesn't slowly die away over the day.
• If you're applying cologne to your wrist, avoid rubbing your wrists together as this can break down the top notes of the cologne and affect the way the scent develops on your skin.
• If you're applying cologne behind your ears, spritz it into your hair to increase its range and longevity.
• If you're applying cologne to your neck, spritz it onto each side of your neck, then touch the fragrance with both wrists and finish by passing your wrists through your hair.

Less is more when it comes to cologne. It's better to experiment by slowly adding more cologne than to apply too much and have to take a shower to remove the smell. As a general rule, start with one spritz to each pulse point and then test it. Can you smell it easily? It might be too much. If you're not sure, ask someone you trust for their opinion.

Don't rub cologne into the skin

Don't Rub Cologne Into Your Skin

While cologne is designed to be applied to the skin, it is important to understand the science behind its application. The heat of your body is what helps vaporize the cologne and release the fragrance throughout the day. Therefore, it is not necessary to rub cologne into your skin.

In fact, rubbing cologne into your skin can actually mute the scent and prevent it from working as intended. The friction caused by rubbing can generate heat, which can affect the top notes of the cologne, altering the fragrance. Additionally, rubbing cologne into your skin can cause the scent to cling longer than intended and become too strong.

Instead of rubbing, simply spray the cologne onto your skin, holding the bottle at least six inches away. This will allow the cologne to be absorbed and release its fragrance gradually. If you feel that you have applied too much, you can try applying the cologne from a greater distance or spraying it onto a cloth and then dabbing it onto your skin. This will help minimize the scent.

It is also important to remember that cologne should be applied to clean skin, preferably right after a shower. This ensures that the fragrance does not clash with any other smells and that your body heat can properly activate the cologne.

By understanding how cologne works and following these simple application tips, you can ensure that you are using cologne responsibly and effectively.

Store cologne correctly to extend its shelf life

Like most cosmetics, cologne has a shelf life. However, you can extend its lifespan by storing it correctly. Here are some tips to help you store your cologne correctly:

Keep it cool

Avoid storing your cologne in a warm or hot place as high temperatures can cause faster degradation of the fragrance molecules. Instead, keep it in a cool and dry place, ideally below 15 degrees Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avoid humidity

Avoid storing cologne in humid places like bathrooms due to the high moisture content. A bedroom drawer or closet is a better option.

Tighten the cap

Ensure the fragrance bottle is tightly capped when not in use as air in the bottle will cause the fragrance to evaporate.

Keep it in its original bottle

While it may be more practical to decant your cologne into atomizers or smaller, travel-friendly tubes, doing so exposes the fragrance to oxygen, which can alter its chemical makeup.

Store in a dark place

Keep your cologne away from light as it can break down the molecules of the fragrance, making its composition unstable and prone to oxidation.

Keep using it

Once opened, the oxygen inside the bottle increases the risk of alteration. To slow down this process, continue using the cologne until the bottle is empty.

Store in a cool, dark place

To keep your cologne at the ideal temperature, store it in the fridge or freezer. However, wrapping it in aluminium foil and storing it in the freezer is preferable to the fridge, as constant light from opening the fridge door can negatively impact the fragrance.

Frequently asked questions