“Good manners and the right cologne is what transforms a person into a gentleman”. These are the words of Tom Ford, and I couldn’t agree with him more. What differentiates a man from a gentleman is that a man will douse himself in fragrance while a gentleman will not. A gentleman will choose a smell that is unique to him and will stick to it, thus creating a signature scent that makes him memorable to others, especially the opposite sex. Below are some things to take into consideration, when searching for and choosing the right cologne.
1. Consider Fragrance Families
Finding the best cologne that suits your personality begins with your knowledge of fragrance families. Traditionally, fragrance comes in floral, oriental and woody scents. Floral scents are dominated by flowers such as roses, gardenia and geranium. Oriental scents are more exotic and sweet, they contain fruity and spicy notes like citrus and cinnamon. Woody scents are more masculine and may contain cedar, pine and sandalwood. Other men scents may contain musk or even leather. After familiarizing yourself with the traditional scents, choose the one that matches your personality. For instance; woody fragrance are good for charismatic men; musky amber fragrance are perfect for determined men with a mysterious allure; sporty, clean cut men should go for spicy and citrus fragrances while romantics at heart should choose floral fragrance.
2. Consider Fragrance Notes
This refers to the composition of a fragrance, that is, all of the different elements that make up a particular scent. Notes are divided into 3 layers: top, middle and base notes. They determine the fragrance smell. Top note is that initial, lighter smell of a fragrance that hits the nose immediately after application to the skin. It lasts from 15 minutes to 2 hours. They are typical light floral scents, citrus – fruity scents, powdery scents, marines and aquatics, and spices such as cinnamon. Middle note emerges after the top note clears and can last 3-5 hours after being sprayed. Base note is the last to develop. They are the bolder notes of the scent which become more noticeable later in the day. They tend to last from five – ten hours. The notes of a fragrance are listed in order, according to how they have been combined to create that particular fragrance. For instance, a cologne may be said to have top notes of bergamot, cinnamon, cucumber; middle notes of cedar, pine and sandalwood; and base notes of leather, moss, musk, tobacco, vetiver. As the notes evaporates, the fragrance evolves
3. Consider Fragrance Concentration
This refers to the Oil Content in the fragrance. Eau de parfum has concentration of about 15% to 20% pure perfume essence. It could for about 8 hours. After the top notes (the first scent) evaporates, the middle notes become noticeable. These fragrances are typically sold in smaller bottles. Eau de toilette contains about 5% – 15% pure perfume essence dissolved in alcohol. The top notes are more dominant. It could last for up to 3 hours. While Eau de cologne contains about 2% – 4% perfumes oils and water, it fades quickly but could last for up to 2 hours. It is generally sold in larger bottles. Eau de toilette and cologne are the most popular forms of fragrance for men. Don’t let size deceive you.
4. Consider Fragrance Types
There are two types of fragrance; Designer fragrance and Niche Fragrance. Designer fragrances are fragrances made by companies like Armani, Chanel, Burberry, and other designer brands. These fragrances are designed for mass consumption. They are safer to wear. They are usualyusuall from cheaper materials to save costs and enable volume production. Niche fragrances are usualy made from more expensive/higher-quality ingredients. They are created by celebrities, made for a more selective customer who wishes to wear something unique.
5. Consider Your Body Chemistry
How to choose the right men’s cologne involves selecting the one that works best with your natural body odour. The skin is composed of chemical compounds which gives every human being a unique body odor. So when your natural odor combines with a cologne, it creates a whole new scent that is specially unique to you. This is why a fragrance will smell good on one, and not so good on the other. The cologne that works best on you is one that still smells good after it has been on you for several hours. Don’t blind buy a fragrance that has been recommended to you. Ensure that you test it for a day before deciding to buy, so as to know whether you still like the evolving scent.
6. Consider The Opinion Of Others
Ask some friends (most especially female friends) what they think about the smell of the cologne you have chosen to wear. So if multiple people tell you your scent is off, then you should try something else. Women are a good judge of smell. They have a better and more fine-tuned sense of smell. Their noses are specifically sensitive to male pheromones. So if your goal is to attract the opposite sex, a good cologne will do that for you.
Once you find the cologne that suits you and compliment your natural scent, you will be expressing yourself beyond your imagination, leaving a memorable impression and attracting a mate.