Men’s Cologne: How To Buy, How To Apply, How To Make It Last
My friends! Today I want to chat about mens cologne, how to buy, how to apply cologne and how to make it last! I consulted my fragrance hero for this post, Roja Dove of Roja Parfums and he so generously gave me his time to give you the ultimate guide of all things mens cologne. I truly thought I was well versed in the world of fragrance but this information has taught me so much, I’m so grateful for his help and I hope this post is of help to you!
How To Apply Cologne
Spray your fragrance in the morning, but don’t do it in a rush as you’re running out of the door. Instead, spray your fragrance as soon as you’ve dried off after a shower, before you’ve even stepped into your clothes. Spray onto pulse points – areas of the body where the blood is very near to the surface of the skin such as wrists, the inside bend of the elbow and the dip of the collar-bone – Your body heat will intensify the base notes of a fragrance.
How To Apply Cologne Correctly
Apply your scent within the “forbidden triangle”. From the jawline to each earlobe, and down to the chest. This is because our necks become crêpey with age and so if scent is applied there, the alcohol content within acts as an astringent, Behind the ears there are a number of sebaceous glands, sebum is alkaline and therefore makes the scent “turn”.
How To Buy Cologne
The most important tip when buying a fragrance for yourself is to be thorough. If you smell fragrances freshly sprayed your nose will tire after the third one or so due to the alcohol content, which works like an anaesthetic. Smelling the perfume on paper, when the alcohol has evaporated is the only sane way to try a fragrance. Spray a few options on blotter cards, taking note of the name, and smell them away from the perfumery. Compare each one to the next, eliminating the one you like least. Continue this process until you have only one. Then go back to the counter and spray it liberally on your skin, allowing it time to develop: If it is still intoxicating after 30 minutes, you’ve found your signature scent.
How To Choose Cologne
Most people don’t really smell perfumes, we smell marketing – and that’s why so many people end up unfaithful to fragrances: because they’re buying into something. There are many niche and luxury perfume brands on the market, offering good quality, creative scents. Take the time to become well versed in what is available to you to ensure you find a scent of true quality and individuality. A good tip would be to invest in a one-to-one consultation with an experienced professional to find the perfect scent for you.
How To Invest In Cologne
When it comes to the amount you should spend on perfume, you get what you pay for. Perfumers can spend £100 on a kilo of jasmine or £16,000 on the same amount. They wouldn’t do that if it all smelled exactly the same. Price very much reflects quality and this balances out cost wise. A fragrance containing fine materials will last longer than a cheap fragrance, which will need to be sprayed continuously throughout the day to remain apparent. This then means the liquid runs out much faster than a perfume of quality that will last throughout the day.
How To Apply Cologne So It Lasts
Classic Eau de Colognes will have 2-3% oil, whereas a modern Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette will have 3-8% on average, with a few pushing the levels higher and becoming termed an ‘Extreme’ or a ‘Concentrate’ to show the difference. A Parfum is the best choice for a resonating scent as will last much longer than an Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette. Always apply your perfume first and the lock it in with a lotion or cream afterwards – not only does this increase the lasting quality but the alcohol in the fragrance doesn’t break down the cream so the moisturising factor is maximised.
How To Store Cologne Properly
Like wine, a perfume will continue ageing in the bottle beautifully as long as it is kept airtight. The natural oils macerate in the alcohol, the aromas infusing gradually. Heat, light, and oxygen are scents greatest enemies so always keep perfume away from direct light, in a cool place between 6-10ºC to keep the integrity of the perfume. An unstoppered perfume will start to oxidise which destroys the more fragile top notes, whilst heat will cause the alcohol to evaporate if the seal is not good.
Use It To Your Advantage
Fragrance has been used to change mood since antiquity. Each odour stimulates the synapses which trigger the release of hormones which govern every bodily function or action. Use a fragrance to stimulate your mood, to give you an uplifting boost or to envelop you into a sense of comfort. Giving yourself an extra spritz can reinvigorate you ready for an evening out, where others will receive your scent more apparently. Allow perfume to not just transform yourself but to affect others around you.
Don’t Be Affected By Gendered Fragrances
When it comes to gendered perfume the ingredients don’t fundamentally change – how they are dressed up is what transforms ingredients into a feminine or a masculine accord. In reality a rose on a woman smells like a feminine rose, whereas a rose on a man is a masculine rose. Whereas modern perfumery is becoming less gender-specific with the rise of niche brands, the divide will always exist. Middle Eastern men are the most adventurous with their fragrance as they are the most in tune with how they want to smell. They quite rightly don’t distinguish between male and female fragrances.
How To Gift Mens Cologne
When buying for others consider their personality and correspond it to one of the four fragrance families: For those with a carefree, happy-go-lucky disposition go for a Floral perfume. If they are uncompromising, with a tendency for understated refinement go for a Chypré. If they have to be noticed and they have luxurious taste go for an Oriental. Fougère’s are citrusy and popular with practically everyone as people find them uplifting, making them a safe bet. Alternatively match the scent style to their personal style. Think about items the person has around the house then look for a fragrance that contains the same basic notes.
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…And there we have it, Men’s Cologne: How To Buy, How To Apply Cologne, How To Make It Last. I hope this post has been of help and please do let me know if you have any questions, also a HUGE thank you to Roja Dove for lending me his amazing knowledge, I love your fragrances SO much!
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