TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
There is only one way to tell how a scent will smell, and it
doesn’t involve scratching and sniffing a magazine. A self-test on your skin is
the single, sure-fire method of determining its reaction with your body chemistry.
That’s why you should try before you buy. Then, wait a day before committing to
reveal any potential allergic reactions and to ensure the scent will last.
When it comes to cologne, knowing your skin type is essential.
Oily complexions maintain a scent longer, with fewer and less frequent
applications. The additional moisture on the skin acts as chemical activator.
Drier skin, on the other hand, is just the opposite, it’s like a sponge soaking
up that sweet scent. Go for an extra squirt and make sure you re-apply before a
night on the town.
APPLY AFTER A HOT SHOWER
Like most things in life, timing is everything. So,
naturally, there is a prime time for applying fragrance – like after a hot
shower or bath. The water temperature and steam assist in prying pores open,
which in turn, sop up scent. They’re what keep you smelling fresh (or not) all
day long. And while attempting to scent unshowered skin isn’t the worst cologne
crime in the world, you do risk of instigating a nasty cover-up.
Cologne Don’ts
DOUSE
We all know the guy who has a perpetual trail of saturated
scent you can smell from a mile away. It announces his coming and going in the
most offencive way possible – the classic case of foul play with a trigger-happy
hand as the culprit. Instead of dousing , spraying at the pulse points is a
more effective way of application, and honestly, a cologne basic. A dab behind
the ears, wrist and at the base of the throat – essentially, anywhere the blood
vessels are close to the skins surface – is all you need to maximise your musk.
And remember when in doubt less is more. No one likes to be assaulted with
smell no matter how pleasant you think it is.
Strongly scented soaps and body washes can mix in unintended
ways with any cologne applied afterwards. At best, the soap smell will
overpower a lighter fragrance and make it seem barely there but more than
likely, the cool, clean scent of that body wash will alter the smell of the
cologne you just applied. Stick with the lighter fragranced body wash.
DON'T THINK ONE SCENT IS ENOUGH
Despite the old advice of finding a signature scent and
sticking to it, men must remember to
change things up. As seasons change cologne must follow suit. A full-bodied
fragrance for mid November just doesn’t match the mood and can be overpowering.
The opposite is true too. Lighter scents can get lost in colder temperatures
come winter time. Opt for just two scents to complement the seasons. A citrusy
scent for spring and summer should give way to woodsy spicy selections for
autumn and winter.
WAIT AROUND
Men have a bad habit of hoarding unopened bottles of
colognes for use at a later date. They tend to stockpile them. But colognes have
a shelf-life. 3 years to be exact. After that the natural oils in the bottle
lose their intensity and go rancid. This rule holds true whether they’re still
wrapped in plastic or on their last drop.
Cologne is a crucial part of being a man. The whole scent
thing plays into their primal need to mark their territory. And now, you’ll be
able to mark that territory right.
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