By Sven Raphael Schneider (Gentleman’s Gazette)
So how should you pick the right Cologne?
#cologne #menscologne #notsponsored
Understand the ingredients. Most colognes consist of multiple different fragrances water and alcohol to create something that is harmonious and flattering. Traditionally, essential oils would be used to add the sense to the Cologne. Well-known essential oils include lavender rose bergamot and sandalwood for example. Personally, I’m also a big fan of lemongrass and unfortunately, most manufacturers will not list the essential oils on the ingredients list because they want to keep the secret recipe.
I suggest you understand the fragrance wheel, there are many different variations. Scents are categorized into floral oriental fresh and woody sometimes also in aromatic. Ultimately, this is just a graphic and if you haven’t smelled any of this before, it won’t be of any help, however, once you’ve found colognes that you like and you’ve analyzed what is in them, this can help you find related colognes that you might also like. Ultimately, you want to narrow down the selection of potential favorites for you by using the wheel. For a more detailed look at the fragrance wheel, please head over to our website here.
Before you buy cologne, it’s essential to sample it in person.
SRP
Everyone’s perception of smell is different, on top of that, it’s essential that you smell a cologne for at least 30 minutes, ideally up to an hour individually, before you decide on buying it. So why do I have to wait 30 minutes to one hour if I can smell the Cologne right away, you might wonder? Well actually, it all comes down to understanding the fragrance pyramid.
Basically, a cologne consists of base notes, hurt notes, and top notes. The top note is the most volatile of the three, meaning it evaporates most quickly and it’s what you can typically smell when you spray the Cologne onto your arm or onto a test or strip. Oftentimes, it’s described as fresh or assertive or sharp and it’s never on its own because you also have elements of the heart note and a base note that go into it’s perception. That being said, I always suggest to test the Cologne on your skin and never just on a tester strip because your natural odor impacts the way you and others perceive that scent. The heart notes or the middle notes are about to appear strongly when the top note disappears which is generally about 20 minutes in. Typically, the notes are more round or mellowed compared to the top notes and it can last all the way up to an hour. bass notes on the other hand are the least volatile component and are often perceived as rich or heavier. It typically takes at least 30 minutes to release those base notes. In the beginning, they’re overlaid by the heart notes and so that’s why you want enough time with a cologne so you can truly experience what it smells like and how the sense develops over time. Even you might enjoy a scent right out of a bottle, you may actually not end up liking it at all 30 minutes in.
So how do you apply Cologne?
First of all, I think it depends on the strength of the Cologne so that it is stronger has to about differently than something that is very light. When in doubt, always use less.
In recent years, layering of colognes has become a trend. I personally am more of a purist, I think it’s best to go with that one scent because it already consists of many aromatic fragrances paired with your skin and what you eat it really is enough.
You can take into consideration the environment you’re in, the season, as well as the type of your skin, so you find something that truly works for you and that’s flattering. Stay tuned for the final video in this series about Cologne do’s and don’ts.
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