Cologne is selected the same way you select your clothing. Choosing the right fragrance to wear depends on:

• Time of day
• Your age
• Your mood
• The weather
• Where you are going
• How you are getting there
• What goes well with your skin

Time of day:
You should always have at least two colognes, one for day-time use, and another for night-time. What you wear to work, college, or school should take into consideration that you will be in close proximity with other people. A light and fresh fragrance is appropriate. Stay away from heavy colognes or very spicy ones. My picks here are Givenchi Blue Label, Calvin Klein’s Euphoria, and Dunhill’s Desire Blue.

On the other hand, you can wear heavier colognes for night-time events, but not if you’re going to the movies (see point about being around people). Restaurants, night clubs, bars, and other social gatherings are full of aromas of every kind, and so you can afford to use a stronger cologne that can be noticed. My night colognes have recently been dominated by Armani’s Black Code, although a recent addition of Burburry’s Award Winning ‘London’ seems to compete for attention. Ralph Lauren’s Romance had a good run a few years ago and many men (and women) still enjoy it.

Your Age:
This goes without saying. You wouldn’t wear your father’s pants, so why would you wear his cologne? That being said, there are some classics out there that defy the call of time. Just make sure not to get stuck wearing at 30 what you used to wear when you were 17. Be informed of new fragrances and try to update your stash at least once every couple of years.

Your Mood:
Cheery scents for cheery moods. Dark rich scents for when you’re feeling a little down. Citrus hints are happier than oak. Get my drift? Don’t underestimate the power of scent on your mood. We only have five senses that can affect our mood, scent counts for 20% of those. A ‘happy’ cologne for me is in the lines of Givenchi Blue, DKNY’s Delicious, and Calvin Klein’s Summer.

The Weather:
I like to go with something metallic and elemental on rainy days (Dunhill’s Desire Blue is perfect for rain). Sunny hot days call for something that smells of citrus or fruit (throw on a bright colored shirt while you’re at it). Cold snowy days call for something rich that warms up with your layered clothing, yet not too spicy or strong. Hugo Boss Dark Blue goes well under a scarf. I find the warm scent intensifies with heat, yet stays very pleasant.

The Event:
Where are you going? Afternoon coffee dates are best served with an in-between fragrance: not too light, not too strong. Wear something with some light flavor if you can. Hugo by Hugo Boss works well here, it’s a morning cologne with a little extra ‘umph’.

Have a high-powered executive meeting first thing in the morning? Do away with my advice on light and hidden morning fragrance. A bold and conservative fragrance is needed here to go with your power tie for a boost of confidence that they can see, and smell. Stay away from spice in case someone at the meeting has a sensitive nose. Another Hugo Boss called Soul will fit the bill.

A dinner date followed by a night out at the clubs? Go all the way, spicy and delicious!

How You’re Getting There:
Are you driving to your destination/event? Or are you commuting? This may be a less important factor, but another note about crowded places is appropriate. If you notice people keeping a healthy radius from you on the bus or the underground, you’re probably wearing something too strong.

Your Skin:
Cologne reacts differently to different skin. The oils our bodies produce contain chemicals that react with the cologne. Sometimes the effect is negligible, other times the result is less than satisfactory. A fragrance may smell differently between the bottle, the tester paper, and your skin. I LOVE the smell of Hugo in the air, but that carriage quickly turns into a pumpkin as soon as it hits my skin.

There is no way to know for sure unless you try. If you are lucky and you look like you are going to be a regular purchaser, sometimes the clerk will give you little free samples to try at home before making a decision. Ask for these if you have real doubts. Otherwise, it’s trial and error till you get a hang of what works well with your skin.

So, how DO you wear it?

• Hold the bottle about 3 to 6 inches away from the area you want to spray. Make sure you get an even mist on the area. Too close and you’ll get a wet spot, too far and half the spray will evaporate before it gets on your skin.
• Never apply cologne on your clothing. Always apply directly on skin. Fabric does not retain fragrance as well as your skin, and unless you wash your clothes as often as you shower, your shirt will smell bad the next day.
• Common areas to spray are both sides of the neck, a dab behind each ear, and a spray on the inside of the wrist. Rub your wrists together to get the fragrance on both wrists. These areas of your body are the ones that most people will likely be close enough to notice what you’re wearing. If you are feeling adventurous, you can apply to other more exotic (yet less frequented) areas. Just know that cologne can taste bitter, sour, or acidic. I will say no more.
• One short press on each area should be more than enough. You don’t want to be known as the ‘smelly guy’. Cologne is an intimate affair, only those who have the privilege of getting close enough to you get the reward of smelling your scent. This is the main difference between cologne and Axe body spray: any fool can fish with dynamite, but It takes an exceptional hunter to lure the mermaid.
• I hear that you should ‘layer’ the fragrance to retain a deeper scent for a longer period of time. What this means is that you should use the same shampoo, body wash, aftershave, and moisturizer of the same cologne. I personally consider this overkill, and more of a sales tactic to cross-sell other products of the same brand. But, to each his own. You might actually enjoy the other lines of products from the same fragrance.

This concludes this crash course on how to wear cologne properly. You may disagree with my advice and choices, and so I find it prudent to remind you that these pointers are the result of my own personal experience and are tainted by my preference.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you have a favorite cologne or perfume that you want to recommend? The comments section is open.