A Product of Cologne
The cologne water more commonly known as cologne is a type of perfume native of Cologne, Germany. This type of fragrance was originally mixed by the Italian Johann Maria Farina in 1709. The Cologne are generally composed of 2% to 5% of fragrance—essential oils and a blend of alcohol and water. Often, the ethanol based cologne water (70% to 90%) contain traces of citrus oils, lemon oil, orange oil, tangerine oils, bergamot oils, grapefruit oil, lime oil, neroli oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil, thyme oils, petitgrain oil, jasmine oil and tobacco oils. The cologne is available in liquid base or semi-solid base (similar to the wax texture).
Since the dawn of time—men use cologne to honor their primal instincts. Also, no need to hide the admiration that women have toward the bearded men wearing cologne. It is scientifically proven that a man who sports a beard and wears a good perfume (cologne) please and attract the opposite sex. However, like any good things, it should not be overdone. A man should wear a cologne and not be soaked in cologne. In other words—keep in mind that too much of a good thing can easily become a bad thing.
Before purchasing a cologne—you should read the next few lines carefully. They will enlighten you on the basics to respect and will help you choose an appropriate cologne.
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The A, B, C of the Men's Cologne
Choosing a cologne may seem simple enough at first glance—but for some—the choice can be little harder to do. Same as when you choose clothes or beard style, it is important to consider a style that fits your personality. Contrary to what many people think—the cologne is not only made to be applied on your skin. It can also be applied wherever you want to be kissed. You can put some on your skin, on your hairs, behind your neck, behind your knees, on your balls beard and even on your clothes.
When you apply a cologne—whether it's liquid or semi-solid—keep in mind the following expression: ''too much is like not enough''. In other words, too much cologne can become aggressive for those around you. Remember—you want to attract and turn on the opposite sex—you do not want to turn them off.
The best time to apply a cologne is straight after getting out of the shower. When you step out of the shower—the pores of your skin are completely dilated—They will be able to fully absorb the essence of your cologne. Generally—if you apply a cologne directly after getting out of the shower—it should be effective for about 1 to 2 hours. In order to avoid altering the fragrance of your cologne, you should opt for a neutral deodorant and soap (odorless).
A question that we often get is: ''Is it true that what I eat and drink can affect the smell my cologne?''. While the answer may seem far-fetched—it is indeed true that what you eat can have an impact on the smell of your cologne. Everything that is fried and alcoholic should be avoided if you don't want to turn off your concubines.
When you find a fragrance (cologne) that suits you, nothing stops you from changing it every once in a while. To do this—in general—you should follow the seasons rhythm. Normally—a real gentleman—should have a fragrance for each season. People generally have at least two different colognes. An appropriate cologne for fall and winter and another suitable cologne for spring and summer.
What you Need to Know before Buying
Before buying your first cologne, you must keep certain points in mind. In fact—the cologne, as your clothes, shoes, and facial hair—helps forge your persona. So you don't want an unsatisfactory product that will turn off women. Here are few guidelines that you should consider before buying your first cologne.
The Different Categories of Cologne
The cologne—as we know it—is divided into three categories. On one hand, you have the citrus fragrances. These are generally recommended during the warmer months. On the other hand, you have the green fragrances. These are much softer. Finally, you have the spicy fragrance that reminds you the smell of the Old Spice products.
Adapt your Choice to your Style
Depending on your style and on your skin tone—there is a suitable men's cologne category for you. If your skin tone is rather pale—you should choose a cologne with citrus or green fragrances. On the contrary—if you have a dark skin tone—you should rather opt for a cologne with spicy fragrances. In addition—if your dress code is casual (jeans and t-shirt)—the cologne with citrus or green fragrances should be suitable for you. If your clothing style is classy and fresh (blouse, jacket and oxford shoes)—colognes with spicy fragrances should be your choice.
Products that Transcend Fashion
Colognes for men are usually designed with a nod to the fashion of the day. Professionals and experts in this field can accurately link a cologne scent to a specific fashion and/or to a specific decade. They all agree to say that the best colognes survived the fashion evolution, while others simply disappeared. Just as beer and wine—cologne tends to ferment with the years since his ingredients are never completely uniform. In other words—a cologne fragrance purchased in 2014 will certainly be more pronounced and stronger one years later—in 2015.
Be Patient
As defining your dressing style—it can take several tries of different cologne fragrances before hitting the one that suits you best. To do this, there is no quick fix. You must be patient and try them by yourself—knowing that cologne act differently from one person to another. When you try a cologne—liquid or semi-solid—it may take up to 10 to 15 minutes after the application before the fragrances react with your skin.
The Oil content, an Important Determinant
The level of oil content of a cologne helps to determine how long it will stand (smell) on your skin. In this sense, the more the oil level of a cologne is, the stronger it will be and the longer it will act on your skin. Thus said, you should nevertheless be careful to not apply too much cologne on your skin to avoid generating a too strong smell that could be unpleasant for you and even for those alongside you. Typically, colognes are composed of 1% to 3% of oils (light level). So, they usually act on your skin for one to two hours.
Beware as a buyer
You still the best judge
When you want to buy a cologne, remember that you are the best judge to determine which one will be the best for you. In this sense, the positive or negative reinforcements of the people around you help to reinforce your choice or can also make you questioning about your choice. If a lot of people pass you negative comments about your perfume, you might start to thinking about a new one. However, never make the mistake of choosing a cologne by following the recommendations of a friend. As mentioned above, the cologne acts differently on anyone and it is possible that a particular cologne is not suitable for you. Opt instead for a cologne by respecting your taste, your style and your budget.
Be careful of counterfeit colognes
Considering that 10% of colognes and perfumes that are currently on the shelves of physical and virtual stores are fakes, it is very important to know how to detect them. Generally, these men or women counterfeit grooming products are made with urine (used as a stabilizer) and with antifreeze. So you need to stay vigilant at all times and always consider the following points when you buy a cologne or perfume.
- First, the point of sale generally tells you a lot about the quality of their products. Do not be fooled by the charlatans who try to do good business with you by offering you brand fragrances at ridiculous prices. Where an offer is too good to be true, you have to take a step back and ask yourself the following question: It is normal to find this brand at this price? If the answer is no, you have to abstain you because the product may very well be counterfeit.
- Next, you should always pay a close attention to the misspelling errors and to the logos found on the fragrances bottles or containers. Often, counterfeit products are very similar to the original version and are distinguished by light details. If you notice a misspelling error in the name of a brand or an imperfect logo, it is probably a counterfeit product.
- Finally, the smoothness level of any fragrance also serves as an indicator as to their authenticity. Typically, colognes and perfumes with an excessive level of oil are replicas.
