Choosing the right cologne for your skin type

Cologne can be a man’s best friend when they want to complete their best look. Score the perfect one and it’s icing on the cake.

When shopping for yourself, it is important to not just buy a recognizable brand cologne because every cologne has a different smell and reaction when it hits your skin. For the perfect scent consider your skin type, the “note” test, and ingredients before you make your decision.

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin it’s best that you stay away from any “winter” fragrances as they are made stronger for the colder months. “Summer” fragrances are lighter and better for your skin which does not need much to give off a strong aroma.

Dry Skin

Go for the exact opposite of the oily skin type. Your skin needs more moisture and oils, making “winter” fragrances the perfect type. Another advantage is that you will not need to reapply every five minutes; we’ll discuss this in further detail later.

Study the Notes

The phases cologne go through on your skin is formally called a “note” and there are three of them.

The first note is when you test the fragrance on a blotter or skin. A lot of people tend to use this initial smell as the deciding factor for purchasing their fragrance. Then they go home, spread out their freshly ironed outfit on their bed in preparation for that hot date, spray a little on top, dab the wrists, go on the date only to find out their scent is completely gone or even worse, smells cheap. Don’t make this costly mistake.

Wait fifteen minutes and smell the same card during the middle note. If the scent is there and you’re in favor of it wait another 45 minutes to an hour and smell one more time during the final “dry note” phase. The final phase will give you the final smell and a better idea of it’s strength.

Helpful Tips

• Apply your fragrance to your pressure point (i.e. risks and neck). These pulse points radiate heat and will allow the strongest smell when applied here.
• Don’t apply so much that someone standing five feet away from you begins to sneeze. They may compliment you in return to make you feel better, but really what they are saying is ‘tone it down’!

To prevent breakouts and allergic reactions, avoid fragrances with:

• Benzyl alcohol
• Benzyl acetate
• Benzaldehyde
• Limonoene
• Linalool
• A-pinene
• Ethyl acetate
• Acetone

I bet you didn’t know choosing the right cologne would be so complex. The good news is now you can eliminate this from the variables of why women don’t like you. Just kidding, relax!