Men’s fragrance 101s

While many men who are a conscious about the way they look or dress, would also indulge in wearing a fragrance, I have come across men who take pride in not wearing any fragrance.

I have often heard them claim in loud tones, “Perfumes are for women, real men don’t wear perfumes!” And this amuses me because of how very wrong are these men.

In fact I have also realized that most men wear deodorants because they don’t want to smell bad, but they don’t even think about smelling good. Smell is one strongest sense that triggers and associates with important memories. I still get an image of my mother hugging me, every time I get whiff of her favorite perfume.

Throughout history span records of successful men and leaders that permeate a sweet smell of success around them and add levity to their stature.

Long before the discovery of fragrances induced with pheromones that proved sexual appeal, Henry VIII would keep a handkerchief in his armpit and present this perspiration-infused token to women he fancied. Those were the days when handkerchiefs suffused with perfumes or the essence of the beloved were treasured keepsakes.

The notion that a sweet smell of success wafted from the bodies of alpha males can be traced back to the time of Alexander the Great. In his biography of the young world conqueror, Plutarch claimed that Alexander’s body gave off a pleasant, honeyed fragrance enjoyed by his closest companions.

“Scent is extraordinarily important in telling people who you are and what you believe,” says Chandler Burr, former perfume critic for The New York Times and a leading fragrance expert.

Giving out the right message is essential. You don’t want to be dubbed as the teenager who is trying too hard or the manager who suffocates people with aura. So how do you find that perfect match?

You find a fragrance counter and spend a good time sniffing around for the perfect match.

What is the Difference Between Fragrance, Perfume, Toilette, and Cologne?

Fragrance is a unisex, generic term used for perfume. It comes in many forms and is called different names but generally falls into these categories:

Eau Fraiche:

The most diluted version of fragrance, usually with 1-3% perfume oil in alcohol and water. Usually lasts for less than an hour.

Cologne (Eau de Cologne):

Oldest term for perfume, used in North America for masculine scents. Light, fresh, and fruity, typically composed of 2-4% perfume oils in alcohol and water. Tends to be used in fragrances for younger people. Usually lasts for about 2 hours.

Toilette (Eau de Toilette):

A light spray composition with 5-15% pure perfume essence dissolved in alcohol. Usually lasts for about 3 hours.

Perfume (Eau de Parfum):

Historically genderless, used to describe both men’s and women’s products, and is the best term for describing a fragrance. Contains 15-20% pure perfume essence and lasts for about 5 to 8 hours.

Parfum:

The most concentrated and expensive of all fragrance options. Slightly oilier, parfum (or perfume) is composed of 20-30% pure perfume essence. A single application can last up to 24 hours.

The Notes:

Much like musical notes make up a song and various shades of colors turn into a painting, fragrance notes are necessary to make a perfume. Overall, there are three note scales that when blended together create the perfume’s fragrant accord. Each of these levels, however, has its own primary purpose.

The Top Notes:

The top notes of a fragrance are generally the lightest of all the notes. They are recognized immediately upon application of the perfume.

The Middle Notes:

The middle notes, or the heart notes, make an appearance once the top notes evaporate. The middle notes are considered the heart of the fragrance. They last longer than the top notes and have a strong influence on the base notes to come.

The Base Notes:

The base notes are the final fragrance notes that appear once the top notes are completely evaporated. The base notes mingle with the heart notes to create the full body of the fragrance.

How to pick the perfect perfume:

Scientific studies suggest that a man can naturally select the cologne that works best with his natural body scent.

Don’t let others choose for you — there is a reason why gift scents sit unused for years.

Instead, use the opinions of others to reinforce or question your decision.

The best method to find a new fragrance is to test if the perfume complements your natural body odor in person over the period of a day.

Department stores are great for this purpose, just ensure you don’t buy until ready (it’s easy to fall for the first note).

Spray one scent on each wrist.
Avoid the cards the department store provides to smell the colognes. They allow you to only smell the initial whiff and not how it smells on you.
Between smelling each perfume, refresh your palate with something strong, like coffee beans.
You can expect the scent to change over the next few hours. So, walk around the department store and smell the fragrances at various intervals.
Purchase a bottle of your winner and start to wear. Wearing a fragrance is a process, not a destination. Many men end up owning and loving dozens of scents, so don’t feel you have to get it perfect with your first or fifth buy.

MY TOP 5 FAVOURITES –

CREED aventus eau de parfum