How Sweet the Scent

When I was a young boy my father would always tell me that he believed every man should wear cologne because it sets each of them apart from the next.  His father was also a stickler for fragrance (he'd gently pat Pierre Cardin on my neck with his aged fingers prior to my leaving the house to attend a formal event). I can remember getting dressed for church on Sunday mornings and jetting into my parents room for a few spritzes of my father's cologne as the finishing touch.  I would stand in front of his armoire and gaze at the glistening cologne bottles that were proudly displayed in their fragrant opulence and I'd get all giddy as if I'd just been told that an entire year's allowance was hidden in one the bottles.  Back then my favorite fragrance of my dad's was Stetson Sierra (discontinued) but my individual taste developed over the years to appreciate some of the more unpopular, but unique, men's fragrances on the market.  Most people say that it doesn't matter what fragrance a man wears, as long as it smells good then that's all that matters.  This is nonsense.  You wouldn't expect to see a man in 40s or 50s spritzing Axe body spray across his chest prior to a nice evening out with his wife or work colleagues, would you?  Hopefully the answer is no!  Choosing the right fragrance takes patience and attention to detail; it all comes down to each man's individual personality, lifestyle, overall taste and, ultimately, body chemistry (the effect your body's pheromones and moisture level have on the ingredients in a given fragrance).  Below I've charted out a guide, based on personality and lifestyle, to help make your search for the perfect fragrance as simple as possible.  Hopefully now you'll finally have a reason to lay that bottle of Curve to rest... you know, the one that's been sitting on your dresser, collecting dust since you were in middle school?  Yeah, that one...

Personality: Young (but legal), nonchalant, doesn't get over-excited about little things, prefers music that's a bit more grown & sexy, frequents events that feature poetry reading/spoken word.

Lifestyle: Spends a great deal of time reading/writing, shops at vintage stores, doesn't engage in activities that are too strenuous (ie. contact sports, working out excessively, running around town trying hit all of the hotspots before sundown.)

My fragrance recommendation: scents that are earthy and have undertones of wood or pepper, but still fresh and not overpowering, like:  Burberry (single name) or Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene (smells slightly heavy in the bottle but settles into the skin very nicely)

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Personality: Charismatic, calm but still knows how to have a good time, prefers to be a "one woman man" and doesn't mind picking up a book every now & then.

Lifestyle: Enjoys going to dinner with friends or catching the game at a bud's house, shops at casual mens shops, ie. Banana Republic or J. Crew, works in a business/casual environment.

My fragrance recommendation: scents that are subdued, warm and inviting while having fresh undertones such as citrus, like: Marc Jacobs or Burberry Brit.



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Personality: Refined (young or mature in age), appreciates fine dining and art, passionate about business, politics and current events, prefers low-key settings during leisure time.

Lifestyle: Lives a very scheduled life, interacts with highbrow individuals on a regular basis, works in a setting that requires dress/business attire, shops at stores where creased slacks and fitted button-ups are the norm ie. Zara or Ralph Lauren.

My fragrance recommendation: scents that are elegant and convey warmth and panache ie. Prada Amber (I've been obesessed with this fragrance since I first smelled it in GQ) or Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme

Tips:

1. 2 Spritzes are all you need: one on the neck, another in the palm of one hand, rub hands together then pat down your torso and arms.  Less is more!
2. Spray your cologne on directly after you apply lotion to your body, lotion helps your fragrance adhere to your skin better and thus making it last longer (this is just my personal experience).

Keep it stylish, keep it sexy but always stay true to YOU! - UrbanGent

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