By: Taylor Ford
Tom Ford once said, “Good manners and good cologne is what transforms the man into a gentleman!” It is easy to overlook the impact of this small finishing touch as we grab our keys and head out the door.
Cologne has been around since 1709, and yet, I just found out I’d been applying it all wrong.
There are a lot of ways to go about applying cologne, but here are 5 tips to make sure you get the most out of yours!
1.) APPLY ON PULSE POINTS
Spraying your cologne on your body’s pulse points helps with absorption and longevity. Spray:
- Behind your ears
- Wrists
- The base of your throat
2.) PUT ON FRAGRANCES AFTER SHOWERING
If you want your cologne to last, apply it right after showering when your skin is still damp. This will help lock in the scent of the fragrance so that it lasts longer throughout the day and doesn't fade away too quickly. Plus, it allows the cologne to mix with your natural body chemistry, which makes it smell even better.
Your skin has its unique scent from the oils that keep it healthy and moisturized. When your skin absorbs ingredients from products like cologne, those scents mix with your natural oil to create a new scent. Some people's natural skin chemistry absorbs perfume and cologne more quickly than others. This means their scents will linger longer and vice versa.
3.) SPRAY ON YOUR SKIN, NOT YOUR CLOTHES
This is where I’d been doing it all wrong. Your cologne needs to mix with your natural oils to create a personal scent unique to you. Not to mention, you can stain your clothing by spraying them with cologne. And that “spray a cloud and walk through it” method is pointless, leaving most of the cologne on the floor below. Spray your cologne directly on your pulse points (behind ears, wrists, neck) about 2-3 inches from your skin.
4.) UNDERSTAND THE CONCENTRATION OF THE SCENT
Like your favorite bourbon, not all colognes are the same. The price, aging process, and concentration will dramatically affect the quality and longevity of your cologne.
- Perfume oils and scent extracts are the premium ingredient, the higher the better.
- Water and alcohol are the fillers that cheaper colognes will dilute with.
- An inexpensive cologne will use only 1-3% extracts and last for less than 2 hours.
- A premium cologne will have 20-30% extract and last all day.
5.) DON'T STORE IT IN YOUR BATHROOM
I’m guilty of this. Once again going back to the bourbon comparison, your cologne needs to be stored in optimal conditions for the best experience as well! Sorry to break this to you fellas, but you wouldn’t store your bourbon in your bathroom or left basking in your car’s passenger seat; your cologne is no different.
To make your cologne last longer:
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Keep cologne in the original box or a dark cabinet.
- Avoid humidity and temperature fluctuations
CONCLUSION
The perception of confidence comes from what you do rather than what you say. Cologne is a timeless way to add some confidence to your everyday routine, and if done correctly you can carry that scent with you all day long.
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