Men of all ages wear perfume for various reasons. Some men intend to smell better, while others feel more masculine because of it.
Perfumes come with different properties, ingredients, and components, so each is differently received by consumers.
Depending on the scent, it can either earn you genuine compliments or uncomfortable stares from strangers. To ensure that you don’t get the latter effect, you need to know more about choosing and wearing perfumes.
Perfumes improve your persona because they’re somehow an extension of your personality. These even leave an impression on others. A man’s scent is a factor in attracting women.
Simply put, some scents appeal to most women. Therefore, many factors influence how you choose your signature fragrance.
Learn a little bit of perfume 101 by considering this guide:
1. Consider Your Goal
It’s vital to know your goals before you go shopping for a long lasting cologne online or at your favorite scent shop. Understand your personality and preferences, and decide how you want to be perceived when wearing a perfume.
Imagine being in your friends’ or families’ shoes as you take a whiff of that perfume you’re planning to wear. Do you think your loved one would like it on you? How would your friends feel when you wear it around them?
Consider your colleagues, too, as you’ll be spraying on some when you go to the office. It will be associated with you, so you must choose one that goes well with whatever impression you want to leave.
The most important thing is not to scare away people and make them feel comfortable being near you, so go for a scent that’s not intense or overwhelming.
2. Be Familiar With the Different Kinds of Fragrances
Not every scent out there is perfume. It’s important to be aware of the different kinds of fragrances as well. To ensure your expectations are met, here are the different types of fragrances:
Cologne
This is a popular but old term referring to scents. Cologne contains about 4% perfume oil and is known to be light and fresh. It’s pretty preferred among the younger generation, as its sillage and longevity are sufficient for them.
Eau Fraiche
If you opt for a lighter fragrance, this should be your bet. It’s usually a mixture of 2-3% perfume oil in alcohol and water. The scent can stay on you for less than an hour or so.
Toilette
Containing about 5 to 15% of pure perfume essence combined with alcohol, eau de toilette fragrances last longer on your skin. These are more expensive but will give you value for money.
Perfume
This is referred to as Eau de perfume and lasts the longest among the different types. You can still smell the remnants of this fragrance even after eight hours of being out and about during the day.
3. Understand the Notes of a Fragrance
Understanding the fragrance notes can help you choose the best perfume to wear. Fragrance notes are the different scent layers that overall make up the final fragrance.
These fragrance notes come with three layers: the top, heart, and base. Initially, the top notes are most potent, but they fade away and make way for the rest.
It’s often the heart notes that give the scent its balance and tie it all together. The most prominent notes in ascent are the base notes, and they’re also the longest lasting.
Try to check these notes when you start looking for your signature cologne.
4. Try It Out or Read Reviews
The great thing about shopping for scents is that they come in testers. You can spray some on your skin and test out how long it’ll last with your body chemistry, as this affects the perfume often.
However, if you prefer shopping online, some commerce sites also ship free testers or charge a small fee for them, so you can check whether the scent is perfect for you.
Other than trying the scent out, it’s vital to read as many reviews as you can. If you know some perfume enthusiasts, you can also ask for their opinions and ideas about a specific scent you’re eyeing.
5. Select the Right Perfume for the Right Occasion
There’s no easy way to select the perfect perfume for an occasion. As a general rule, most fragrances fall into one of the many categories like floral, amber, citrus, woody, or aromatic.
Some perfumes contain combinations of these categories, and they’d end up smelling great as well. However, you’ll need to find the specific scent that’s going to suit your lifestyle.
There are also many other factors to consider, like the occasion you’re wearing the perfume for. You’ll want a specific scent to be worn in the office, while on a date, on vacation, or when you’re just lounging at home.
You can match which scent goes well with which occasion.
Conclusion
Shopping for the right perfume can be difficult. Hopefully, with this article, you can find the right signature scent that will make you stand out from the crowd and earn compliments from friends and even strangers.
