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The Style File: Don’t let your cologne overpower the room |
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Written by Fashionista
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Thursday, 22 November 2007 |
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 Women aren’t the only culprits when it comes to wearing too much fragrance. Men’s cologne can be just as offensive. However, if you think about it, men can’t really take the blame. Women have the benefit of umpteen magazine articles about how to wear perfume: where to apply it, how to layer it, etc. They should know better. But what do guys have? It’s not like their mom or dad taught them how to wear it. If anything, all dads pass on is a bottle of Old Spice or Aqua Velva and the antiquated technique of splashing some on the cheeks after shaving.
Guys, here is what you need to know about eau de toilette, cologne and the like.
How to Buy It
Go to The Bay, Sephora or somewhere you won’t be intimidated. If you prefer, start at a Shoppers Drug Mart. My vote is Sephora because the nice, cute salesgirls won’t let you leave smelling like a loser, but you choose where you are comfortable.
Smell a cologne at the bottle, then spray it on a card. If you like the smell, narrow it down to two brands and spray one on each wrist. Then leave the store. An hour or so later, smell your wrists again and decide which works best with your body chemistry.
Purchasing cologne based on its celebrity spokesperson is not a good way to go. Beckham is Beckham (at right). His hotness has nothing to do with his cologne. Dropping $80 on it won’t help you look like him either.
What to Buy
Most good name brands carry an eau de toilette. This is what you want. You won’t see the word “cologne”.
Some brands also have a line that contains a deodorant, after shave balm or shower gel. You can also purchase one of these and layer your fragrance. At most, use two layers – a deodorant and an eau de toilette, perhaps. Remember, that as you start to heat up, the deodorant smell gets released.
How to Wear It
Contrary to popular belief, the idea of cologne is not to have people smell it when you walk into a room. Only those who are particularly close to you, who come in for a hug or a smooch should get a whiff.
Look for an atomizer. This is the spray-thingy at the top of the bottle. Without this, you have to dab the bottle on your fingers and decide how much to put on. This leaves too much room for error.
With your shirt off (ooh, just thinking about Beckham with his shirt off, hmmm) spray the air directly in front of you at your neck/chest level and walk through it quickly. This will deposit just enough on your skin to leave a lingering scent.
LadyKillers
Fashionista’s top three picks:- Acqua di Gio , Giorgio Armani
- Sean John Unforgivable (bullet proof vest and multiple baby mamas not required)
- Burberry Brit for Men (pictured above)
RomanceKillers
Fashionista’s top three most hated:
- Calvin Klein Obsession (too strong)
- Dior Fahrenheit (smells like a guy I used to work with who clearly showered in it)
- Anything that comes in a gift set that includes ‘Soap on a Rope’.
Sexy Undies Alert! Agent Provacateur, trashy lingerie shop to the stars (think Cristina Aguilera’s music videos) and strippers has landed in Vancouver! Check out their goods on their website but beware, the site is not safe for work (NSFW). Unless you don’t mind your boss seeing a woman on your computer screen wearing nothing but panties, pasties and carrying a whip!
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