Last updated : Friday, June 19, 2009

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Cologne: Sexy or Stinky...

Guys, have you ever noticed that people don't mind getting a little closer to you if you're wearing a shirt fresh from the laundry? Or when you've splashed on a little aftershave or spritzed on some cologne - you seem to garner a warmer reception? Do you know why that is? It's because YOU SMELL GOOD! We're going to break down for you why being properly aromatic is well worth the effort. 

Cologning Wars
We here at iMag surveyed a group of men asking: "Should guys wear cologne?" And we received some very interesting answers.

"I haven't worn cologne since Drakar Noir at prom. I never plan on wearing it again," said Tom. While Brian feels that, "a man should have his own scent and should not use some perfume to enhance or change it. Unless he smells badly - then do whatever is needed."

Dana thinks it is fine for guys to wear cologne, being a cologne-wearer himself. He just feels that maybe friends shouldn't let other friends spray freely. "If you just can't keep yourself from overdoing it, you're better off doing without it. Unfortunately, as with drinking, most guys can't see they have a problem without an intervention."

But when asked whether or not women should wear perfume, the results were almost unanimous. "Oh hell yes ... women should wear perfume always as far as I'm concerned," says John. While Brian feels that "There's nothing better than a woman who smells good ... and if she does it right - you'll think of only her when you smell it again." He, by the way, is the non-cologne wearer just mentioned above. According to Chris, woman should wear perfume, "because it is something that could make life just a little less dull and a little sweeter."

Ok, so you might score some brownie points with that last sentiment but you are missing the boat completely boys if you're not making your scent a priority!

According to Dr. Rachel Herz, visiting Professor at Brown University and author of the book The Scent of Desire, "How a man smells is the #1 determining factor in whether or not a woman finds a man sexually appealing." Unfortunately there isn't one universal scent that drives women mad (we would tell you if there was such a thing - and you would wear it!) Dr. Herz points out that in North America, musk is generally considered to be a masculine scent and therefore we find it in many male (and female) fragrances. However in Latin America, musk is a scent found in cleaning supplies! So if you find yourself south of the Equator, colognes with a musky scent will have a Latin American women reaching for a mop before she reaches out for you.

Should You Hit the Bottle?

Well, it's a personal preference. Or it's the preference of your partner and let's face it guys, that's generally who you wear it for anyway. Yet not all men are so sure about taking the plunge into fragrance. Let's take some baby steps towards choosing the right scent for you.

You could just go with what you know. According to Dr. Herz, smell is directly connected to emotion and if a smell is unfamiliar to you, you will have no emotional response to it. That could be why so many men chose their first cologne based on what their dad wore because that smell brings them back to their first role model of masculinity. Certain trends or some well-placed ad campaigns featuring scantily-clad sirens may influenced your cologne selections at one point or another, but basically your nose knows what it likes.

Now, technology is trying to have it all make scents to you. Jan Moran, noted fragrance expert and author of the Fabulous Fragrances book series, has created a new touch screen technology program called Scentsa, available exclusively at Sephora. "With the tap of a finger on the large-screen display, users can easily navigate the program to find detailed information on the latest fragrances, discover scents from the same fragrance family, view images, run videos or find thousands of reviews on a time-honored favorite from around the world; all with cutting-edge clarity," Moran says.

This Note's For You

Scentsa allows you to search by "notes" found in men's cologne such as Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Citrus. If you're not sure what notes appeal to you there's the "Discover Your Signature Scent Style Quiz" which bases recommendations on your lifestyle, likes and dislikes. Find the description that most resembles the type of person you are and see which one of Sephora's most popular colognes matches up!

If you are: VERY ACTIVE
Chances are you'll prefer the clean notes of citrus in your cologne. Try Sean John I Am King, ($57-$74) which features notes of Tangerine, Orange and Lemon Creme.

If you are: CONTEMPORARY/ELEGANT/LIKES LUXURY
You'll prefer the notes of exotic fruits and spices like Sicilian Clementine, North African Orange Tree Blossom and Indian Murraya. Try John Varvatos Artisan ($55-$75) which features these ingredients along with other lush scents.

If you are: CASUAL, EASY-GOING, RELAXED
You'll enjoy the soothing scents of Jasmine and Patchouli. Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme ($35-$95) features those notes along with Madarin, Persimmon and Bergamont as well.

If you are: FASHION-FORWARD, ENERGETIC, EDGY, URBAN
Believe it not some natural notes might work best for you. DKNY Men ($35-$65) features notes such as White Pepper, Cedarwood and Patchouli for those guys taking on the urban jungle.

Sure, you could have bad memories of grandpa and the Old Spice cloud that would linger long after his visits but times and scents have changed. The possibilities might be endless so if you do a little sniffing around you're sure to find a fragrance that is truly you ... only better ;) 

For more great grooming tips just for guys, check out iMag's Guy Guide.

 

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