Where/how to apply cologne the RIGHT way | INFOGRAPHIC GUIDE


Man wearing suit with cologne

You owe it to yourself to augment your appearance with a distinguishable cologne of some sort, but there are certain spots that will be better for your cologne than others, in regards to where to put it on your body.

Men should apply their cologne to pulse points, or areas warmest on their body (where blood vessels near the surface), like the neck, chest, shoulders, wrist, inner elbows & under the navel. These areas (due to the emission of heat) will help keep your fragrance projecting the longest.

Key guide

Green color= Best spray zones

Purple color = Other “common” areas.

Fragrance pulse points not mentioned (possible but less common)

  • Behind the knees
  • Under the armpits

The best spray zones for general occasions:

  1. Behind ear
  2. The nape (back of the throat)
  3. Base of throat
  4. Shoulders
  5. Chest

The general rule of thumb is to apply your fragrance on pulse point areas (areas where the blood vessels come close to the surface), these areas are optimal as they generate heat – which will keep your fragrance smelling great for longer.

What about the OTHER spray zones?

There are many areas on the body that are technically “ideal” like under the armpits, behind the knees, even under the navel (as shown in the diagram.)

But this doesn’t mean that all are necessarily optimal for daily use. So for general use, follow the ideal spay zone guide recommended above.

Cologne areas suited for office wear

For office’y endeavors, you want to keep it “high & tight” as a solid rule of thumb. Tight corridors and indoor spaces mean you want your fragrance to be subdued yet refined – much like on a date (more on that down below.)

You don’t want your scent to effuse too much, as you’ll be near people and desk mates, so tantalize and “tease” with subdued strong scents designed to pique interest.

Spray at the base of the throat, as well as behind the ear (number of sprays to be determined by the specific fragrance.)

Cologne suited for outdoor wear

“Alot of room to breathe.”

The spacious sprawling urban landscapes are fit for bigger and bolder spots to let your fragrance shine. Though with trailblazing persuits conducted around the town…you’ll most definetly need a versatile “projection sphere”, which means behind the ear and along the nape will be most optimal.

These areas will leave a wider zone for your fragrance to radiate around whilst simultaneously not being too overbearing on the off chance your movements have you passing through indoor areas (where you wouldn’t want to go too heavy on the scents anyway.)

Spray at the nape of your neck as well as behind each ear (number of sprays to be determined by the specific fragrance.)

Cologne areas suited for a night out

A night out with the bois is a night out that demands intense care – as you’ll likely run into crowds, the heat (in the club), the cold (in the club), and possibly even…some romance?

Whether or not you even go to the club, crowded spaces with competing scents will be guaranteed, and so you’ll want a fragrance that’s noticeable enough to be distinguished from the rest, but also not too intense.

Spray behind each ear, the nape, and upon the shoulder joints (number of sprays to be determined by the specific fragrance.)

Cologne areas suited for date night

Alright fellas, this is one where you really want to refine your fragrance technique – as this could cost you.

Cuz nobody will wanna get near you if they can’t breathe – simple as that.

The intimate nature of dates means you’ll want a tighter fragrance zone – much like at the office – but tighter. You want your scent to persuade and seduct your potential partners, so opt for areas near the chest, the jugular, and behind the ears.

Have your scent be faint enough for them to notice only up close if all goes well, sort of like when the chef sends that dessert special you didn’t ask for at the end of a nice meal – you’d have been find without it, but it’s always a nice surprise.

Spray at the base of throat, OR the chest, OR behind the ears (number of sprays to be determined by the specific fragrance.)

Style tip: Rub vaseline on pulse points before spritzing your favorite scent to make it last longer!

Men's cologne spray
Image by Luis Wilker Perelo WilkerNet from Pixabay

How many sprays of cologne

You’ll hear many words being passed around in regards to the “how” of using colognes, but in reality, it depends on the type of cologne, and the concentration of parfum that will determine how many sprays you should use from your cologne.

Apply 2-3 sprays of cologne for stronger fragrances with higher amounts of perfume essence (actual aromatics within the cologne) like ones labeled “perfume” (parfume) or “Eau de Parfum” (15-30% concentration range.) 4-5 sprays for lighter colognes labeled “Eau de Toilette” or “Eau de Cologne” (2-15% range.)

It all comes down to the percentage of the aromatic essence in the fragrance, and how long it’s likely to last on your skin. Eau de Toilette fragrances usually have much less aromatic concentration levels (5-15%) compared to full-on perfumes (parfum) which have near double the levels (between 15-20%.)

For practical examples, stronger scents (no matter the category) like Spicebomb Night Vision by Viktor & Rolf (labeled as “Eau de Parfum”- if you’ll notice upon their website) will have higher levels of fragrance concentration, then compared to their simpler “Spicebomb” (which is labeled as an “Eau de Toilette.”)

Make sense now?

The fragrance that is more concentrated in nature (usually labled either “Parfum” or “Eau de Parfum”) will last longer, require less sprays, and will likely be more expensive than colognes from the “Eau de Toilette” and “Eau de Cologne” range.

How to apply cologne so it lasts

While stronger colognes will last longer than the rest regardless, there are certain things you can do to ensure that your scent remains potent throughout the day still, thereby maximizing your scent along with your money’s worth – to the utmost.

How to make your cologne last as long possible:

  • Apply your cologne to heat conducive areas like the lower jaw, neck, shoulders, chest, inner elbow, forearm, wrist
  • Apply to areas where heat will emit the most, this will emit your scent even more
  • Apply to dry skin (10 mins after the shower is a good rule
  • Apply to skin over clothes (direct hit onto a garment can damage and stain the garment
  • Moisturize beforehand (this primes your skin to absorb into the skin, evaporating slower over time)
  • Do not walk into your cologne spray, apply directly on skin
  • Do not kill the note (rubbing the application onto parts of the body)

Style tip: Remember to never spray cologne or fragrance if you’ve just finished shaving, as most scents usually feature high percentages of alcohol, which can irritate the skin upon first contact.

Fun creative ways to use your colognes – “cologne hacks”

Spray your fragrance in the shower: the heat will allow the fragrance to jump up and evaporate off of your skin, overall making for a more pleasant showering experience. Simply spray near the bottom of your floor or bathtub and as you shower the entire bathroom will emit the smell of your perfume in an organic way – Just make sure your cologne of choice is not expensive.

Add cologne into your vacuum to make your floor smell great: Remove the top of the vacuum cleaner and its filter (likely behind the vents for air), then take your fragrance and spray it onto the filter directly. Next time you clean your floor from here on out it’ll smell great!

Spray on your socks: This can be an interesting way to approach feet sweat odor – though not a remedy, but definitely a fun little trick.

Use your fragrance as a car freshener: this is a fun tip if you ever get bored of the ol’ classic car fresheners out there. Spray your scent, and switch the aircon to “recyclable”, this way the air will begin to circulate only your finest (and not too expensive) scents throughout your car. For best effect, spray your fragrance near the bottom of your feet.

Add cologne to your oil defuser (and GET one if you don’t have one): An oil defuser basically is like a kickass affordable room freshener that breaks down oils and for you and makes your room/area smell awesome. So get your fragrance, open your defuser lid, and spray a good few sprays onto the water itself (like you would with regular oils), and voila! Your room will now be smelling scented for hours.

Create your own scented lotion!: Witch talk I know, but hear me out. There are a lot of vids out there that will show you how to make your own fragrant lotion, which can be as simple as purchasing an unscented lotion, removing part of it, spraying your cologne spray into the bottle, shaking, and bam! You now have scented cologne lotion – hell yea.

Here’s a simple video showing you how to create scented lotion if you need some more insight:

This video is straight to the point and is hella simple. Actual tip begins at 2:40

Spray your curtains: Weird, but it’s the fastest way to freshen up the room, especially on windy days with the windows open. Try it out!

Props to Redolessence’s video on Youtube where I got most of my ideas from! Check his out for more in-depth info.

Why do you rub cologne on your wrists

As mentioned earlier, your body has certain points on the body where blood vessels near the surface more so than other parts of the body, the wrist is one of those areas and why people rub cologne on the wrist.

Rubbing cologne on your wrists is advantageous when it comes to scents as the wrist is one of the body’s pulse points, where the blood vessels near the skin. These spots emanate heat, which helps the fragrance overall project from the skin into the air around you.

Whilst the wrist is one of the body part areas reccomended for cologne spraying, I msut stress that you should never actually RUB the cologne into the wrist (or anywhree for that matter.)

When you phsycially rub in the cologne, this breaks down the molecules even faster, resulting in faster evaporation and scent deterioration – so your fragrance ultimately will last less, as a result.

Always spray, but NEVER actually rub in your cologne (or any such type of fragrance) – dabbing is okay.

How to apply cologne without a spray

Same rules apply when applying “splash bottle” colognes over classic spray pumps, as there’s little difference other than the need to approach this process slightly more cautious, as you’re working highly with concentrated scented liquid – so you better not spill.

To apply cologne without a spray pump, this can be done by simply placing a single finger over the cologne bottle spout, tipping it upside down briefly before returning to starting vertical position. Then, simply use that finger to apply your cologne onto a direct pulse point of your choosing.

Can you add perfume to hand sanitizer

You can add fragrance to your hand sanitizer by easily adding a few drops of any type of essential oil and/or fragrance. For best results use an Aloe Vera gel, along with (optional) 1/2tsp vegetable oil, 20 drops germ destroyer oil, and your essential oil or fragrance. Mix and shake before using.

Why not combine the best of both worlds – be clean, sanitized, AND smell good?

Does cold weather affect cologne?

Due to cologne fragrances usually being over 80% alcohol – and alcohol having a high freezing point at around -114 Celsius – the cold will not negatively affect your cologne as compared to higher temperatures.

Though this is not to say that extreme temperatures are advisable when it comes to fragrance storage, but any affects your cologne may garner from the colder temperatures will be mild in comparison to storage in hotter weather.

It’s not GOOD per se to, and try not to leave your cologne in the freezing cold all the time, but I would worry more about colognes in hotter temperatures and open-aired storage involving direct sunlight – as this could affect your cologne greatly.

What temperature does cologne freeze at?

With alcoholic properties being at their highest (at around 80-90%) in Eau de Parfum (along with 15-20% of perfume oil), most colognes within this range will have a freezing temperature of around -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Does the cold damage fragrances?

Cold weather will affect your fragrance slightly, as colognes/perfumes are VOC (volatile oranic compounds) in nature, meaning that they are reactive compounds that will be affected by elements like sunglight and extreme temperature differences. Unlike hotter temperatures, your fragrance won’t be affected too much by cold weather, however, with any differences coming from slight alterations in smell.

To drive the point home, even more, you have more to worry about with your fragrance when it comes to hotter weather. Colder temperatures in general have less of a drastic effect on your fragrances – at least on a molecular level – likely due to their alcoholic makeup (with alcohol already being highly temperature resistant in colder climates.)

So don’t stress if you live in the alps or with the yeti’s, chillin lowly in low grade temperatures – your fragrance should be fine.

Just take care of it.

How do you store your fragrance in cold weather?

Cold weather may not be the detrimental blow needed to mess up your fragrance, however there are still some measures you should take to keep your the health of your fragrance at optimal levels.

Temperature shifts will be most detrimental to your perfume, in colder weather try to maintain a constant temperature of 60 degrees with perfume storage. This can be most closely achieved by storing your fragrance away from bathroom shelves, and/or areas most exposed to colder “entranceways” (including window sills and doorways.)

Though your still better off smelling fresh with your assortment of perfumes and colognes in colder weather – regardless of how you store it – over hot weather.

Your biggest enemy will be drastic temperature shifts, storing your perfume in bathroom stalls in below-freezing temperatures, only to heat up that room at an exponential rate will be far worse long term, than simply exposing it to the cold.

Just maintain a constant temperature.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay (futher edited)

What happens if cologne gets hot?

Due to cologne being a volatile organic compound (VOC), it’s makeup is extremely reactive to heat, which in turn can degrade your cologne by breaking down the chemical bonds from within, affecting its scent.

As opposed to colder climates, you gotta be even more on the ball with your cologne in hotter countries. Because unlike the former, I guarantee your cologne will go bad in the heat, whether that be due exposure of sunlight, high heat, or humidity – eventually causing everything to go bad (starting with citrus notes.)

Style tip: Make sure to store your fragrance on a low-lying shelf – why? Aside from if it falls and breaks, even if it doesn’t, the shock and turbulence could break the chemical bonds and wreck your scent.

How do you keep perfume in hot weather?

As already aforementioned numerous times, perfume is more sensitive to hot weather, so it will pay to know how to keep your perfume in hotter climates in order to maintain the integrity of its scent.

Your best bet for keeping perfume in hot weather will be storing any fragrance away from direct sunlight, preferably in cooler and darker areas like your closet. Think of perfume like wine, and act accordingly as to how you would with wine, but opting for colder, dry, temperature-controlled climates (or as best you can.)

Style tip: You can actually store your perfume in the fridge (especially with more “sensitive” selections like eau de toilette & eau de parfum (due to their more tactful makeup.)

Also, not that you need to, but it could be most optimal for you to opt for darker perfume bottles when traveling (or living in) hotter climates, as this will no doubt provide even more protection from the harsh sun rays and more rogue elements.

Where does the word “cologne” actually come from?

The word cologne (invented in the eighteen century Johann Maria Farina) was named after a created fragrance by him (when he was living in Cologne) named Eau De Cologne – meaning “water from Cologne” after his new home. It is thereby the oldest word for “perfume”, generally meaning ‘masculine scents”, composed of a light concentration of perfume oils (2-4%) designed to last a few hours.

Does cologne last longer on skin or clothes?

Cologne will last longer on the skin, especially if it’s moisturized and upon one of the body’s pulse points, as the heat (and moisture) generated from your body will not only keep the scent emitting for longer but will also be better absorbed than on dry textile fibers (from clothing.) Also, the scent will dissipate faster on clothing due to stronger airflow.

Though applying cologne upon clothing can be called for in certain situations, espcailly in colder countries.

Lemme explain.

If you’re living out in the colder regions of the big bad world, you could run the risk of your scent being buried through the countless jackets and sweaters donned upon you in below zero-degree temperatures – which is understandable.

So in situations like this, it could actually be beneficial to douse a light waft of fragrance upon your clothing, as well on your skin. Just make sure the extra spritz on your clothing is minimal, so as to not overpower your overall smell.

Also proceed with caution, as certain oils in some fragrances can potentially stain your clothing if put on too heavily. So remember to always test your fragrance out by spraying a handful onto a small patch of clothing that isn’t noticeable.

This is a solid tactic for people who don’t want to run the risk of having their scent be buried within their heavy clothing.

Is it bad to put cologne on your skin?

Cologne is not good for your skin provided you use it excessively. Most colognes and fragrances contain alcohol and aggressive chemicals designed to be absorbed by your skin – causing irritation, itchy skin, and even hives – therefore you should monitor and avoid spraying upon sensitive areas, as well as avoid “rubbing” your cologne in.

Not all fragrances cause irritation to the same degree.”

Dr. Diane Madfes (Garnier consulting dermatologist)

Your best bet when it comes to fragrance “skincare” is to monitor and assess how your body will react to different perfumes and colognes, and by perhaps testing out the different areas on your skin where you plan to host your cologne.

For me personally – as I’m writing this – I live down in Asia, and so despite the harsh humidity and “thick” heated atmosphere, I still occasionally mix up my fragrance routine by applying scents on my clothing at times, over my skin.

Though I make sure to personally baste myself (turkey style) with lathering oils and/or body lotions, along with (of course) deodorant, FOLLOWED by a cologne or fragrance or some sort – every time I go out.

This in short makes me confident enough to give my skin a break by occasionally letting me spray my scents upon my clothing instead – overall helping my skin in the long run – as I’ve already “layered” up my scents through other (potentially less harmful) ways.

Overkill? Perhaps.

Would I change up this tactic? Absolutely not.

No rules essentially – so consider what works for you.

Should you wear cologne every day?

One of the main reasons why you should wear cologne as a daily habit is its physiological effects on the wearer, and those around you.

It is recommended to wear cologne every day as there are many benefits to be had, from boosting inner confidence, enhancing personal mood (due to “scent memory association”), can aid in attraction (as scent is a contributing factor), and alter perceived first impressions (whether you choose to wear a more “aggressive” or “sweet” scent, etc.)

There are a ton of benefits that can you inherit by using colognes to “hack” your life. Whether it’s for that hot date, or for some big event, whether you’re feeling down and want a quick “pick me up”, or need an extra boost of confidence – there are countless ways to benefit from using fragrances.

And it’s so damn easy, and afforadble (as there’re are a ton of quality options to choose from. So why not make your life a little more easier?

How many sprays of cologne is too much?

It can be confusing to know how much is too much, especially when there’s so many choices (parfum, eau de toilette etc.), but there is actually a safe middle ground if we had to give an exact number on how many sprays is too much for your cologne.

When you’re unsure about your cologne, spray your cologne between 2-4 squirts (around 2 squirts with perfume and up to 4 squirts with fragrances like Eau du cologne or Eau Fraiche – ones which have less concentration of essential oils.)

If in doubt, always opt for the “lesser” option, whether that be less sprays, or a cologne with less punch. And let’s not forget that this is exactly what perfume atomizer’s are for (link to amazon), allowing you to take a handful of your cologne with you on the go (so you can always add some more on later.)

In this article, I go over the benefits of perfume atomizers and why it’s a staple EDC (Everyday carry) item that should be included as part of your daily essentials.

Style tip: Spray perfume straight onto skin freshly moisturized with an unscented cream – this will aid the oily base to retain the fragrance for longer.

Is cologne a waste of money?

This is of course highly subject, and situational dependent, as there are many factors that come into play when it comes to whether or not cologne is a wasteful purchase.

Colognes are not a waste of money, and in fact, can contribute to evoking positive, and pleasant emotions and memories for the wearer due to the scientific evidence behind the olfactory sensory system (or sense of smell) interacting with regions of the brain responsible for emotional memories.

Much like dressing up to induce or “trick” instilling’s of self-confidence into the wearer through means of “looking good” (A.K.A “enclothed cognition”), “smelling good” can do wonders overall for improving your mood, confidence, and overall sense of self-worth (especially if you wear scents you feel most comfortable or attractive in.)

Also like clothing, colognes and fragrances are an extension of yourself, and so whose to say what you choose to douse upon you is ultimately worthless, if it ultimately makes you happy?

We don’t have to dress up nice, or in clothes, we choose to, because we want to, for a variety of reasons. With this in mind, if you like smelling good, and enjoy the smell of fragrances in general, then keep on rocking with it.

I know I will.

Why is cologne so expensive?

Colognes are generally expensive due to their makeup and ingredients, with some having higher concentrations of natural oils and absolutes. Also, the harvesting of ingredients for certain rare flower petals and/or rare roots is usually what drives the price higher even more – including any ingredients coming from the glands of animals or the guts of whales, which can be costly.

Are expensive perfumes worth it?

An expensive perfume is absolutely worth it due their multilayered fragrance, made with more amounts of essential oils and bass notes (and less amounts of water and alcohol), ultimately being more potent, lasting longer, and being of a competent investment.

Though there’s no shame if you prefer the sweeter, more short-lived scents of cheaper fragrances, as the nose wants what the nose wants, ultimately.

But it is likely for sure that if you prefer your perfume and cologne to last a while, then opting for higher quality perfumes will be most optimal.

What does cheap cologne smell like?

While the scents can vary, there are some tell-tale signs that you can notice when it comes to cologne scent.

Cheap cologne tends to smell sweeter on average due to its synthetic makeup, and overcompensation of chemical to essential oil ratio, equating to less essential and absolute oils, and more water and alcohol. They are also designed to appeal to the younger (less financially stable) market involving teenagers, who tend to have lesser refined senses of smell, making “sweeter” notes more subtle for them than developed noses.

Another clue is that more refined colognes will often have several layers of fragrance attached, with the base note lasting the longest, after the mid, and top note.

With cheaper perfumes, often it is only the top note which is prevalent, meaning the cologne overall will last but a few hours, with no other supplementary notes to sustain a prolonged scent.

This is the main reason why you’ll find cheaper colognes to last less than half the time of more expensive cologne choices.

Do guys like perfume on a girl?

Generally speaking men love fragrances on women, as women would upon men. The safest bet is to acquire a perfume scent that is not too overpowering and strong, but is memorable – this way your man will likely have a particular scent to remember you buy.

Of course, everybody has their own preferences, but as a general rule, if you want to make a noticeable impression, then you’re better off going with the cheeky scent of something that’ll peak your boy/girl’s interests just a little.

You want to let your scent be the secret “oooh” up close metaphorical “cherry on top” of an already put together look – you don’t want to let it announce you from afar.

So if in doubt, a little less of a spritz is always better than a little more of one.

Should you keep perfume boxes?

Though not common, it is advisable to store your perfume in your perfume box, as it can be an effective method in keeping your perfume stored within a more controlled “environment”, away from sunlight and drastic temperature shifts. This will prolong the shelf life of your perfume the most.

Not all the boxes that house perfumes are of the greatest quality, however, it is still one more defense against the harsh elements that could potentially ruin the quality of your hard-earned investment – meaning your perfume.

So keep the boxes!

Unless you don’t …then, in that case, store your perfume in a dark corner away from harsh temperatures and temperature shifts.

Can you store perfume in a plastic bottle?

It is not advisable to store perfume in plastic bottles unless it is for short-term use only. This is because perfume is a chemical solvent (or a volatile organic compound) that can deteriorate plastic surfaces such as containers and mold due to its highly reactive nature, changing your freagrance’s scent in the process.

People underestimate the delicate nature of fragrances straight up. Your precious “baby” belongs on your body, simply put.

Any such type of storage should be appraoched with caution, this includes where and how your store your fragrance. So think twice before your next scent purchase, and have an idea of where you plan to put it.

Though don’t fret if you’re traveling and yearn to carry your favorite scent with you, because using temporary travel-sized containers like the Lil Ray Portable Mini Perfume Atomizer (link to amazon) will be more than apt to keep your fragrance safe and ready to go!

Just make sure you don’t keep it in there for years on end, aside from that, don’t overthink it – you’ll be fine.

For more fragrance tips and travel hacks designed to make your “scent life” easier, check out my resource page right here.

How do you put perfume in a small bottle?

Use your refillable perfume atomize (link to amazon) which will allow you to extract your perfume by removing the sprayer and pushing the atomizer base onto the spray – this pump mechanism will extract the perfume into your atomizer.

How can I restore my perfume smell?

Alright, time to put my chemistry degree to work – and by that, I mean my friend’s degree – whom I asked about on the subject of perfume, and whether or not I could restore some “olden goldie” fragrances of mine from the past.

To restore your perfume smell, put a portion into a sample bottle, then add a small quantity of vodka into the bottle and mix thoroughly (the point being to dilute it.) After, store the bottle in a cold place for up to 4 weeks, shaking it every few days to keep it blended, after which your smell may be restored. This is the best method to “restore” a fragrance.

It sounds crazy but it is possible. Quality vodka (much like top-shelf liquor) goes through a rigorous distillation process, ensuring that you will not have any impurities interacting with your scent. Make sure to add the vodka in increments, shaking thoroughly after each addition.

It should be noted (again) that light is the enemy of your fragrance, and much like Vlad III, sunlight is the bane of your perfume’s existence.

This is important as light in itself can at times decompose the ingredients of your fragrance to the point of irreversible damage. As this can cause the ingredients themselves to separate entirely.

However…

There’s likely to still be hope if the volatile component of your fragrance has merely evaporated from long-term stagnation (leaving its precious “juices” or residue behind in the bottle.)

If your juice in the bottle is still there (and your fragrance is too strong), then try out the recommended diluting process mentioned above, and with luck, your scent will be restored.

Do fragrances expire?

Yes fragrances do expire whereby their scent notes will stop being balanced due to their chemical composition breaking down (leaving their scent to change over time.) Many perfumes don’t have hard and fast expiration dates and can last way past the intended date, but three to five years (36-60 months) is the most “apt” time to use them.

Don’t be fooled, however, fragrances can last a while, hell even perfumes found on the titanic were still found to be “good.”

So don’t fret if you’re the type to take your time with your scents, as they’ll likely last way longer than you think, so long as you ensure that you take plenty of caution when storing your fragrances, as this will contribute greatly to your scents overall health.

This video below will give you a better clear-cut rundown on the basics of fragrances and what happens if they expire.

Do unopened perfumes expire?

Yes your perfume will expire even if within the packaging box, though the sealed lid will also play a role in maximizing your fragrance’s shelf life more effectively, as this will slow down the evaporation process and chemical compound breakdown.

A common theme within this article (and one easy to remember as a rule) is that fragrance storage matters, it matters more so than anything else if you care about keeping your perfumes and colognes “alive” to the fullest, for the longest time possible.

So regardless of anything else you do or take away from this article, when it comes to fragrances (of all types), take damn good care of them, and don’t just shove ’em in your bathroom.

Can you put perfume under your armpits

Perfume can be put under your armpits, though this is highly dependent on the ingredients, as some may be composed of irritants and toxins, as fragrance oils on average can be made of any combination from 4,000 + ingredients – with some being more harsh on your skin than others.

This is why it’s a toss up and something that you’re generally better off discovering by trial and error, if you indeed want to apply any such type of fragrance beneath your pits.

Though remember to take extra caution, as your armpits are actually more sensitive than your face (due to countless nerves and lymph nodes.)

A safe bet would be to always buy the well-branded fragrances over the cheaper prices, as whilst this will hurt your wallet, it’ll likely be safer on your skin due to the premium ingredients within the branded option.

Style tip: When it comes to topical fragrances, hair products, lip balms, skincare products, etc. ALWAYS go for the well-known brands, over the cheaper unknown versions.

What’s the difference between cologne and body spray?

People may think that “smelling good” is a simple as picking up any item with a fragrance of sorts, when in reality there’s a huge variety to choose from, and with many difference between them, like the difference between cologne and body spray.

The difference between cologne and body spray lies within the mixture itself. Cologne stays on the body longer (a few hours) due it having an oil concentration of 2-4% with its scent intact, whereas body spray will only linger until the spritz eventually dissipates.

If you’re lookingto smell good throughtout the day then you’re better off getting a perfume or cologne of some sort, one which has essential oils in the mix, as this will let your fragrancde linger on for much longer, with only one or two touchup needed to maintain your scent throughtout the day.

Body spray is more for deodorant purposes, and really should only be used as the base of your fragrance set up.

I recommended using body spray or deodorant as a daily “base” foundation, from which after its application, you can begin to layer your scents by adding powerful fragrances like perfumes and colognes on top of your deodorant spray.

Are vintage perfumes still good?

“Old” vintage perfumes can last for way longer than stated on the bottle expiration date. In large part this will be due to the quality of production, the alcohol content, and most importantly, how the fragrance has been stored all this time. Perfumes from the Titanic a century prior and even ancient Egypt have been found to still be good, centuries later!

Why buy vintage perfumes?

There are a plethora of reasons to buy vintage fragrance collections, from the simple desire to collect bottle designs, to sought after perfumes made of discontinued ingredients (A.K.A. reformulation) – due to various reasons like budget constraints, raw material scarcity over time, bans on certain ingredients etc…

This can lead to certain vintage perfumes to being quite attractive to all the fine fragrance connoisseurs out there, as some whine that reformations in general lead to degradation from the “original” version over time – which might be true sadly enough (a topic for another time, however.)

What to look out for when buying vintage perfumes?

Generally, it’s extremely hard to tell the legitimacy of the fragrance, which means you’ll need to arm yourself with ample knowledge before you go down this path. You’ll also likely need to trust your seller (so pick a good one!)

Liekly when finding your vintage choice, the top notes (the fastest to dissapate) would have been gone, leaving the mid and/or bass notes behind, though don’t be alarmed if upon first contact (on your skin) if it efficates slightly of vinegar or acrid – just give it some time to settle down and the “orginal” scent should return.

Though remeber, no matter the storage process, fragrances over time – due to their VOC makeup (volatile oranigc compound) – will smell different than when first manufactured.

So in either case, prepare for a welcoming nasal “surprise.”

Where to buy vintage perfumes?

You may have luck in antique stores if you go in advance and notify of your interests in one. And if they don’t have one, at the very least they might offer to help keep an eye out for you (as they’d likely want your business.)

Another option is through online vendors like Etsy, eBay, or eSnipe.

Can perfume be left in your car?

No it is not advisable to leave perfume in your car, as the compounds within will break down due to being exposed to the elements (such as temperature exposure and sunlight.) This exposure can also physically alter the scent of your fragrance, turning it “off” and/or or going sour in the process.

But I get it, you want to smell good and have the ability to add some more whiffs to your debonair scent “on the go” (as it were.)

And you still can…with a portable (and affordable) perfume atomizer (link to amazon) which will allow you to keep your fragrance on your persons, all day long.

“You’ve got to eat your main course before you get pudding.”

Cuckoo (tv show)

You ought to entice your peers the “old-fashioned” olfactory way firstly…by engaging in the social milieu of “attraction”, with fragrances designed to pique their interests (and your confidence) simultaneously.

So “hack” life with a signature scent, and boost up your inner “farmer custard” confidence from the outside in, starting with your mains – i.e. your overall appearance.

Stay Rogue.

Dom Jeswal

Im a mixed third culture kid (with even more mixed tastes in fashion, food, manners & ideals) living in Asia. Currently exploring what it means to be a man a "spiced" value in the modern age - and all the interests and skills that come with the territory. Like your average men's lifestyle blog - only with more spice & more focus on info not exclusive to the West.

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