How to Find the Best Smelling Cologne for You

There are thousands upon thousands of different colognes out there and trying to discover the best one or the scent that you like the best can be very time consuming. Besides what smells great on other people may not smell very good on you due to many factors including body chemistry, lifestyle, or age. In this hub I would like to lay out some guidelines for choosing the right cologne for you, go over some of the best sellers, my personal picks for the best smelling colognes, and where you can buy them at a discount.

How to Choose the Right Cologne for You

Picking the right cologne is tricky because of its very nature. Cologne is a mixture of different scents called notes that come out in layers (three notes in total). This is why when searching for the best cologne for you need to go beyond just picking up a bottle and sniffing it because the scent will change over time and it will change when it comes into contact with your unique skin type. For example, I purchased Opium by Yves Saint Laurent online based on the reviews and when I opened the bottle and smelled it I could’ve sworn it was cough syrup with added spices. However, when I applied it to my skin after a few minutes it began to settle and out came a wonderful blend of vanilla and other scents that didn’t at all resemble my first impression.

So when you go out to a department store to find new cologne for yourself don’t expect to buy something that day. Try out a few that you like and give each a bit of time to react and see how they smell after 45 minutes to an hour. You may find yourself having the opposite reaction to mine with the Opium and love it when it is in the bottle and after it has time to be on your skin find it not meshing well with your body chemistry.

Once you have sorted out a few colognes that you like the smell of then it is time to consider some other factors. What is your lifestyle like? If you spend you’re days sitting in an office or in a classroom you probably don’t want something very strong that will overpower and annoy those around you. In those situations you might opt for something a bit more subtle and light, perhaps a citrus blend of fragrance. Knowing where you’ll be is important because some colognes aren’t for everyday situations and are more for the nightlife or more romantic endeavors. For this reason it may be that you should consider buying more than one bottle of cologne in smaller sizes so that you can choose the best one for the right occasion. Also, the weather is a factor in what kind of cologne you should wear because some fragrances have a tendency to evaporate quickly or change in hotter temperatures and you might not get the desired effect.

How Do You Wear Cologne and How Much Is Too Much?

We’ve all had experiences in which someone has walked by us and left a trail of cologne in their wake and most of the time they are wearing the cheapest and most nauseating fragrance that you can imagine. This gentleman is what we want to avoid. Remember that no cologne is always better than too much cologne. So what is the right amount? Two sprays is usually quite adequate to be smelling great but not having people gasping for air in your presence. In fact people should only be able to smell you when they are within a few feet or leaning in for close conversation. Look at it as if it was clothing, loud fabrics and bright colors will get you attention but it isn’t the type of attention you want.

As far as areas of the body where you should spray keep it basic, the neck, wrists, or chest. Do not spray your clothes with cologne because it can damage the fabric or stain it completely.

What are the Best Selling Colognes?

To find out the best selling colognes I checked out two popular fragrance websites and checked out their top sellers. This list is compiled from Scentiments and Fragrancenet.

Acqua Di Gio- Acqua Di Gio is an Armani fragrance and is popular to the point of overuse. Don’t get me wrong it smells fantastic and is a top seller for a reason but if you want a signature scent that is unique look elsewhere. Also, can be pricy a 3.4 ounce bottle sells for 65-70 dollars in most places.

Curve by Liz Claiborne- My dad wears this cologne and it does smell pretty good. I’ve received Claiborne Sport as a gift once and didn’t like it but this scent is totally different and is quite pleasant. Price wise it is cheap but it is a quality cologne that you should look into.

Polo- Polo is a classic cologne from Ralph Lauren. The scent is very masculine and outdoorsy that usually works well on most people. It is in the same price range as the Acqua Di Gio most places you look.

Joop!- I think it has a terrible name but hey that’s the design house. Joop! is the cologne that doesn’t quit and will stay strong throughout the day off of one spray. However, it’s probably more appropriate for the night life. Very affordable.

Cool Water by Davidoff- Due to it’s sheer popularity I’m sure I have smelled Cool Water at some point but I’ve never tired it.

Drakkar Noir- Never tried Drakkar Noir either.

Angel Men by Thierry Mugler

Obsession by Calvin Klein

Eternity by Calvin Klein

What is the Best Smelling Men’s Cologne?

Once again the best smelling cologne will be different for everybody’s own personal tastes and exactly how it reacts to your skin. However, I thought I would put together a list of scents that I have enjoyed and gotten me the most attention from women.

Kourous Body by YSL- I use this pretty regularly because it smells great. It blends incense and eucalyptus that gives it a fairly sweet smell. One spray is usually enough with this one.

Egoiste Platinum by Chanel- Chanel No. 5 is the classic ladies scent but Egoiste Platinum for men is amongst the best smelling colognes that I have ever come across.

L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake- Everyone always wants to know what you are wearing when you put this on. No cologne is going to make women want you for your scent alone but this is the one that comes closest in my experience. I don’t really ever see it in stores so you may need to just buy the sample size online to try it out for yourself.

Armani Code- Another best seller but this one is good.

The One by Dolce and Gabbana- It can be pretty expensive but well worth the investment.

Where Are Some Good Places to Buy Your Cologne?

Obviously department stores are a great place to test out the right cologne but if you don’t want retail prices and would like to receive a discount you have to look online. Two sites that I have never had problems with are fragrancenet.com and fragrancex.com. Both sites delivered fast and make purchasing simple. The prices will be different so check out you cologne first and research to get the best price between them.