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• The Handbook

Cologne Mistakes to Avoid

We've all known that guy. The one wearing way too much cologne—fogging up the car or elevator with his pungent choice of fragrance. Or maybe you work next to a gent whose cologne just smells a bit off. It might not be his fault ... the poor bastard could've been duped by a salesperson. Or spritzing from a spoiled bottle. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid so you don't end up being that guy.

Trusting the Salesperson

We're not saying that the person behind the counter has bad intentions, but he or she is looking to make a sale—keep that in mind. And often, they spray a scent onto a card, but those only allow you to smell the top notes of a fragrance (not how it will smell on you). Instead, when trying on colognes, spritz one scent on each wrist (and each inner elbow if going for four) and give it time to develop on your skin.

Spraying Your Clothes

Cologne was meant to be applied to your body. Spraying your clothes prevents the fragrance's oils from interacting with your skin, which helps the scent develop and change throughout the day. Plus, it could end up discoloring or staining a garment.

 

 

 

Over-Applying

This is the number one mistake most men make. And we get it. You like how your cologne smells and so you figure that if some is good, more is even better. But subtlety should be the goal when it comes to fragrances. Spritz your wrists and dab the sides of your neck. If you want to ensure the scent stays around, hit the back of your neck at the hairline.

Buying Too Big of a Bottle

Cologne will not last forever on the shelf. Heat fluctuations like those found in most bathrooms can cause the molecules in a fragrance to break apart. Sunlight does the same thing, so avoid storing bottles too close to a window. If you're not sure how often you will be wearing it, or prefer to wear different scents, avoid spoilage by purchasing bottles no larger than 3.4 ounces.