Base Style: All about Cologne

Buying cologne and wearing cologne can be a daunting task but if you follow a few rules you'll be fine.

Buying

1. Know the Categories
a. Cologne falls into about three categories but for us simple folks we'll make it two. There are Citrus/Green Fragrances and Spicy/Musk fragrances. The Citrus fragrances have base notes like lemon and Orange in the scent and they are very fresh. Similar to Citrus fragrances, Green fragrances are also fresh smelling but they tend to be sweeter. Spicy fragrances are a bit darker and have a more robust smell.

2. Know Your Self
b. Your cologne has to match your personal style and your personality. If your a feisty kind of kind who's a little more outgoing go for a spicy fragrance. If your more relaxed and calm go for a Citrus or a Green scent.

3. Try It on
The reason the cologne/perfume industry is so big is because even though two guys can buy the same scent it can smell totally different on you than it does on him. As the day goes on your cologne will mix with your own natural body odors and sweat and will become personalized just for you. Knowing this, it's important that you try on a scent for a couple of hours before you buy it because it may not smell exactly the same as it did when you first smelled it. A fragrance has 3 notes and a dry down. The top notes in the scents that you immediately smell once you spray, the middle notes is the more mellow part of the fragrance and comes in to play about 5 minutes after the top notes dissipate and then the end notes linger and the fragrance dries down.

Now that you know how to buy it, find out how to wear it.

Wearing
1.Season's, Day's and Nights.
Evey guy should have a signature scent. One that works in all situations. The signature scent gives you a presence, it allows to speak even when your not talking. People should smell you only if they are next to your or if you walk by them. If they smell it on anyone else they start to think of you. Your signature scent is generally your daytime fragrance. Some guys like to use the same fragrance all year long and that's fine but you should have different fragrance at night than during the day and it should be a bit bolder and stronger yet still true to your personality. For summer and spring stick to lighter fragrances and for Fall and Winter get something that has a little more kick to it and that's a bit stronger.

2. Application.
As stated above a fragrance changes according to your own unique skin chemistry. That being said, apply the fragrance to your skin and not your clothing. It will last longer and be more intimate. You also have to place the fragrance in the right places and the right times.Scent clings best to moist skin, so apply the fragrance right after a shower to your pulse points which are the areas on your skin where blood flow is the strongest and the skin is the warmest, Choose two or three of the following examples: the inside of your wrists, back of your knees, around your ankles, neck, behind your ears, on your torso or inside your elbows. Don't go overboard.

Your now set to rock a new fragrance! Keep these tips in mind as well.
Tips
* Cologne is not meant to disguise body odor. Don't apply after a workout without showering first and don't apply in place of a shower
* Do Keep it stored in a cool dark placed
* Fragrances have expiration dates. Keep a fragrance for 1-2 years max.
* A Good cologne shouldn't cost more than $200 and it shouldn't be less than $40, however there are exceptions.