How to Apply Cologne Properly

Cologne is an important part of a man's daily routine…..at least it should be. After all, simply using just soap and water isn’t enough for some women since they like to smell a little cologne as well. Fortunately, cologne doesn't have to be expensive, so choose one that fits your budget. Also keep in mind that body sprays are not the same as colognes, and should only be used when deodorant and/or cologne isn't around. The reason why is because body sprays have too much alcohol in them, and this causes the smell to wear off when combined with your body's sweat. Getting back to the subject, here is a look at how you should apply cologne for the best results.

Getting Started

Throughout the seasons, your body's temperature fluctuates, and so should your cologne. Think of cologne as you would clothing, and choose two different products to wear in the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. Because the body becomes warmer in the spring and summer, you'll want to have a scent that is light like your shorts and t-shirt, instead of something heavy like a sweater in the winter. Test the cologne out before purchasing it, and don't go to the store expecting to buy one right away; take your time in choosing so that you're sure you have the right scent.

Making Cologne Last

After you've found the right cologne, you'll need to know how to properly apply it to your skin. It seems easy enough to remove the cap and then spray; however, if you're not spraying the cologne in the proper place, you'll just be wasting it. So use your own body heat to keep the fragrance from becoming a dull scent that only you can smell. To do this, you need to know your body's pulse points, which are the areas of the body that give off the most heat since they have blood vessels nearest to the skin.

The pulse points are as follows:

• wrists
• neck
• behind ears

Only use what you need because if you spend $60 on cologne, you don't want to throw it away. And remember the old saying that less is more. This is especially true for those of us who have sensitive noses! After all, you wouldn't want to offend someone because your cologne is too strong.

Thankfully technology has advanced, and now cologne comes in a spray bottle so that you don't have to risk spilling the bottle on the floor or surrounding areas. However, it’s important to know the basics in case you have an old-fashioned bottle, or the cap has fallen off of your bottle. Assuming you’re in this boat, all you need to do is put a finger over the open bottle, tip it over your finger, and then apply as usual. If this doesn't seem like enough cologne, repeat the process once more.

Read on for easy instructions for putting cologne on, and ways to keep the fragrance from fading.

5 Tips on Applying Cologne Properly

1. The thing that seemingly makes the most sense when putting cologne on is to spray the product onto your clothing. However, this isn't a good idea because some colognes are colored and will potentially stain your clothes.
2. For men who like to use aftershave, only use the same brand of aftershave as your cologne. For example, if you are using "Johnny’s Aftershave for Men", then you should only use "Johnny’s Cologne for Men" so as not to layer scents that don’t flatter each other. Layering scents is fine as long as they are similar in smell to one another.
3. You can reapply cologne once during the day - although most cologne will last all day. Of course, this is determined by how well your body's personal acidity level will hold up when combined with the oils found in cologne.
4. It may sound odd to hear that colognes and perfumes have an expiration date, but they do, and it is important to keep them in mind; the average bottle of fragrance has a timeline of 3-5 years. If you happen to lose track of when you bought your cologne, you can call the manufacturer for instructions on how to find out when your bottle expires. Use the cologne at your own risk after 5 years of having the same bottle. Old cologne tends to smell more like alcohol - or something else - other than the original scent. And since you've had the bottle for such a long time, the odds of you liking it are low.
5. Do research first before purchasing any cologne, look at what other men have to say about a brand, see how long it lasts, and find out if women like it. The way other people respond is important because nine times out of ten, the majority rules.