A Man’s Guide To Colognes And Fragrances: How To Apply Cologne Properly

Cologne has retained its macho attraction for decades. Men typically prefer cologne to perfume because it smells lighter, although the scent has its own fan following. The similarity between perfume and cologne is their composition: while perfumes contain 20%-30% smell, cologne only contains roughly 2%-5% fragrance.

Indeed, if you’re looking for the most fantastic long-lasting scents for guys, you might prefer perfume over cologne. Check out some of the most popular cologne for men ever.

What is the Difference Between Fragrance, Perfume, and Cologne?

List Of Best Colognes For Men 2022

• Blu Atlas Atlantis
• Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum
• Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò
• Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette
• Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Toilette
• Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club Eau de Parfum
• Calvin Klein Eternity for Men
• Versace Eros
• Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette
• Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme Eau de Toilette
• Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne

Cologne Tips For Men: Become A Fragrance Expert

• Know The Occasion
• Try Before You Buy
• Less Is More
• Mist Technique & Rubbing
• Clothing Application
• The Pulse Points

How To Apply Cologne Properly

What is the Difference Between Fragrance, Perfume, and Cologne?

The smell is a generic, unisex name for perfume. It comes in a variety of types and is known by several names, but it mainly falls into the following categories:

• Eau Fraiche. The fragrance is most diluted, usually with 1-3 percent perfume oil in alcohol and water. Typically, it lasts less than an hour.

• Cologne. The oldest perfume term, used for man fragrances in North America. This fragrance is light, fresh, and fruity with 2-4 percent perfume oils in alcohol and water. It is commonly used in fragrances for young people. It usually lasts around 2 hours.

• Toilette. A light spray formulation containing 5-15% pure perfume essence mixed with alcohol. It usually lasts around 3 hours.

• Perfume. Historically, the term “scent” has been used to describe both men’s and women’s products, and it is the ideal term for characterizing a fragrance. It contains 15-20% pure perfume essence and lasts 5 to 8 hours.

List Of Best Colognes For Men 2022

You’ve come to the perfect place if you’re looking for an everyday cologne that gives a hint of who you are or a cologne that expresses an opinion for a night on the town. 

Our list of the best colognes for men in 2022 will provide you with all of the information you need to select the ideal cologne for you or a loved one.

Blu Atlas Atlantis

Some men use the same cologne every day for years, and only a particular type of perfume will do. Atlantis by Blu Atlas has been chosen as the most popular cologne for men in 2022 because it has everything that every guy wants: a touch of citrus, herbal aromatics, and an earthy, woody tone that blends into a perfume that a man can wear day in and day out.

Furthermore, the composition is manufactured with all-natural elements so you can use the cologne without worry. This high-end best cologne for men is vegan and free of chemicals, sulfates, and phthalates.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum

With base notes of incense, amber, cedar, and sandalwood, Chanel’s upgraded Eau de Parfum version of the classic Bleu de Chanel is deeper and more sensual than the original. 

Fresh citrus top notes of grapefruit, lemon, and bergamot blend with aromatics like mint, pink pepper, ginger, and nutmeg to keep things strong and unusual. As a result, the cologne reflects the man who loves to take risks and carve his own path in the world.

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò

Acqua di Gi has become a fragrance industry mainstay since its debut in 1996. It could be the perfect price point or the transparent matte bottle that appears timelessly beautiful, but we believe it’s the aroma that makes this perfume a popular seller. 

Marine notes offer a clean, traditional feel to this, while bright notes of Calabrian bergamot, neroli, and green tangerine keep you smelling effortlessly fresh even after a long day.

Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette

Citrus is the dominant accord in Calvin Klein’s best-selling fragrance, with juicy top notes of lemon, bergamot, pineapple, mandarin, and papaya. 

Green and aromatic notes of lily of the valley, jasmine, violet, nutmeg, and rose combine to provide a harmonious fragrance profile that progresses to base notes of the green accord, musk, oakmoss, and green tea. This unique scent is versatile enough to be worn by people of many genders, ages, and identities.

Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Toilette

Many people prefer aquatic scents, so it’s no wonder that Prada’s Luna Rossa Ocean makes a list. The fragrance, inspired by the ocean’s depths, begins with vibrant top notes of bergamot, pink pepper, and artemisia.

Before settling on the ocean floor, the fragrance transitions into slightly richer notes of lavender, iris, sage, and suede. Base notes include musk, Haitian vetiver, patchouli, and caramel in this example. The resulting aroma is light, layerable, and ideal for people on the beach.

Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club Eau de Parfum 

Ralph Lauren’s 2021 Ralph’s Club, one of the newest cologne releases on this list, became an instant hit due to its everyday wearability. The predominant accords of the fragrance are flowery and woody, with lavender, clary sage, cedarwood, and earthy notes.

Like most of Ralph Lauren’s fragrances, the aroma is high quality and lasts a long time. Despite the name’s exclusivity, the cologne’s modest fragrance character makes it a safe smell selection for most guys.

Calvin Klein Eternity for Men 

Calvin Klein’s Eternity for Men appears to have been around since the beginning of time. In fact, the fragrance has only been around for three decades, with us loving it every step of the way. The cologne is described as an “Aromatic Fougere,” with notes of lavender, lemon, bergamot, sage, basil, and lily.

Base notes of sandalwood, vetiver, musk, amber and Brazilian rosewood round out this classic man’s perfume. Based on Klein’s picture of today’s man, Eternity is for the guy who is at peace with himself and his place in the world and is dedicated to essential values such as family, job, health, and happiness.

Versace Eros

Only the scent’s fresh aromatics are more incredible than Eros’ aqua-blue bottle adorned with Versace’s trademark Medusa logo. This best men’s cologne begins with crisp notes of mint leaves, green apple, and Italian lemon. 

Tonka bean, ambroxan amber, and oakmoss quickly settle in to give the fragrance its signature warm, manly scent. The aroma is completed with stronger overtones of Madagascar vanilla.

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette

If the gold bar–inspired bottle didn’t catch your eye, the fresh, spicy, leathery perfume would. Gold represents seduction, power, riches, durability, and, of course, luxury in this best men’s cologne. Frosted grapefruit, blood mandarin, musk, cinnamon bark, blond leather, and tonka bean notes will turn you into an overnight charmer.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme Eau de Toilette

If you’re driven to fresh aquatics, Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue Pour Homme could be the scent. With top notes of fresh grapefruit, bergamot, Sicilian mandarin, and juniper, each spray brings you to the sunny seaside of the Mediterranean.

Middle notes of black pepper, rosemary, and Brazilian rosewood blend with base notes of musk, incense, and oakmoss to maintain the perfume’s erotic and strong. Make this perfume a part of your daily routine, or save it for trips to the beach.

Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne

Wood Sage and Sea Salt by Jo Malone is a unisex scent that both men and women alike. Thanks to notes of ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage, grapefruit, and a trace of seaweed, this best-seller instantly transports you to the beach, with sand between your toes and a light spray of salty ocean air brushing against your skin.

The simplistic fragrance profile works itself well for layering so that you may combine it with another favorite perfume or similar-smelling body wash and lotion. It’s appropriate to wear all year, but its ocean-inspired aromatics make it ideal for summer.

Also Read: Men’s Fashion Terms That Every Man Should Know For 2022!

Cologne Tips For Men: Become A Fragrance Expert

Colognes, you see, are tricky. There is a formula to their madness, and understanding men’s cologne’s devious techniques will bring you a lot closer to grooming martyrdom. And having a signature fragrance is crucial not just for your personal confidence but also for your spicy senorita’s pleasure. 

Women have a keen sense of smell when it comes to males, and they can practically smell confidence. So, let’s get started and analyze colognes and fragrance advice for men.

Know The Occasion

You should spray for the occasion just as you would dress for it. To avoid giving your coworkers a headache, try for something light in the boardroom — anything vetiver or neroli-based will be fine – whereas for a date night, go slightly darker and seductive with tonka bean, Turkish rose, and amber. 

It’s also important to consider how long you want a fragrance to last; this will assist you in choosing the ideal concentration for your budget.

Try Before You Buy

Use blotter cards instead of spraying directly on yourself when shopping for a new men’s cologne. You can only spray three times on your own skin before they start to layer and offer a false impression. 

Spray all of your favorite fragrances onto blotters, then go have a coffee (coffee beans tend to reduce your sense of smell) and go over them. When you’ve reduced them down to your preferences, test them out on your skin before making your final choice.

Less Is More

Gentlemen, less is more. You don’t require much. Depending on the strength of the fragrance, you should do two or three spritzes. You don’t want to be the man who can be detected from a mile away. 

The pretty senoritas don’t want you to smell like a full cologne bottle; they want you to smell like YOU, with a hint of great fragrance thrown in for good measure. Remember that even if you can’t smell it on you, it’s most likely present softly and gently.

Mist Technique & Rubbing

The misting technique is useless. This technique involves spraying fragrance into the air and then walking into it, believing that this will be the most significant way to smell fantastic all over. Nope. It does not work. Also, rubbing your wrists together will disturb the precise balance of the cologne. Fragrances contain several notes that function together, and rubbing your wrists together changes the chemistry and kills the fragrance’s essence.

Clothing Application

Do not spray the cologne on your clothes because it will quickly spoil them. Cologne contains a lot of oil and alcohol. It is not intended to be worn on outerwear, rather it works magically by combining with your aroma/skin.

The Pulse Points

Because your skin is warmer in these spots, pulse points provide the evenest distribution of smell. These are the neck, armpits, knees, wrists, and behind the ears for men. Applying the scent to all your pulse points is not necessary as this would be excessive. Choose only a couple and observe which ones work best for you. It is recommended to begin with the neck and wrists. This will be more than enough for the majority of us.

Also Read: Top 10 Men’s Summer Fashion Trends For 2022

How To Apply Cologne Properly

Now that you’ve chosen your distinctive perfume and are ready to spritz your way to smelling fantastic, here’s how to achieve that precise, unobtrusive application so that people are pleasantly surprised when they get close to you.

• Apply cologne to clean, dry skin. When you’re fresh out of the shower and completely dry but haven’t yet dressed, it’s preferable to apply your fragrance. You don’t want to spray perfume on your clothes since the oils in the fragrance can damage your clothing and leave a layer on your jewelry. And, whatever you do, avoid using fragrance to cover up your stinky B.O. It will only make things worse.

• Don’t go overboard. We cannot emphasize this enough. Don’t overdo it on the cologne. One or two spritzes are usually sufficient, especially when using a high-quality EDP cologne. The last thing you want is for others to tremble as you pass.

• Refresh as necessary. The strength of the aroma will lessen noticeably throughout the day, even with more powerful fragrances. Toss a refillable cologne bottle in your glove box or briefcase if you’ve had a long day or are going from work to play so you may freshen up after the initial spray has faded.

Final Words

Ultimately, this guide for the best cologne for men will help you be a perfectionist in fashion.  As we’ve seen, smell is our most powerful sense. It is linked to memories, and we can form strong bonds with our emotions. Wearing perfume is a unique method to express yourself beyond the visible. It makes you memorable and leaves a lasting impression.

You’ll be well on your way to exploring this fascinating sensory world once you’ve found several popular cologne for men that you feel comfortable wearing and developed an appreciation for colognes that match your natural aroma.

Faq’s