It’s summer and it’s hot.

It’s summer and it’s hot.  That means sweat.  And B.O.  Yes, you.

So after your shower treat yourself and those around you to something that smells a little nicer, than, well, you.

Try a little cologne.  Cologne has become the common name for mens fragrances even though that’s not entirely accurate.  But that’s an article for another day.  Since it can be very confusing out there (eau de cologne, eau de toilette, parfum, etc.) I’ve put together the short guide below so you’ll know what your buying.  A fragrance is a mix of aromatics (think oils, etc.) mixed with alcohol and water.  Higher concentrations of oils, etc., to alcohol/water are stronger, and more expensive.

Following is a general guide.  Some will last longer…or shorter…amounts of time.  But this is fairly accurate for most.

Eau de Cologne (EDC)

The shortest lived and least expensive.  The lowest concentration of fragrance. This can last about an hour.  Maybe two.  Usually 2%-4% aromatics.

Eau de Toilette (EDT)

The next strongest. 5%-10% fragrance.  Can last two to three hours.

Eau de Parfum (EDP)

The next strongest.  10%-20% fragrance.  Can last up to approximately six hours.

Parfum

The strongest.  20%-30% fragrance.  Parfum can last as long as 10 hours.

Different strengths AND also “flankers”.

Certainly you may find other names/descriptions, but the above should cover most of what you find available. 

In most cases, the same fragrance available in more than one type, eau de toilette and eau de parfum for example, may smell exactly the same but simply be different strengths (higher concentration of fragrance to alcohol/water).  But that’s not always the case.  Sometimes they may smell very different (have different notes, ie; flankers).  If you’re not sure, research before you buy, or, ask the salesperson for help.

One isn’t necessarily better or worse than another.  They all have their place depending on where you’re going, what you’re doing, who you’re with.  For example, a shorter lived eau de toilette may be perfect if you want a scent for one reason in the morning or afternoon and want it to wear off in time to apply a different one for later that evening.

Every fragrance will have three phases during which the scent (notes) will change.  The opening top notes (maybe the first fifteen minutes or so), the middle (after the first fifteen minutes and up to about forty-five to sixty minutes), then, lastly and the longest phase, the base notes.  You may hear these phases referred to by other terms such as “heart notes” and “dry down”, etc.  They’re just different names for the three phases.

Some terms to know.

“Projection” is how far the scent can be picked up near you.  How far away from you a person can pick up (smell) your fragrance.  Eventually projection dies down and the fragrance becomes, basically, just a skin scent you can only smell yourself if you place your nose right up against your skin where you’ve sprayed it.

“Sillage” (pronounced “see-yaj” in French) is how long the scent lingers behind you after you walk by, how long people can still pick up the scent after you’ve left.

A “flanker” is a variation on an original fragrance.  For example, Cool Water Limited Edition Grapefruit & Sage, Cool Water Summer Edition and Cool Water Aquaman Collector Edition are all flankers for the OG Cool Water.  A flanker usually shares the OG’s DNA as it’s base but with slight variations added creating some differences in the notes.

If using a weaker scent because you love it and you want it to last longer use the tips below.  Of course, these tips can be applied to enhance any strength fragrance.

Tips.

• Apply to clean skin.

• Apply to the warmest parts of your skin where veins are closer to the surface.  Think inside the wrists, inside the elbows, sides of the neck or behind the ears.

Spray inside the wrist.

Spray inside the elbow.

• Don’t spray on one wrist or arm and then rub onto the other. Rubbing is bad and will diminish the effectiveness of your fragrance. Spray on each point separately.

• Fragrances can be extended by applying an unscented lotion to your skin before using. This is especially helpful for people with dry skin.

• Buy a travel atomizer that fits in your jeans pocket and you can reapply on the fly. Never use the same travel atomizer for more than one fragrance. Once you use one for any fragrance they can not be mixed without contaminating the scent. Just buy more if needed. They’re very inexpensive.

Travel atomizers fit easily into your jeans pocket or jacket pocket and are crazy inexpensive. Like a set of five for less than $10. Assign one to each different fragrance you own.

Believe in a signature scent?  That’s fine, but there’s nothing wrong with mixing in others for different occasions or seasons.  Many people change their fragrances every season…Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  Personally, I have a signature scent which I wear, probably most often, but I still mix in other fragrances depending on the occasion or season.

Some fragrances are better suited to cold weather, some hot weather.  Others can be more universal and year round.  Never trust a fragrance based just on the way it smells sprayed on a piece of paper at the store. That’s a good start. But insist on spraying it on your own skin from a tester because it will smell very different on every individual than it does on a paper test strip.

Find one (or more) that you love and run with it!