Cologne
History of Cologne
The history of cologne stems back to Cologne, Germany, from which the fragrance derived its name. Perfumery had existed for centuries in the Middle East, and the Crusades of the Middle Ages brought them back to Europe. They were widely popular, and in 1709 Gian Paolo Feminis invented the cologne in order to provide a fragrance that was less sweet and more subtle than the perfumes of the day.
For a long time, fragrances designed to be worn by men were reserved for the wealthy and famous. By the 1960s, a few colognes were marketed as fragrance products suited for any man. These were mostly used by younger guys trying to meet girls, or older men trying to seem cool. Today, men's colognes are everywhere. They are sold in department stores, drug stores, and discount stores. Just as many famous women market their own perfume, so are colognes marketed by male brand names.
The Complexity of Colognes
Colognes have three notes, or fragrances, that are released at different times. The initial scent is the top note. It is a sharp scent, meant to get attention and give a first impression. If you sniffed a cologne then based your choice on that, you never got past the first note.
After the initial scent evaporates, ten to fifteen minutes later, the second scent comes through. This note is frequently called the heart scent. This scent is meant to give the biggest impression of the cologne.
After the heart scent has dissipated, the base note will emerge. This is a subtle, more lingering scent that is typically richer and deeper than the other notes.
Purchasing Cologne
Many guys pick a cologne during high school and keep wearing it to their grave. Other men randomly pick whatever smells good, or whatever smells good to their girlfriend, at the department store counter. But, in choosing cologne it doesn't take much effort to make more informed choices.
So the next time you shop for cologne, spray your favorites on some tester cards. Sniff them every fifteen minutes or so, after doing this for an hour, then decide which one is your favorite. While men's colognes used to be mostly influenced by musky scents, today's variety offer all sorts of citrus, woodsy, and fresh sporty scents to choose from. Be aware that some products use synthetics which may cause skin irritation.
Wearing Cologne
Colognes are meant to be smooth and subtle. They shouldn't overpower a room. Check with a friend or family member, and if they can smell your cologne from across the room, then you're wearing too much. If they don't smell it until they are right next to you, then you're wearing an appropriate amount.
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