To wear cologne…or to not wear cologne

Ask A Woman: Ooooh that smell, can’t you smell that smell?

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Seems like people are either anti-scent or pro-scent, without much straddling the fence. Say hello to breakfast, boys, I’m here to do the waffling for you. Though I personally love a bit of perfume dabbed behind my ears, I understand those who don’t want a foreign smell in their nose all day long. And while there’s something delicious about catching just a whiff of scent when a dapper guy walks by, we’ve all been smacked in the face by the dude who showers in cologne. If you decide to  go scent-free, how do you still make sure to give off some appealing pheromones to potential mates? If you decide to get an assist from some artificial scents, how do you do so without becoming a human stink-bomb? Here it is, the pros and cons of wearing cologne. Decide for yourself.

Sex Panther–it’s made with bits of real panther, so you know it’s good.

Wear it!

1. Other people will notice it. It smells good. Simple as that. Nothing like having a woman or man want to get closer to you to get a better smell.

2. You’ll notice it. Sometimes you need a little boost, and scent is one of the quickest ways to do that. If you’re going through a breakup, if you have a big presentation at work, if the weather is gray–smelling good equals feeling good.

3. It can be a satisfying part of your routine. You shower, shave, trim the nose hair, dab on some moisturizer, select your clothing…and spritz a bit of scent on your neck. Having cologne as part of your grooming routine can make you feel like you’re taking care of yourself and you’re ready to face the day.

4. It may impart other desirable attributes. If I’m in an elevator with a well-dressed, well-groomed man and I sniff the slightest whiff of something woodsy and exotic, I immediately think, this dude is an investment banker/hosts 4th of July parties on his yacht/has an infinity pool at his vacation home in Costa Rica–i.e., a baller. Is that a dumb assumption? Yes. Should you take advantage of the dumb assumptions people make? Yes.

Smell hath no fury like a cologne over-worn.

Don’t wear it!

1. Other people will notice it. Even if you wear just a small amount, if it’s a scent a potential mate doesn’t like, it can be a big turn off. No way to know if a date or attractive stranger in a bar prefers spicy, musky, or floral notes.

2. Other people will be sickened by it. Beyond a simple preference for one scent over another, some people are seriously allergic to scents. They sneeze, itch, and swoon (not in a good way) when assaulted by perfume. You’d hate to be the one who sends someone into fits.

3. There may be a temptation to go lax on hygiene. Ughhhh, too lazy to take a shower but I’m supposed to meet the guys out in half an hour. I’ll just douse my crotch in some Bleu de Chanel.

4. You always risk applying too much. When I was 15 I accidentally doused myself in vanilla perfume. Despite trying to wash it off, people at school kept sniffing the air when I was around, saying, “Anyone else smell…Play-Doh?” Even when you’re very careful, you might end up taking a bath in it. No bueno.

5. You cover up your own natural smell. There’s often a magical combination of someone’s soap, perhaps a bit of their deodorant, the toothpaste they use, and their pheromones that add up to a scent that defines that person. A spritz of cologne will mask that special combination.

Got something brewing in your life? Send me an email’style, etiquette, relationships’I answer it all: askawoman@dappered.com