In the interest of promoting male attractiveness, I give you...rules about cologne. Also bad breath.
Esquire's in-house grooming expert, Rodney Cutler, chimes in with some aromatic advice of his own:
1. Your girlfriend knows how to put on fragrance: Spray it once in the air and walk through the mist.
2. You shouldn't have so much cologne on that people cough when you walk by. In fact, anyone outside a twelve-inch radius of your body shouldn't smell anything.
3. Evenings call for darker, muskier scents like vanilla, amber, and oakmoss. Daytime colognes should be lighter and citrusy.
4. No matter how great you smell, if you have bad breath, there's no way she'll notice your cologne. (Catandfiddle's personal note: I really think most people have slightly bad breath most of the time. Before you swoop in to kiss someone- whether it's your first date or if you're married to them, BRUSH YOUR DAMN TEETH or at least pop a mint. This is something I personally am hypersensitive to and even the slightest *hint of bad breath is a complete and utter turnoff. YUCK! Also, while we're on the topic of bad breath: if someone offers you a mint, TAKE IT. Never, ever refuse a mint, even if you're not a big fan. The mint-giver is probably trying, discreetly and kindly, to tell you that you've got a little halitosis going on. To say 'Do you think I smell' or to take offense in any way is declasse. Be an adult, quietly accept the mint, and freshen up, please.)
5. Don't even think about watering down your cologne to make it last longer. It makes you look cheap, and it can stain your clothes.
6. Your cologne should complement your soap and shampoo. If your nose is not attuned to such distinctions -- and not many are -- play it safe and buy a cologne's entire line of products.
7. No matter how fantastic it makes you smell, applying cologne does not replace regular visits with soap and water.
8. Never put on cologne before exercising. If you start to sweat, there's a good chance it'll run into your eyes.
9. If you pick the right deodorant, you don't even need cologne. My suggestion: Old Spice Red Zone.
10. No matter what your buddy claims, there is never a reason to put cologne on your balls.
1. Your girlfriend knows how to put on fragrance: Spray it once in the air and walk through the mist.
2. You shouldn't have so much cologne on that people cough when you walk by. In fact, anyone outside a twelve-inch radius of your body shouldn't smell anything.
3. Evenings call for darker, muskier scents like vanilla, amber, and oakmoss. Daytime colognes should be lighter and citrusy.
4. No matter how great you smell, if you have bad breath, there's no way she'll notice your cologne. (Catandfiddle's personal note: I really think most people have slightly bad breath most of the time. Before you swoop in to kiss someone- whether it's your first date or if you're married to them, BRUSH YOUR DAMN TEETH or at least pop a mint. This is something I personally am hypersensitive to and even the slightest *hint of bad breath is a complete and utter turnoff. YUCK! Also, while we're on the topic of bad breath: if someone offers you a mint, TAKE IT. Never, ever refuse a mint, even if you're not a big fan. The mint-giver is probably trying, discreetly and kindly, to tell you that you've got a little halitosis going on. To say 'Do you think I smell' or to take offense in any way is declasse. Be an adult, quietly accept the mint, and freshen up, please.)
5. Don't even think about watering down your cologne to make it last longer. It makes you look cheap, and it can stain your clothes.
6. Your cologne should complement your soap and shampoo. If your nose is not attuned to such distinctions -- and not many are -- play it safe and buy a cologne's entire line of products.
7. No matter how fantastic it makes you smell, applying cologne does not replace regular visits with soap and water.
8. Never put on cologne before exercising. If you start to sweat, there's a good chance it'll run into your eyes.
9. If you pick the right deodorant, you don't even need cologne. My suggestion: Old Spice Red Zone.
10. No matter what your buddy claims, there is never a reason to put cologne on your balls.