How to Buy Cologne

Cologne: What you Need to Know

1. Cologne is something you must try on before purchasing. DO NOT go by the smell coming from the bottle alone. Go to the cosmetics section of a department store and do some sampling. You should also ask a salesperson about popular brands. Bring a friend along to get their opinions.
2. Try to get an idea of what kind of cologne you like. If you know before going shopping, great. If not, sample colognes that have a strong scent, as well as ones that are milder. See which ones smell best on you, and try to determine which ones will work best with your lifestyle. For instance, if you work closely with the public, you may want to consider a mild cologne, as many people have strong aversions to bold ones.
3. Ask the salesperson about the different notes (the various scents) of a cologne. The top notes of a cologne tend to be rather fruity, and disappear quite quickly. The middle notes tend to be earthy and outdoorsy, while the bottom notes will contain heavy scents like leather and wood.
4. Test colognes on your wrist or forearm. Spray one of these areas just once, then rub the cologne into your skin. If you’re happy with the scent, make your purchase. Know that it’s best to never apply more than three sprays of cologne at once—you don’t want to overpower the noses of the people you’re keeping company with!
5. Cologne can lose its scent after a couple of hours of wear. If you’re going out for a night on the town and put some on early in the evening, you may need to reapply it at some time during the night.

Caution

Immediately discontinue using any cologne that irritates your skin and causes it to break out.

Best places to buy cologne online

You’ll find many great choices for places to go cologne shopping online—

• Fragrancenet.com is one of the premier Web spots for cologne and perfume shopping. In many cases, you’ll find scents for up to 70% off their retail price. Check out the A-Z directory of colognes in the men’s fragrances section.

• Drop by The Perfume Spot to shop for men’s and unisex fragrances. This BizRate customer certified store has most of their products available at sale prices, and you can get fee shipping for orders over $100. Be sure to visit the clearance section for jaw-droppingly great deals.

• "The most affordable fragrances online" can be found at Scentiments . Fragrances available for men include scents by Perry Ellis, Marc Jacobs, and Moschino.