Your selection of cologne is one of the fundamental attachments that emphasize your personal style. Most people tend not to pay close attention to the kind of fragrances they buy and wear because they have put their trust in their favorite celebrity fragrances; which is not always a bad thing. I have also witnessed experiences where both men and women are immensely disappointed with fragrances that they purchased solely based on labels and the idea that was pitched to them by the sales associate.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been responsive to the importance of scent selection. Growing up, my parents always wore the most signature fragrances; From Yves Saint Laurent to Salvatore Ferragamo to Kenneth Cole & more. Every time I would come home from school, I could always tell which parent was home before I saw them physically because of their exclusive scents. My first fragrance set was a present from my parents when I turned thirteen. It was Calvin Klein’s “Obsession” and I had one in every edition. It was the only fragrance I ever wore until late last year when my mom introduced me to Givenchy’s “Amarige” as a parting gift for college. Although I loved its scent because of it’s vintage and delicate qualities, I did not feel it defined me or tied in with my personal style. After consuming all of it, I decided to hold off on cologne until I found the perfect one. About two weeks ago, I unexpectedly came across Givenchy’s “Play”. I quickly tested it on myself and immediately gravitated towards the sensation of the scent. It was insanely powerful, not too overwhelming, sexy and masculine. I am unable to do the fragrance justice in words but it was by far, one of the best things I had ever experienced. I did not purchase it immediately because I wanted to make sure I would not have any skin reactions. I also wanted to see how long its aroma would linger so, I gave it a day. It proved that longevity was not a problem as it lasted for 8+ hours.
I am very aware that spending a significant amount of time inhaling various scented strips is not anyone’s ideal way when it comes to the process of selecting a fragrance but taking your time to figure what you want to smell like for a start can make a huge difference.
Summarizing this post, my guide to buying cologne is very easy:
1. Knowing what you want
2. Taking your time to experiment by trying them on
3. Waiting for reactions as it will help limit options. You should never be in a hurry.
Note: Givenchy’s “Play” generally retails for $80 plus.