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When it comes to owning your scent, fragrance is not just for reeling in women. The fragrances you wear reflect your personality—whether you’re in the office, with your friends, hanging with family, or lounging at home. Choosing the right fragrance goes beyond a simple spritz-and-sniff at the department store. Here are six things you need to know when choosing your scent.
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Consider the Season
Of course there are neutral scents that can be worn year-round, but make sure you’re not dousing yourself in deep, heavy fragrances during the summer, or light, cool scents during the winter, which wear off easily under all that outerwear, and will most likely go unnoticed.
Lighten It Up During a First Date
First dates are nerve wracking enough, so the last thing you want to do is offend your potential paramour with an overwhelming musk. Consider choosing a light scent for this occasion, simply because it’s quite possible that your date might happen to have an aversion to strong smells. Women who suffer from migraines, for instance, are often triggered by heavy perfumes. We know you want to set a seductive mood, but you also want to create a comfortable one, as well. So go easy.
Boost Your Confidence at the Office
Dates are one thing; work is another. Like a fine suit, a bold and sophisticated scent can be a great confidence booster, and goes right along with the other practices of a well-groomed man. You do want to be mindful of your co-workers, of course, and this is a great example of how well fragrance placement can work.
Hitting the Club
This is an occasion where you can’t really overdo it. Most men in the packed crowd will be sporting heavy scents, so you want to make sure you choose something that’s bold, noticeable, and reflects your personality. Conversation is rarely accomplished over the booming beats of club music, and if you are lucky enough to meet someone on the dance floor, how you smell can be a key factor in keeping her interested.
Keeping It Casual
Fall weekends can mean many things from pickup games with the boys to afternoon brunches with friends. For casual occasions, wear a laid-back scent, but one that’s strong enough to seep through your sweater, scarf and overcoat. You also want to keep it playful—it’s daytime, after all, so something light and fruity is much more appropriate than a manly evening musk.
Travel Light
There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a plane next to someone who eats like a pig, burps like a kid, or reeks of heavy perfume. Don’t be one of those airplane offenders. Lay off the fragrance when you’re flying the friendly skies. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, apply all you want. Word to the wise: If you’re meeting someone at the airport, be sure to stash a TSA-friendly sample size in your carry-on.
