MSD

There are five things I'm really picky and stubborn about: politics, women, coffee, beer, and fragrances. While all are things of personal taste, my most recent obsession is colognes and fragrances (my knowledge is mostly about men's scents, seeing as I am male.) Some people see me as a snob and an asshole, others are indifferent, and a few agree with me.

It is my belief that a fragrance is part of a complete wardrobe, and that it sould match your style, your tastes, your personality, and your environment. I also see a lot of people who use great colognes at the wrong time, or apply them in a way that doesnt' realize their full potential.

So, if you want to know what I think of your fragrance of choice, others I'd reccommend based on what you like, or know nothing about the subject and want to ask a few questoins, go ahead. I'll try not to come across as being too snobby, and my opinions are subjective, but I am a cologne snob, after all.

INTRO:

The first basic pet peeve I have is application methods. Spraying into the air and walking through it is a waste of perfectly good fragrance. If applied to the skin strategically, any decent scent will go through a dry-down process and work with your body chemistry to fully develop the fragrance. The best method for men I have come across is as follows:

Pre-application: unscented moisturizing soap will not interfere with your fragrance, and dry skin severely decreases the longevity of your fragrance. Moisturize if you have hard water (even if you're not wearig cologne, you should be nice to your skin.)

1: Two sprays on your chest from about 6-8 inches away. If it beads, spray from farther away; if it gets on your nipples move the bottle a bit closer. This forms the base of your scent.

2: A light (1/3) spray on each wrist over the pulse point. Press your arms together (don't rub, it breaks down the oils) and hold for a few seconds. This allows the scent to project slightly, allowing those aroudn you to get a tiny whiff of what you're wearing without being overpowering. Alternately, spray on one wrist and press. If you wash your hands with hot water later in the day and your wrists get a bit wet, the top notes of the fragrance are revitalized.

3: A light (1/2) and close (2" away) spray on the back of the neck below the hairline. This creates sillage. If you walk through a room, you'll leave a pleasant, lingering scent trail for a few seconds. With the right combination of cologne and situation, this can actually deliver the mob of women following you that the Axe commercials promise.

Last tip before I leave for school:

Citrus and other light scents are generally best in the summer
Musk, Patchoulli, and other heavy scents are generally best in the winter