# Cologne **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531 "2000-09-26T00:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Neil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/839c29/32.png) [@Neil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neil)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/1 "2000-09-26T00:41:28Z")
I don’t like it when people drown others in their perfume or cologne. However, it’s fine when used properly. I just want some opinions- men, what kind of cologne do you wear (if and when you do)? Women, what kind do you like to smell on a guy (if any)? And also, about how much is okay to use without overpowering everyone else in the room? -Neil ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/2 "2000-09-26T00:43:32Z")
Well, **In My Humble Opinion** , I find that more than a quick misting is too much. I am one who believes that the purpose of cologne/perfume is to hint to the scent, versus making you smell like a flower. ---
**Author:** ![Aglarond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@Aglarond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglarond)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/3 "2000-09-26T13:43:34Z")
I use one spray on the neck and one on my forearm. I then rub my forearms together. That’s how my dad does it, so I kind of inherited it. I only have 2 rules. 1, no more than 2 sprays. And don’t get it on your hands, especially if you shake hands a lot. As for the brand, Pierre Cardin. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/4 "2000-09-26T13:46:33Z")
I dab a bit on my neck, and a tiny bit on each forearm. Nautica for me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/5 "2000-09-26T16:09:19Z")
I think you should only be able to smell someone’s cologne if you are close enough to kiss them. I had a co-worker who you could track her down by her scent. Honest to God, get on an empty elevator and smell her 5 minutes after she got off. Very nice scent but overkill. Personal favorites for men. Fino by Davidoff Joop Cool water sex appeal for men by jovan,(a cheapie, but oh so nice) For me long time favorites Ciara Passion Chloe narcisse youth dew New favs Cafe tea rose jasmin I always wear perfume. Everyday. I am very careful not to overdo it though. The idea is to entice the prey into coming just…a…little…closer, not to send them gasping for air. ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/6 "2000-09-26T16:28:18Z")
Being in a professional kitchen, colognes are big no-no’s–they interfere with the smells coming from the food. There is a guy I’ve gone to school with that refused to give up his cologne habit, and I could never work next to him, as he was often overpowering. Now, when I’m out of the kitchen, that’s a different story. I wear **Acqua Classica** , a somewhat obscure fragrance that’s been around for about a hundred years (Mom says it was Cary Grant’s favorite), and originally made for men–but what do I care? It’s got a nice, light citrusy-herbal scent, which is perfect for me, since I’ve never been the super-floral-scent type of gal. On men, I’m quite fond of the Hugo Boss line of colognes. On amounts that should be worn–no more than one or two sprays are necessary. People should only smell your cologne if you are close enough for bodily contact–and those people should only get a faint whiff of it, not be overwhelmed. That being said, it’s so nice to be in a warm embrace with someone, and putting your nose against their neck, taking in the scent of their (properly applied) cologne, mingling with the scent of their skin… ---
**Author:** ![Miliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Miliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miliana)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/7 "2000-09-26T16:34:11Z")
IME, most people (men and women) use far too much scent. I recall reading in one of the tripey women’s mags that one should spray the air and walk into the fragrant cloud, thus ensuring said cloud would drift about one’s entire body. A more discreet spritzing usually suffices, i.e. neck and throat area, and wrists. I like catching the whiff of cologne or perfume when standing very close to a person, not half a subway car length away. My husband has a signature cologne (Xeryus by Givenchy) that has become such a ‘sensory/memory trigger’ for me that he appears to be a stranger if he wears anything else. For myself, I like unusual perfumes (no offense, but the Estee Lauder/Clinique/Lancome Triumvirate leaves me unmoved) such as Comptoir Sud Pacifique, Fracas, Fragonard, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/8 "2000-09-26T16:42:35Z")
I splash on liberal doses of Hai Karate whenever possible. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/9 "2000-09-26T16:57:50Z")
I usually wear nothing unless I got something from a honey for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/10 "2000-09-26T16:59:59Z")
I like the masculine smell of WINDEX-I apply it liberally! Also, it is cheap!-$1.49 for a 1-month supply! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/11 "2000-09-26T17:02:07Z")
There is only one cologne that I have found to be bearable. It is **Kouros** eau de toilette by Yves Saint Laurent (avoid aerosol versions as the propellant affects the scent). Just a dab on the back of the neck is all I apply. All others brands have far to many floral or citrus notes for me to wear. On women, some of my favorites are: [li]Chanel #17[/li] [li]Chanel #19[/li] [li]Jontue (no longer made)[/li]All the rest, men’s and women’s alike, too often smell like a French cat house. At least in the quantities that most people apply. A scent should **compliment** that of your own body’s, not mask it! ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/12 "2000-09-26T17:07:50Z")
Miliana - couldn’t agree more, worse still most people seem to think that a light spray in the air to walk through involves emptying a can of impulse in the ladies at work! Bleaugh! There is one advantage to strong perfumes - you can smell the wearere approaching & disappear before they arrive - since they are (currently) the only one in the office stupid/thoughtless enough to wear such a strong scent, you know who it is! Unfortunately, some scents give me a really bad headache & if I’m stuck with them long enough, can make me feel sick. For some reason, it’s an office etiquette faux pas to tell someone that they make you sick (even if you don’t phrase it like that!) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cologne/34531/13 "2000-09-26T17:26:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fierra \* > [BFor some reason, it’s an office etiquette faux pas to tell someone that they make you sick (even if you don’t phrase it like that!) \*\* Some people are too f\*\*king sensitive. The nerve. I agree with the less is more theme, especially with some of the stronger scents. Ciara is like that.