I prefer the smell of cologne because it lingers so much longer. Provided it’s a cologne you like (Aqua di Gio)
Ditto. I prefer a light application of a cologne I like to nothing, and nothing to either a cologne I don’t like or even too much of one I do like. However, I am extremely sensitive to scents and allergic to some (I think there is an ingredient that is in about 40% of colognes and perfumes that I am allergic to. My allergist was of no help, however).
Colognes are one of those personal grooming things that I find awkward to communicate my dislike. I don’t want to offend someone, especially if that scent if very well integrated into their grooming routine. In first date situations, how can you say something? Hard situation. I’ll only say something if I start having a reaction (sneezing, itchy skin, scratchy throat. Nothing medically serious).
Personally I wear perfume very sparingly and not every day, and then once I get to know a person I’m dating, I ask them if they like it. So far in my experience, their response is usually “you wear perfume?” I would like the same, but only if you are actually willing to change your cologne/battery of grossly scented unnecessary items if I don’t like them.
No cologne, please.
I don’t like most colognes (or perfumes, actually) - they give me a nasty headache.
Also, too often, I find that cologne (and perfume) is being used to cover up a lack of personal hygiene.
Let me also say that, commercials notwithstanding, Axe body spray is violently replusive. Rather than attracting women, many a woman I know actually leave areas that even faintly whiff of it. I, personally, have had males choosing to wear that revolting reek removed from buildings I’m currently inhabiting. Sweet mother of Og that stuff is stank.
No cologne or cologny body spray. Just smell clean, maybe with a subtle scent of soap or body wash. Let your natural scent shine through.
Several colognes have associated deodorants which have the same scent. I presume that’s ok?
A good cologne will turn my head as they walk by, no question.
Sadly, so will a bad cologne.
I think Tag or Axe is what I know as Lynx…horrendous stuff, almost chemical warfare.
My husband wears Cuiron by Helmut Lang occasionally. Showergel, shampoo and deoderant (one of the ones that smell like baby powder) the rest of the time. I like the way he smells.
My dad wears Eau Sauvage- so I don’t find it sexy, but it is a nice citrus scent.
I like masculine vetiver/leather/tobacco/bergamot scents, but that’s just my perference, find something you and preferably a woman you know and trust, like.
To narrow it down, use the spray cards in the store, but never, ever buy something without trying it on your skin and leaving it for a few hours. You could end up buying something which smells like heaven in the bottle and on the test card, but like cat pee on you.
I like to wear some but I find that I can’t smell it myself, so I put more on then worry I’m putting on too much, and also…
… IT ATTRACTS FLIES!
I’m sure of it. We’re coming into a typical Australian summer now, and the flies are going to be bad this year. I’ve noticed on days I wear a scent, the flies bother me much, much more.
I love the way my boyfriend naturally smells. He asked before if he should invest in cologne…I put the kibosh on that, let me tell you!
However, whatever he uses to wash his face at night mixes well with his natural scent, so that can stay. 
Clean is good. Alternatively and if you have a good excuse, clean-sweaty is also good (as opposed to, say, bar-smoke-sweaty).
My brother once asked me “why do girls always buy fruity shampoos” and I told him they just smell nice to us. But they don’t seem to react the same way with man-skin, so no fruity shampoo.
Your toiletries are likely to be scented already; most aftershaves have a “fresh” scent that’s nice. Check them out before you go and buy anything else. And please if you buy a cologne don’t shower in it, ok?
I dated a man who wore Eau Sauvage, and I loved it. But generally I’d say skip the cologne.
Old Spice for sure…just let me get close enough to catch a wiff…real close…not so’s I can tell you’re coming down the street from two blocks!
It depends on your natural scent. Some men have a scent that is enhanced by cologne and some should avoid it. My ex smelled like tortilla chips naturally and cologne mixed with that was gross, but by itself it made me want to lick him all over. Guess which one he tended to pick?
Unstinky, either natural stink or from a bottle stink. Please.
My sweetie does not like to wear scent, which is okay because he generally smells pretty good.
But I have a guilty secret - don’t tell anyone, but I go absolutely weak in the knees at a whiff of Brut. It must be something from my distant past, but there’s something there that makes me crazy! Of course, no one wears it anymore, which is probably a good thing in my case, but it’s nice to know they have a deodorant. Maybe I’ll pick up a case or two for my sweetie!
Bottom line: if a man wears a scent, it should be “discovered” – not announced.
If a man wants to get close to me, he better be wearing no cologne. Ick.
Seconded, especially no body spray; we did a poll here a while back and more than 95% of women who responded hated the way they smell.
Scented soap, scented deodorants or aftershave (used sparingly on the last one) are all fine, though.
I’m the same way with [guffaw, guffaw] English Leather. My first lover wore it, and I’ve been fixated on it ever since. Thank goodness he didn’t wear “Hai Karate.” Yick.
My girlfriend says I smell nice. Here’s what I smell like:
[ol]
[li]Dial for Men - I like Dial because it’s antibacterial, so that’ll get rid of a lot of bad smell right there. They have a new For Men line out that smells pretty good, and the first time I used it, she loved it.[/li][li]Old Spice Deoderant - I found a 4-pack at CostCo a few months ago, and, once again, she loved it. I think it’s called Aqua Reef, or something stupid like that. They all smell pretty good.[/li][li]Suave for Men 2-in-1 Shampoo - What can I say? She loves the way my hair smells when I use this stuff. I developed a little dandruff a few weeks ago and started using some Head and Shoulders, and she was very disappointed that my hair didn’t smell like the Suave.[/li][/ol]
I only wear cologne when I’m wearing a suit, and then it’s Nautica used very sparingly. Just a spritz or two in the air in front of me and I walk into it. I picked it out by, like some other ladies said earlier, getting a girl friend of mine to smell a few on me at a department store and telling me which one to get.
Oh by the way, I’ve been told many times that the worst smell on a man is bad breath. So make sure you brush you teeth and use mouthwash.
My wife likes some colognes; her favorite is Fahrenheit. Most of the time I don’t wear cologne though. The deodorant she likes is Right Guard Cool Peak. Of course, even if I don’t wear deodorant, as long as it’s relatively fresh sweat, she actually likes it. I thought she was quoting Pulp Fiction but she came up with, “I like the way you stink,” all on her own.
Maybe I get the freaks, but she’s not the first woman I was with who occasionally sniffed my pits and liked it. Maybe it’s pheromones, I dunno.