My deplorably faux-bourgeois life is oftentimes a game of tug of war between style and frugality. I mean, I’m a young professional on an entry-level salary, but I’ve got to look good, too. Right?
Right. Glad we’re agreed.
One way I’ve found to feel more dressed up without actually buying expensive clothes is simply by wearing nice cologne.
I don’t wear cologne every day of week, and I definitely don’t douse myself in the stuff. Nevertheless, I have developed a reputation with certain friends and coworkers for “always smelling nice.” (And as reputations go, it’s not a bad one to have.)
Dollar for dollar, I’d wager that cologne (and arguably, good grooming in general) makes a bigger impression than designer duds anyhow. A single designer shirt might cost $70, and it’s likely only trendy for a season or two. However, a single bottle of cologne might cost $50 and could last for two years or more.
I’m personally very fond of organization, so whenever I buy a new cologne I try to decide how and when I should wear it. Some colognes are suited to some occasions more than others.
You wouldn’t want to wear a heavy wool suit in the middle of summer, would you? No. You’d wear a suit made from cotton, or maybe not even a suit at all. Maybe a polo with khakis would be more fitting. It’s the same way with cologne.
I use three basic categories for cologne occasions, though a true fragrance snob might further subdivide by seasonality, trendiness, or who knows what.
Running Errands Around Town (Daytime)
These are my cheap, run-of-the-mill colognes. Nothing fancy, but you never know when Mister Right is going to be standing in line behind you at Blockbuster.
- Abercrombie & Fitch (discontinued)
- Adidas Moves
- Hollister
The Office
You should be especially careful not to wear too much cologne at the office, lest one of your coworkers gets a headache. That’s just rude, and bad karma. I opt for somewhat lighter-weight colognes at work, but that’s not a hard and fast rule (as you can see below).
- Banana Republic
- Burberry
- Burberry Brit
- Givency Pi
- Kenneth Cole Reaction
- Lacoste
Going Out (Nighttime)
This is when I wear the heavy, (dare I say?) sultry colognes from some of the snotty Euro design houses. Fun!
- Armani Mania
- Dolce & Gabbana pour l’homme
- Gucci Envy
What do you think? Do you have any favorite colognes not on this list? Or other considerations for wearing cologne?
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