Ever Get Lucky From The Way You Smell?
13 Comments Published by Alex February 6th, 2007 in Grooming, Romance, Sex. Share This
It’s amazing to me how the once-scoffed idea that a particular cologne or body spray could actually help or even guarantee that a man would score has come into vogue. Even as a kid, reading my dad’s Penthouse magazines, I knew that the sex musk body spray ads had to be total bullshit. As a society we must have become pretty gullible, because today the money behind such nationally distributed men’s products—and I’m thinking mainly about Axe here—is astonishing. One such commercial looked like a big budget Ridley Scott spectacular (attached after the jump).
We covered the subject of how to wear cologne a few months ago, but the question doesn’t seem to have been asked on the matter of its actual effect on the opposite sex in the field. Certainly it is better to smell pleasing than to stink of B.O. and garlic fries, but beyond just masking your natural stanky hide, have any of us noticed whether or not a particular scent has actually enhanced their prowess with the ladies?
The manufacturers of Axe come right out and state that if you wear their junk you will be chased through the streets by throngs of sex-crazed womenfolk. They never actually state that it smells good, just that it works…perhaps too well.
I seldom wear any noticeable scents at all, outside of some deodorant and whatever flavor they’ve put into my hair products. I have no clue if there are any particular fragrances or artificial pheremones that significantly contribute to one’s macktitude. However, I suspect that our readers might have something to say on the matter, so let’s open the floor for some comments.
The place to learn about cologne is http://basenotes.net/. Think of it as the cologne equivalent of Coffeegeek–a lot of snobs, but a great deal of understanding on the issue and a hell of a lot of good advice.
Personally, in the cold weather, here are some picks that I go for:
XS by Paco Rabanne–dirt cheap, original, and overall excellent for a day to day scent
Rochas Man by Rochas–chocolate and vanilla with just the slightest bite to it. A great way to grab someone’s attention in a crowded bar or club
M7 by Yves Saint Laurent–masculinity and lots of it. A very solid, strong scent that is hit or miss, but I love it.
Allure Homme by Chanel–fairly pricey, but one of my absolute favorites. Soft vanilla and light musk with a creaminess that changes as you wear it. Incredibly sexy, save it for a nice date
Ungaro III by Ungaro–discontinued, and its a damn shame. Rose and sandalwood, very dark smelling, perfect for a cold bleak day (if you can stand smelling a little goth!)
I make the distinction between cold and hot weather for a pretty obvious reason: in 0 degree weather smelling like a citrus stand or a beach will be pretty out of place, and summer scents tend to be lighter, so they have a tendency to not project in the cold weather. Conversely, heavier scents can become overpowering in the heat.
For application, don’t waste cologne on your clothes, you want it to warm up on your skin. Otherwise it will appear flat and bland, and won’t “drydown,” a term used to describe the way cologne changes as you wear it to highlight different notes in the scent as some of the lighter notes fade away.
All this being said, I wear cologne because _I_ like it, not to attract women. It’s a part of my aesthetic, and I change it according to what I feel like projecting to the world. I’ll put some effort into alluring women, but I won’t let it change the core of who I am–I’d never wear something that I didn’t think suited me just because I got compliments (L’Eau D’Issey, I’m looking at you. You may work for every other guy in the world, but you smell like hot garbage on my skin).
Aside from being horribly allergic to commercial perfumes, i find them really unappealing. Snips and snails and puppy dog tails…don’t fuck with the formula ;)
Just one girl’s .02
Bridgitte
i’ve found that it’s not going to make or break a deal, but smelling nice is just one more reason that a person can be appealing. it attracts people to kissing your neck, which is just awesome.
just don’t where anything they would advertise on TV or in a maxim magazine. i usually try to find boutique stuff so that i am likely the only person wearing it. right now i’m big on jo malone products.
My very hot, barely 20something exgirlfriend that I dated for about a year post-divorce made it very clear to me that a man with the right cologne had the power to send her into a tizzy. And that was certainly true when I experimented with this using what she identified as her favorite male colognes. Seriously now, need I say more?
I gave Eddie a bottle of Kieh’s musk that seriously drives women insane. We actually joke about it now–we call it “love oil”–bc girls cannot stop grabbing his crotch. i’m not immune to it either, though I’m not a big crotch-grabber.
It all started way back in middle school with Coolwater Cologne… I don’t know who started the trend (maybe Snoop Dogg). Then it evolved to Aqua di Gio, then Dolce & Gabanna. Now it’s Burberry. All the way along, I never overdid it but somehow had the right formula to drive the ladies wild (and by wild I mean they would notice the smell and comment on it).
I get a lot of compliments based on the Swiss Army brand cologne I wear. It was reccomended by my college girlfriend, and it’s never failed me. I couldn’t say if it was just a nice smell that was made nicer by a dose of my oh-so-charming charisma, or if it made my motor-mouthed jabberings seem funnier than they were. Either way, no complaints and many compliments.
Patrick, I use the Swiss Army cologne (I believe it’s called Altitude?) as well and I love it. It’s not overpowering and it always fetches me some compliments. It’s difficult to find sometimes, (which is probably more attributable to the backwater burg I live in), but it’s affordable and has always served me well.
I always thought the Axe ads were just a spoof on the idea that a cologne could get you laid…
Custom blending your scent is also an interesting trick, but takes experimentation and definitely light, light touches on all the spray triggers involved. An option best for those who actually possess a good nose for wine, and should only be attempted with caution by even the most confident of smokers.
Comme des Garcons makes a few really very interesting scents using non-natural odor profiles (burnt rubber, static electricity) which work surprisingly well, and Kenzo’s colognes are as magnificent as they are obscure. I was friends with a serious old-world heiress about fifteen years ago, and she always wore Kenzo for Men… absolutely unforgettable. I’ve been wearing it ever since.
A few months ago, I was at an open mic where a guy covered himself head to toe in Axe on a dare. we were standing at the back of the room, marvelling at the stink, when a guy came running out of a back room and said, “what is that smell?? It’s the most amazing and disgusting thing i’ve ever smelled.” So we know it works on dudes.
I gotta say, I never really got in to cologne on guys until I started dancing tango. in small, well-selected doses, it’s one of those things that makes me giddy hours later when I can smell it on my hand.
I wear acqua di gio most days. I think it all depends on the type of girl you’re looking for. I don’t think all girls swoon over some one wearing cologne, but certain types are more effect by it than others. One girl was telling me yesterday that it is a must for any guy she dates. Others have given similar praise about my choice, but I think it’s more just wearing cologne in general than actually the brand. I think the girly girl types see it as a definite benefit. IMHO it goes on par with dressing well. It helps bring a girl in, which is a crucial first step, but ultimately it is your personality and charm that will win them over. On that note, a drink or two to loosen up never hurt anyone.
I’m a 20 something not far removed from college, so your mileage may vary later in life. Basically, just go pick out a scent that you find pleasing (doesn’t hurt to bring a female along) and wear it. If you get positive feedback from those you’re trying to pick up, you have a winner. But for the love of God don’t break two rules:
1) it is not a replacement for a shower. The alcohol in cologne will only draw out that stench you are trying to mask
2) Do not take a bath in the damn stuff. You can wear it rather minimally and it shall do the trick. I’ve seen one guy actually go Johnny Torch while smoking because he was covered in the stuff, quite hilarious.
The one cologne that I will always have is made by Creed. Silver Mountain Water. Creed makes a ton of scents and alot of them are unisex. It’s expensive and not easy to find, but its has a great history.
I get comments all the time on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed_(perfume)