The Clueless Man’s Guide to Fragrance Application

Men dedicate themselves to become thoroughly familiar with matters of style. But real style—and making a good impression—demands much more than what meets the eye. There’s an oft-neglected value in smelling good and being pleasant in the olfactory sense of things. In this way, having a pleasant scent is a matter of going the extra mile and making all aspects of your life fragrant.

ROOM SPRAY

What is it? Scents specially formulated to linger in a room for an extended period of time.

What’s the best way to use it? Make sure to spray up and around, and not directly at your furniture, to avoid any stains or unwanted chemical reactions. Also, leave a slight opening when you do this, like a window left ajar, to avoid an overbearing room scent.

SCENT DIFFUSER

What is it? A small, mist-producing appliance that sets an ambient scent in a room.

What’s the best way to use it? Avoid electric diffusers or humidifiers, especially in tight spaces. Instead, opt for all-natural, reed diffusers (they're the bottles of liquid with a bundle of sticks in them). For larger houses, feel free to use different scents for different rooms, as long as there’s a general sense of continuity. It helps to consider the mood you want for each room, too.

SCENTED CANDLES

What is it? Candles made of wax, mixed with fragrance oils.

What’s the best way to use it? They help set a tone of intimacy in any room—for dinner or what comes after—and can be used in tandem with a scent diffuser if both are subtle enough. Also: because you only use them occasionally, it helps to store your scented candles away from heat or direct sunlight to preserve the scent.

DEODORANT

What is it? We shouldn’t have to tell you this.

What’s the best way to use it? At night, if you would believe. It’s more effective to apply deodorant at night to allow it to “set” into your glands more thoroughly. Applying deodorant in the morning, even after showering, leaves it vulnerable to being washed away by sweat since you tend to sweat during the day.

CAR AIR FRESHENER

What is it? Little accessories that emit a scent calculated for an enclosed space.

What’s the best way to use it? The only correct way to use an air freshener in your car is to keep it discrete. No matter how nice your car is, an air freshener dangling from the rear-view mirror or taking up space near the cup holder can be an eyesore. Keep your air freshener out of sight.

COLOGNE

What is it? Distilled oils and essences that make an effective personal scent.

What’s the best way to use it? First, find your preferred cologne. You’ll want something that you can stick to—a scent that’s as uniquely yours as your watch or brogues. In terms of application, the good old-fashioned twice on the wrists, once on the neck will do you good. Spray directly on your skin, and avoid spraying it on your clothes to prevent stains or fabric damage. Lastly, don’t buy into the “scent cloud” method of spraying into the air and walking through it—this is an utter waste of a fragrance.

CATCH-ALL ADVICE: The biggest and easiest mistake to make with fragrances whether on yourself, in your house or room, or in your car, is overdoing it. If you’re ever in doubt, err on the side of subtlety.

A good-smelling man need not look too far to find a fragrance label that suits him. An institution like Jo Malone London, whose perfumers have designed iconic British fragrances for over more than three decades, will do perfectly for harmonious personal and ambient scents.

Jo Malone London's scent products are also ideal gift options for the holidays. The selection caters to both men and women, and speak well of your tastes to a lady who knows her fragrances.

 

Jo Malone London is available in Greenbelt 5, SM Aura, SM Megamall, Rustan’s Shangri-la, and Rustan’s Cebu. Follow Jo Malone London on Facebook.