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Posts Tagged ‘Cologne’
Let’s stay awake and listen to the dark
March 8th, 2010Yves Rocher dies
December 28th, 2009Yves Rocher, founder of the cosmetics and fragrance firm that bears his name, passed away in France Saturday at the age of 79. His grandson will take over the Yves Rocher company. You can read more at France24.
Oh la la
December 22nd, 2009My Spanish is rusty and I can't follow the dialogue, but despite that (or perhaps because of it?) I love this commercial for Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's Oh La La fragrance.
The well-dressed rebel
December 17th, 2009Different Types of Cologne
October 16th, 2009Almost all men’s fragrances fall under the category of cologne, with aftershaves as an exception. Is cologne any different from perfume? Overall, not entirely, as both fragrances involve a combination of perfume oils and a solvent, which is usually ethanol. Percentage-wise, however, colognes fall within the two to five-percent perfume oil range, while traditional perfumes can have up to 40-percent perfume oil or aromatic compounds. The only fragrance less than is aftershave or “splash,” whose concentration of aromatic compounds is less than two percent. Although some cologne fragrance sets include an aftershave in addition to proper cologne, most men’s fragrances are more low-key than those designed for women.
Cologne, which originated in and is named after the German city, has a basic composition. Traditionally, colognes are either citrus or spice based, which explains why many current men’s fragrances have an amber-spice-lavender combination or smell distinctly of bergamot. Many colognes start out with a citrus template, and this covers lemon, orange, tangerine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit, and neroli notes, some fragrances with more than one for a distinct citrus body. The other option is spice-based colognes with notes of lavender, thyme, and jasmine included.
A cologne’s body is designed much like that for perfume, with a top, middle, and base, the latter of which appears even 30 minutes after you spray the fragrance. All three parts influence each other, with the top notes appearing first when you spray the cologne. Traditionally, colognes and perfumes come in the same classifications of single floral, bouquet, amber, wood, leather, chypre, and fougere. Leather and wood scents are more common for colognes, with patchouli being a variation on wood and tobacco a leather scent. With aqua and grass-scented colognes on the market, these traditional classifications have been expanded to include green, bright floral, aquatic, citrus, fruity, and gourmand fragrances.
Out of the various manufacturers for cologne, you’ll find some covering all of these classifications. Although many colognes start with a lavender-amber-spice template, many others explore green and floral notes in the body of the fragrance.
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Creed Cologne and Perfume – Upgrade Your Style
September 6th, 2009Many people tend to find a certain perfume or cologne that they think suits them best and stick with it for years, without paying attention to any other fragrances that may have popped up. Further, they stop paying attention to perfumes and colognes and find themselves “out of the loop” when it comes to news related to the perfume industry. Instead of staying on top of the latest trends, or even staying on top of the best fragrances for them, these people continue to smell the same as they did in college, or even high school.
However, in the same way that we slowly upgrade our wardrobes to look more respectable, we should also be upgrading our perfumes and colognes. As our financial security increases, we are able to buy better things, and we usually do. Why most people don’t keep this mindset when it comes to their scent is beyond me, as there are very distinct levels of quality when it comes to perfume and cologne.
While most fragrances these days are composed of synthetic ingredients that simply replicate odors, those of higher quality will contain the actual natural extracts-although this isn’t possible for watery scents and the like that can only be created in labs. Further, higher quality fragrances are made to last longer while not overpowering the nose with abusive aromas. They also carry on a tradition that has existed for centuries, creating a sense of timelessness that modern scents can never truly match.
Today’s poster child for high quality fragrances is the House of Creed. For over two hundred years, this private enterprise has supplied some of the most powerful people in the world with exceptional fragrances. No other company can rival Creed in its art or its tradition, having remained a family business for its entire existence and continued the ancient traditions first perfected hundreds of years ago. If you are looking to upgrade your scent, then a Creed cologne or perfume should be at the top of your list.
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If you think it’s time to move up from whatever fragrance you are using now and enhance your scent (and image), then you should definitely look into buying Creed cologne and perfume. Just like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. If you’re tired of smelling unnatural or immature, then you will probably find what you are looking for in one of the world’s most respected perfumeries. |
Dolce & Gabbana’s the One Cologne – One and Done?
September 1st, 2009While we men try to slap on some cologne before a wedding or a baby shower, our female counterparts take the time to lather themselves with the sweet smelling scent that makes our hearts fill with desire. Dolce & Gabbana’s The One has brought back the notion of the perfect cologne, to the days where chivalry and finely tuned men with tucked in shirts were all the rage.
For a cologne to be called “The One”, it must be pretty damn good, quite frankly. This sweet and spicy combination of scents consists of a dash of tobacco with pure garnishes of ginger, cedarwood, cardamom and citrus spice accord. This cologne, which was created by perfumer Olivier Pulge, packs a punch that will leave you wanting more. Just one spray will leave it lingering on your body for hours, even after you shower, creating a stimulating effect of aromas that is sure to please any female in the vicinity.
Just ask GQ Magazine, which rated Dolce and Gabbana’s The One, the number one cologne in the United States. With a simple maroon, wood finish on the cap and a spherical, crystalline exterior, the bottle design is simplistic yet dangerous. Once you take your first spray you’ll never want to switch colognes again, the effect is just so overwhelming it’s like an addiction to grilled chicken, healthy but a little weird.
Upon receiving this cologne as a Christmas gift in December, I now refuse to use any other cologne when my resourceful bottle is exhausted. The attraction from other parties is phenomenal, on a normal day I get everything from “Dude, you smell great!” to “Whoa, who’s smelling so good?” The gift set in itself is just another level of greatness; with the aftershave and the deodorant stick, there is no need for an over popularized and overrated “AXE effect.”
You may be thinking, how is this cologne so great? For one, the scent in itself will match almost any personality with no recurring effects. It fits everyone from the working businessman to the surfer catching waves on the California coast. So for all those female shoppers out there looking for the perfect scent for their loved one without wanting to be bombarded by fragrance specialists and their nauseating scents, this is simply one less thought out decision that will save you time and energy.
While seventy dollars for a 3.3 ounce bottle of this cologne may seem like a hefty luxury in these economic times, at bigdiscountfragrances.com, you will not pay these exorbitant prices for a designer discount cologne. Even the bottles that say tester on them is no different from the regular bottles, you’re just paying less for more of the same quality product.
5 Best Men’s Colognes of Summer – Staying Hot Amidst the Heat
September 1st, 2009Well, here it is summer time, and with it comes activity, beach visits, fun, travel, entertainment and more. As the season hits, the scents in the air slowly start to change, and for men, that means it’s time to whip of their new season’s cologne. Smelling good for summertime is a great way to start off such a fun season, so here is a list of the 5 best men’s colognes of summer for the guys out there who really want to shop for the occasion. There should be a scent on the list for anybody’s desires. You just have to figure out which one it is.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male is the first on the list of 5 best men’s colognes of summer, and it was launched in 1995. This cologne is filled with warm, manly scents, including mint, orange blossom and the woods. It is best used for casual wear and could be great out during a summer cookout or outdoor event. Another great scent that actually came around right about the same time is called Chrome by Loris Azzaro. It is best used during the evening when all of its scents can be admired in their best form. Ingredients for this cologne include bergamot, ivy, bigarade, neroli, lichen, cardamom, ginger, mate, rosewood and sandalwood.
Next on the top 5 best men’s colognes of summer list is Hugo by Hugo Boss. It was also developed in 1995 and works well in casual environments. Hugo comes in a unique container that looks almost like a canteen and features scents like sandalwood, pine needles, cedar leaves, and clove buds. It definitely has a woodsy feel to it that most women die for. Then there’s Blue Jeans by Versace which embodies the casual persona of cologne. It features scents of freesia, oak moss, cedar and sandalwood.
Last but not least is the sleek Armani Code by Giorgio Armani. The black bottle it comes in alone just screams sex appeal, and there’s no denying that when women come around. This cologne is perfect for a romantic summer evening with a woman. It features lemon, Tonka bean and olive flower and is definitely a cologne that all women will swoon for. You can dazzle your lady friends with any of the 5 best men’s colognes of summer though, and no matter what, they are guaranteed to somehow make your life a little better.
Perfumes and Their Affect on Self-Esteem
August 30th, 2009It is no mystery that scents, whether wonderfully aromatic or awfully fetid, affect our psyches, our emotions, our moods, our self-esteem, and our sexuality. Pleasant aromas can attract us to others we may not have otherwise been attracted to and to the contrary, poor smells (or lack of a pleasant smells) can repel us just the same. Now, why wouldn’t someone want to smell good and not only feel good about him or herself, but attract others to them as well? There is such a simple way to do this. A little finishing touch of perfume on the wrist or below the ear on your neck right, (or other places) before you leave the house is the way.
How many times do you find yourself spraying perfume on yourself before you go out? Why do you want to smell good? It’s because you know that appealing fragrances can make you feel good about yourself and can give you lifted self confidence and self-assurance. They can make you feel attractive and often give you the poise and belief in yourself to get out there and make things happen. The simple act of spraying on perfume, body spray or body mist can give you the extra confidence needed to go out and feel good on a date, do well at a job interview, or perform well during a presentation, for just a few examples. A simple spray can be so simple, yet so powerful.
What is it about a smell that can drive a person’s confidence level up so high or attract one person to another? Research has proved that the olfactory nerves of the nose are super sensitive towards a pheromone called alpha androstenal. Now, granted, this experiment was mostly done with pigs, but it was transferred to humans as well. One investigation revealed that men and women who wore surgical masks sprayed with alpha androstenal rated women in photographs as more attractive then did subjects in a control group who wore untreated masks. Continuing on this same path, in 1983, one major perfume manufacturer began to market a women’s perfume and a men’s aftershave containing alpha androstenal. They were quite successful in the selling of their product. What more needs to be said?
So, we have some empirical evidence that pleasant smells tend to attract humans to each other, and proven research is great, but did we really need that small tid bit of information to really know how perfumes can affect a person? Why not conduct your own experiment? The next time you go out, spray some perfume on yourself. Make sure not to douse yourself in it because too much of any good thing…well…isn’t such a good thing. However, spray sparingly after you’re dressed and ready to go out and go and have a great time! Observe how your confidence level is raised and how you feel about yourself while you’re out. Try to notice whether you’re receiving more attention or not. My guess is that there is no doubt you will feel great about yourself. Like buying a new shirt, dress, or even a great pair of shoes; perfumes have that same kind of affect! It just makes you feel good about yourself!
Don’t have any perfume handy? Try some good smelling lotion for the initial test. Although it won’t be as strong as will perfume, it’s only a test to prove to you what so many others already know. But you need to find out for yourself. After you have proven to yourself, that you not only felt more confident during your time out wearing a fragrance, but you found more people looking in your direction and possibly even talking to you, take the next step. Purchase your favorite , whether a floral, musky, woodsy, fruity, or sweet smell and be even MORE noticeable out there. Lotions may just not be enough to do the trick, but it’s a start if you are new to the world of fragrances.
If you need to just prove to yourself how you will feel and behave differently when you smell good, take the test using the lotion and it will be an almost guarantee that you will want to try perfumes next. Any pleasant discount perfume and cologne will indeed make a difference in how you feel about yourself, how you hold your body, how your posture changes, how you approach and talk to others, and even how you walk. Self confidence and self esteem are the keys to almost any success, and with such a simple way to gain a bit more than you already have or need, why not spray a little mist onto your person and get out there and conquer the world!
