MAN! KNOW YOUR SCENT

Guys! for men-on-the-street like us I guess you share my sentiments when come to scents.

Thinking of smelling good for your dates or for whatever reasons, walking up to perfume counters we will be very intimidated with many brands, many types of scent. Cologne, Eau de tilette(EDT), Eau de parfum(EDP), Perfume Extract and etc...

Leaving aside those couture's and over-the-top people, for us it's kind of shocking to wander around the counters, testing one another bottles and yet can't make up ur mind what to pick right! might be not for you but it's true for me. Aha! and mind you, I won't know the fragrances well but I don't wanna get too a common scent that every Tom, Dick and Harry wearing them. You know what I mean? For example, like a certain CK perfumes.

Let's see what's the specialist gotta say about having the right scent for us, men.

A brand manager of Designer Fragrances revealed in URBAN MAN that men often waste their money by wearing fragrance incorrectly. I was smiling to myself when I read this. "Paring their perfume with aftershave, shower gel, soap or hair spray in different scents that obscures the main scent r even spawns a new, unpleasant smell!"

Guys, let's get the scent right and feeling good even smelling own self OK! read the conversation that URBAN put up for us.

Q: What is the right way to wear a fragrance?
A: The traditional way is to put a couple of drops on your hands and pat onto your neck. You can also dab or spray it on pulse behind the ears and knees and on the wrist. Stick to two sprays or dabs, max.

Q: Do I still have to wear deodorant?
A: A cologne can only mask body odour(BO), while deodorant prevents it. If you have BO, a deodorant should be an essential part of your personal hygiene regime. To prevent a clash of scents, use a scented deodorant from the same deodorant from the same fragrance line, or fragrance-free variety.

Q: How often should I reapply my scent?
A: About every five or six hours, but more often if you perspire a lot. One way to make cologne last longer is by layering it with a shower gel or soap, deodorant and after shape from the same range. It will create a subtle, yet lasting scent.

Q: Should I change my fragrance for day and night?
A: Lighter fragrances or Summer versions with citrus notes like bergamot and orange are better for daytime and hot climates. A woody, heavier scent containing wood and amber will stand out better in a smoky bar or crowded nightclub.

Q: What can I wear on a hot date?
A: Look for fragrances like DKNY Red Delicious which has sensual ingredients. Vanilla is said to encourage intimacy, ylang ylang has aphrodisiac properties and tuber rose can you make you feel heady and happy.

Q: Help! my cologne gives people a headache.
A: Change to a more subtle fragrance or use less. Instead of applying cologne to the neck area, bad some behind the knees-It's less likely to overpower people because the smell with waft upwards. If it's your colleagues who are complaining, a bowl of coffee beans on your desk helps absorb the scent.

Q: Find a scent that suits me?
A: Other than going to a fragrance counters for a sniff test, most brand hold workshops for customers.After finding out what is your current scents and life style, a fragrance consultant uses the information to select a range of perfumes for a blind test.

Q: Can I wear my girl friend's perfume?
A: Yes if it contains unisex notes like orange, lemon and begamot. Estee Lauder White Linen is targeted at women, but it's popular with men who like its clean, crisp notes. If you are worried about smelling "feminine", stick to perfumes with fewer floral or sweet noted and more musky qualities.

Q: Should I change my fragrance as I get older?
A: For a mature and serious vibe, try a spicy and woody cologne.If you prefer a youthful, vibrant image, choose a lighter cologne with more citrus notes.

Q: Should I wear scent every day, or just for a special occasions?
A: while people may not be able to tell when you are not wearing cologne, they probably can when you do.And if wearing a fragrance helps to lift your mood and help you feel good, why not make it a daily luxury.

* Cologne : The lightest type of scent, with concentration levels of 3 to 7 percent. Dab it on after a steamy shower. Last one or two hours.

* Eau de toilette (EDT) : Stronger concentration of 8 to 14 percent. Tips, squirt into the air ahead of you, walk through the mist for a clingy, subtle aroma. last two to four hours.

* Eau dee Parfum (EDP) : Splash on pulse points such as wrist or neck. Concentration : 15 to 18 percent. Lasts four to six hours.

* Perfume extract : The most intense concentration of 18 percent and above: pong at its most powerful. Dab it on a pulse point. Last six to twelve hours.

AVERAGE JOE.....YUP! IT'S ME..

Yup! I am no fashionista nor a fashion victim but just an average Joe with average look. A commoner with no deep pocket to splurge on designer labels, high fashion..

And before I say anything you might get the hint that I want to look good in my own right.
C'mon! who the hell on earth would say "na.. na...I don't care how I look? Tell me my next door uncles did not try to match his pants and shirts? Not the least matching the colours of his attires? Did he went to the neighbourhood shop just pick any shirts or pants without looking at the prints, the sizes?, the colours? I bet! And yes say he selected the right size that might fit on him? The colour that might not work against him. So, do we still say he do not want to look good in his own way?

Why uncle? why not young punks in your classic example you might say! Yup intentionally! I just want to tell you that not just fashionistas, not just fabulous guys with million-bucks pockets wanna look good. Any Tom, Dick and Harry are knowingly or unknowingly want to look good. Don't deny it.

So what the heck I am talking about? Why title this post "Average Joe?" It is like this boys!

I have ou, my loyal readers who will like and will read whatever I write. And those gurus and seasoned fashionistas, stylists might stumble upon this blog by chance and some of them might have some negative impression on this blog or on my personality. They might go..."Yo! you mad man.. what do you know about style and fashion world? What authority do you have to write such couture's affairs associated only with finer class??

I am saying this not that I felt inferior or feel insecure but just understand the human nature. And it is inevitable I will encounter nasty remarks while getting cheers from you kind readers. So, I just want to make public that I am prepared to accept them and will continue to write and share what I know.
And you read them online or buy a fashion or style related magazines from news stands. What do we see? The revenue-minded or rather profit-driven magazines only put pricey stuffs on their pages and we could only drool and dream of owning a piece of them. Want to go on shopping spree after seeing them on glossy pages? don't even need to think twice that we couldn't. Oh ya.. if only we are prepared to part with our whole year salaries.

I realize something that actually there is no magazine in this world that have the readers' interest. No more the magazines that weigh the balance sheets and the informative, educative sheets. What the publishers have in mind? Revenues! Profits! Advertising Dollars! Getting their columnists get down the streets to discover the more affordable brands for ordinary folks? No way without $$$. No free Advertorial. Well what we can expect, since all these magazines are published by profit-oriented businessmen after all.

So why these magazines are still thriving if they just published those branded items that far beyond we commoners' reach? I can think of this. One, we couldn't buy the real merchandises so we bought magazines to day-dream dressing ourselves with those clothes we see on them. Or are we not the right audiences that these magazines are for?

Well! for me I will continue to read those not meant for me and working hard to afford those stuffs. They are pricey but they are really nice. A lot of hard works to create them. And I will share with you those who keen to know(Especially celebrities from my country who bought expensive stuffs but mismatched-dressing them and became bad dressers).

At the same time, I will try to feature affordable items that I see, I bought and those information that some readers sent to me.

And ya.. hopefully, those brands get wind of my blog and want me to write about their designs and take photos to feature them here.

And ya... take a look at my photos. The Loafer, the Polo and Jeans are less than $100. The most expensive stuff is the watch and that is also just about $ 150. Oh...no my Oakley Shade...Anyway ..Don't you think they are stylish too..? I went for lunch appointment with a lady friend with this attires on a hot sunny day.