How to Select Men's Cologne

Sniff out the right cologne

You're thinking of buying cologne for a man in your life, but you wonder which cologne he will like and which one would be the best to buy. Then, when you go to the department store to choose one, you see the huge selection of colognes and you are even more lost. OK, take a deep breath and relax. You can easily learn how to select men's colognes for every man on your shopping list.

Instructions

1. Decide how much you are willing to spend. Yes, money does matter because colognes vary widely in price. If you know what you can spend it will make your shopping easier. But do remember that you get what you pay for: Colognes that cost more last longer and wear longer than less expensive options.

2. Think about the taste and personality of the man you're buying for. For instance, is he an outdoorsy type? Then he might prefer colognes that have a woodsy appeal to them. It may even help to write down some of his personality traits: outdoorsy, trendy (i.e. first to try new products or a new style of clothes), man-about-town (dates a lot, parties a lot, socializes a lot). Take this list with you when you go shopping and show it to a sales clerk who can help guide you narrow down your selection to a few options that would fit his personality.

3. Check out his medicine cabinet. If you have no idea what cologne to buy him and you know he is picky, check out his medicine cabinet to see what he currently owns. Then you can at least purchase a cologne of the same brand. If you don't feel comfortable secretly rummaging through his things, just go ahead ask him what brand he uses.

4. Smell every possible product choice before purchasing. Don't buy on mere description alone; make sure there is a sample and take your time sniffing. Does it smell like something the man would like? And equally important, does it smell like something you would like? Most men are not too picky. If you like it, chances are, he will.

5. Remember the age of the man. Most older men still prefer the traditional colognes that they have been wearing for years. A younger man might like experimenting with newer colognes that have more exotic and sensual scents.

6. Consider a package of products. Many colognes are sold together with matching aftershaves, deodorants and even shampoos. If you can find and afford the cologne of your choice in a package like this, it's certainly a bonus because, not only do the products coordinate together, but they are products any man needs anyway.

Tips & Warnings

• Think about the man's tastes in other aspects of this life. Consider how he dresses, how trendy he is, whether he sticks with the same style of hair, clothes, shoes, cars and even how experimental he is with the foods he eats. These can give you more signals of his personality traits, which can be a major help in picking out a cologne for him.

• Never buy a cologne without smelling it first, even if it's a popular designer cologne.