Subtle Colognes for Men

In the final analysis, humans are more similar to animals in the wild than most people will admit. According to an article in Psychology Today, "physical attraction itself may literally be based on smell. We discount the importance of scent-centric communication only because it operates on such a subtle level" (http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200712/scents-and-sensibility).

Before the wealth of bath and beauty products hit this country early in the 20th century, people may have been more highly attuned to the natural scents of potential mates. These days, both men and women try a variety of colognes, scented bath products, after shaves and bath powders until they hit on the scent that they enjoy, and that is the scent, not their natural ones, with which the people they meet identify them.

A false scent of trust? Certainly. Yet polite society does not welcome many of the scents that humans naturally exude. Therefore, a strategy for men who like to smell good, manly, and natural without drawing negative attention to themselves is choosing a subtle men's fragrance which enhances rather than covers up his natural attributes.

Natural Product Colognes

One route for the man who does not like to conceal his identity with an artificial scent is to investigate the natural-based colognes available through companies such as Dragonfly Botanicals. Examples of their men's colognes which are mixtures of naturally scented herbs and flowers include:

• Rice Milk—a mixture of sage, subtle spices, and florals

• Woodland—a subtle blend of moss and yucca

• Ocean Mist—a clean scent of sweet fresh air

Another site offering nature-based scent concoctions with the added benefit of being hypoallergenic for the man with sensitive skin is hypoallergenicskin.com, which offers such subtle, light colognes as Out of Africa, a citrus blend.

No matter your choice of naturally scented cologne, you should base your decision on whether you find the scent pleasing, subtle, and whether it smells like you'd like to smell.

Men's Cologne Categories

Some experts contend that there are six basic scent classifications for a masculine cologne:

• Leather—smoky scents of birch tar and sweet oils

• Lavender—relaxing herbal scents from the lavender plant

• Woodsy—Cedar, rosewood, and sandalwood scents

• Spice—rich and exotic scents of cloves, cinnamon, pepper, bay, and others

• Citrus—fresh mixtures of lime, lemon and orange

• Fougere—blends of lavender, grassy scented coumarin, and oak moss

Depending on your taste and the result of blending any one of these scent groups with your personal chemistry, you can find a subtle scent to suit. The key to subtlety in your choice of cologne is finding the one that blends well with those natural scents even sparkling clean bodies cannot help but exude so that your cologne enhances rather than battles with your nature.

Mainstream Cologne Choices for Men

Here are some colognes you can easily find in your favorite upscale department store which advertise themselves as having subtle scents. The best way to shop for your new signature scent is to try it on--on the back of your hand or wrist--and see how it wears. This may take more than one foray to the men's counter because unless your nose tells you right away that a scent is not for you, it takes a few minutes after application for the chemistry of the cologne to begin working with the chemistry of your skin to create a whole new interpretation of what's in that little glass bottle.

Some suggestions of "subtle" colognes for you to try: Mens Cologne Sampler

• Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme by Giorgio Armani—the manufacturer describes this scent as a light and fresh fragrance with elements of orange, bergamot, persimmon, rosemary, jasmine and patchouli

• Clean Men—This scent is designed to help you smell fresh and clean with the scents of grapefruit, lavender, clove, lime, patchouli and musk

• Touch for Men by Burberry—Advertised as a light musky floral scent with undercurrents of white pepper, cedar, nutmeg and violet.

• Burberrys Summer Cologne for Men— Another light scent designed especially for hot weather.

Ask the expert at the cologne counter for other suggestions for a subtle men's cologne--there will be other choices for you to try. You have probably identified those categories of scent which you prefer--spicy, citrus, lavender, etc--which will provide a basis for choosing further colognes to try. If you are the outgoing sort, you might even ask the opinions of some nearby shoppers, since it is often difficult to judge what works the best for you, especially if your nose is overwhelmed with the variety of aromas emanating from the cosmetics counter.

Whatever scent you choose, another key to staying subtle is to use it sparingly with an eye for enhancing rather than overwhelming. Remember, the next new woman you meet could be the one, and if you mask the true you with too much cologne, she may not recognized you.