How to Choose a Fragrance for a Man

Last Updated on: Tuesday, 31 August 2021

The perfect fragrance will leave a lasting impression and make you feel super confident. Here’s how to find yours.

For many men, finding and wearing a great-smelling perfume is something they like the thought of, but when they come to purchase a new scent, they realise they don’t know where to begin. If you’re new to the world of perfumes, it can all seem a bit overwhelming at first, but don’t worry. With a firm grasp of the basics, you’ll soon understand how to choose a fragrance for a man.

Our guide to the best spring fragrances for men is a great starting point if you’re looking for a new scent, but what if you have no idea which type of perfumes you like? Don’t panic – we’re here to share our expert knowledge and help you find a signature scent so perfect, it’ll feel like it was formulated with you in mind.

Pay Attention to the Notes

We’re not going to delve too much into how to decode fragrance notes right now, but having an idea of what they are will really help when looking for your signature scent. Fragrance notes are the ingredients that make up the scent and can be categorised as top, heart and base notes.

Top notes give you your first impression of a fragrance and evaporate the fastest; heart notes are the most dominant and full-bodied, and base notes are what remains once the scent has fully settled, about an hour after your first spray. Top notes are typically citrus or fresh notes, heart notes are usually florals, and base notes have the most staying power, such as vanilla, sandalwood or musk.

Consider Your Skin Chemistry

You may not have realised when searching for your signature scent that perfume smells different on everyone. This means that sometimes, even though you may love the smell of perfume on a friend, you might not feel the same way once it’s on your own skin. Figuring out how different fragrances will react with your skin chemistry requires experimenting with a range of perfumes.

Understand Fragrance Families

Finding the perfect perfume for you will require a bit of research, starting with the different fragrance families. Some scent families are warmer and heavier, making them ideal for the autumn and winter months, while others are lighter and work perfectly for summer days. There’s no reason you can’t have one signature scent for year-round wear, but it’s worth understanding which season it’s most suited to and why. This way, you can substitute it for something else should the occasion call for an alternative fragrance. Some of the key fragrance families you’ll likely see a lot of in your favourite scents are woody, oriental, floral, fresh, citrus, green and fruity.

Experiment with the Classics

There’s a reason why some perfumes are classics ­– they’re reliable, recognisable, and almost universally popular. If you’re unsure where to start on your fragrance journey, you can’t go far wrong by opting for a classic scent such as Dior Sauvage , Ralph Lauren Polo or Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male. Once you’ve experimented with some classic scents, you’ll better understand what you like and feel more comfortable choosing your next fragrance.

Decide on Your End Goal

There are many great reasons for men to wear perfume, but what’s the aim you have in mind for your signature scent? Consider what you’d like your dream fragrance to do for you and the kind of impression you’d like it to make on others. A smoky or musky scent is a good choice if you’re going for something sexy, whereas a citrus fragrance might be a good fit for active, athletic types.

Ask for Recommendations

A colleague or family member’s favourite scent may not be yours, but if you notice a fragrance you like on someone else, it’s worth asking them what it is. By noting down different perfumes you like, you’ll start to understand what these scents have in common.

Try before You Buy

The best way to decide on a signature scent is to try various options and figure out your favourites. It’s a good idea to sample perfumes before you commit, which is why at Feeling Sexy, we currently offer two free samples with every purchase of $50 or more. When testing a perfume, spray it on your pulse points and give it at least a few hours to decide how you feel about the smell. If you still love it when it’s been on your skin all day, it’s probably the one for you.