How to choose a man’s perfume ?

Choosing a perfume for men is not an easy matter. You don’t choose it by chance. The ideal perfume is the one that matches your personality, your skin and your age. To make it easier for you, we suggest you follow our complete guide on perfume and finally succeed in your quest for your olfactory signature.

As a strong symbol of our image, perfume has a great unconscious influence on the brain. It is a daily beauty gesture, but it is also our olfactory signature that embodies our personality. 

Man has used perfume since the dawn of time. It was found in the form of a mixture of different plants or incense, which is the origin of the word “per fume” meaning “by smoke”.

Between the 5th and 15th centuries, perfume was used to combat bad odours caused by rare baths. The first real perfumes without fat and oil appeared only during the Renaissance, thanks to the discovery of ethyl alcohol. Little by little, perfume became widespread among the bourgeoisie. 

It was in the 19th century that the world of men’s perfume experienced a real revolution with the launch of Jicky by Aimée Guerlain. It is a mixture of musk and synthetic essences in a composition. Created for women, it was considered too strong. For this reason, it was given the name “Mouchoir de Monsieur” and became a men’s fragrance.

From the 1930s onwards, men’s perfume became more democratic. They start to use it widely under the pretext of the shaving ritual or to mask body odours. It is necessary to wait until between the Sixties and Seventies for the male perfume to become a real desire of personalization and originality. 

How to choose a perfume for your skin type? 

In order to choose your olfactory signature, you must take into account your skin type.

If your skin is oily, opt for fresher and lighter notes. As your skin produces a lot of sebum and has a tendency to intensify the aroma, your fragrance may become too heady. 

Men with dry skin should look for intense, woody or leathery notes. In order to make the fragrance last as long as possible, it is recommended to apply a moisturiser to the area in question beforehand. 

If your skin is matte, it means that it is perfectly suited to warm, musky, leathery and sensual fragrances. 

Do you have very fair skin? Turn to oriental and citrus fragrances to give your skin a bit of a boost. 

Depending on your skin type, you should choose the most suitable fragrance formula: an eau de toilette or an eau de parfum. The former is more discreet and is perfect for everyday use, while the latter, also called “essence” or “extract” is more concentrated.

To understand if the perfume is right for you, test it on yourself and wait 40 minutes. It is very important to test the perfume, as it reacts differently to different skin types. Many people are allergic or sensitive to certain substances. So test it on the arm or wrist and not directly on the neck or face. 

How to choose a perfume for men according to his age?

When choosing a perfume, age is an essential parameter, because your perfume must evolve with you and must represent the rhythm of your life at the moment. In addition, each skin has its own scent and specificities that change with time. The changes are conditioned by several factors, such as diet, lifestyle, medication, work or physical activity. Therefore, it is important to listen to your body and adapt your fragrance to your needs in each period of your life. 

3.1 How to choose a fragrance for men aged 20-30

Youth: the period of emancipation, freedom, the search for identity and first adult decisions. It is the most ambitious and romantic time of our lives. This is exactly what your fragrance should represent if you are a man in his twenties. Natural and light (but not childish), it should convey a certain maturity. Opt for fresh and invigorating fragrances to highlight your energy, your dynamism, your ambitions and your will to change the world. Therefore, favour perfumes with green notes that contain basil, aniseed or peppermint!

The period between 25 and 30, also known as the quarter-life crisis, is characterised by the search for oneself and by a certain uncertainty. Aspirations change and maturity sets in: the ideal time to test different fragrances and find the one that best represents your character. 

Fragrances with pungent, airy notes are ideal for a man between 25 and 30. If the goal is to emphasize sensuality and freshness, opt for fragrances with notes of rose and apple combined with burning cinnamon. Salty marine notes are perfect for 27-30 year old men looking for elegant freshness.

3.2 How to choose a fragrance for men aged 30-40

As a general rule, men in their 30s and beyond are more mature and assertive. He knows himself better and is more stable in terms of fragrances. This means that in this period there are no concrete parameters for choosing a perfume. It’s all a matter of preference.

If you are sporty and dynamic and want to emphasize your vitality and freshness, opt for aromatic notes. These are accords made with aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, aniseed or lavender. An oceanic, floral whiff would be an ideal choice. 

If it’s your virility you want to emphasise, think woody scents. These are scents extracted from cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli and birch. These elements add warmth and character to the fragrances and are perfect for a man in his 30s and 40s. 

3.3 How to choose a perfume for men over 40

From the age of 40 onwards, men enter a stage of assessment and deep reflection. He is more assertive, stable and self-confident. His perfume must give off a certain natural elegance. Therefore, he must opt for refined notes. In order to represent the natural charm that characterises this period of life, specialists recommend oriental, woody fragrances (amber with nutmeg, cinnamon or cardamom). If you are not a fan of woody nuances, opt instead for spicy notes such as vanilla with patchouli, sandalwood or vetiver. These are perfect for men in their 40s and 50s. 

How to choose a perfume for your personality? 

As perfume embodies your image, you should choose it according to your personality. 

4.1 How to choose a fragrance for a sporty man?

If you are dynamic, active, sporty, direct and unpretentious, you should choose fragrances with a certain freshness. Perfumes with nature-like notes and fragrances with aquatic, green and vegetal notes will suit you perfectly. Aniseed, basil and peppermint are sure to suit your personality. Perfumes with marine notes are also a good idea. 

4.2 How to choose a perfume for a stylish man? 

If you have a rather calm, emotionally stable, thoughtful and authentic personality, you will appreciate refined, chypre fragrances with woody moss scents. People who identify with this personality are often businessmen, politicians and leaders. In order to emphasize the rigorous side of their vigorous personality, it is necessary to choose a perfume strong in character, spicy and woody with animalic and intoxicating notes. Avoid floral, sweet or vanilla scents.

4.3 How to choose a perfume for a stylish man? 

Men described as extrovert, stylish and seductive, who like to take care of themselves and be the center of attention, appreciate rather gourmand and oriental scents, but also intense woody notes. If you find yourself in this category, you always want to leave a trace after your visit. That’s why we recommend deep, warm, racy and sensual notes with a strong trail. Cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg fragrances are ideal for your personality.

How to apply the perfume?

To make your perfume last longer, it is recommended to take a shower before applying it, as perfume does not last as long on dry skin as it does on wet skin. 

Keep the bottle about 10 cm from the skin and spray the perfume with light movements on strategic places. The perfume is best diffused in the “hot zones” where blood circulation is important, such as the elbows, the inside of the wrists, behind the ears and the neck. Also think about the hair! Be careful! Don’t overdo it and don’t overdo it! Many people spray on clothes, but perfume stays on the skin better than on fabrics.

Once you have applied the perfume, put it away in a drawer. Don’t keep it just anywhere, on the dresser, in front of the window. Keep it in a dark place away from heat and humidity so that it does not decompose. 

Is giving a perfume as a gift to a man a good idea?

Yes, giving a perfume to a man is a good idea for three reasons. It is an emotional, aesthetic and useful gift.

Almost all people wear perfume every day. First of all, everyone (or almost everyone) uses perfume every day. So it’s an object that you always need. Even if you haven’t finished your bottle of perfume yet, you’ll probably be happy to have another one. 

Men love perfume, but very often they don’t spend enough time to choose it. Therefore, it is a very good opportunity for the woman to show how much she cares about the person. In this context it can be considered as an emotional gift.

Giving a perfume as a gift is also a good idea because it is aesthetic. Most brands pay a lot of attention to the design of the bottles.

If you have decided to give a perfume as a gift to a man, be aware that it is also a bit risky. Don’t choose the perfume according to your own tastes and preferences, but take into account those of the recipient of your gift. Age, style of dress, personality, skin type: these are the parameters that you should use when choosing a perfume. If you don’t want to take a risk, refer to the perfumes he already uses. Do not stray from his olfactory family! For example, if the recipient of your gift uses perfumes with vegetal notes, you should not give him perfumes with sweet notes.