Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I'm a girl who generally CAN'T STAND the smell of men's fragrances. I find most of them so strong I want to choke. Not nice. There are a couple I like though. My ex-boyfriend used to wear Hugo by Hugo Boss and it was pretty nice. I really liked that one.

My dad always just asks "smelly stuff" at Christmas etc as well which is a nightmare for me to buy seeing as I hate most men's fragrances. Last year though I totally fell in love with One Million by Paco Rabanne. Literally the best men's fragrance I have ever smelt. It's amazing.
 
have you thought about blended essential oils instead ?

tend to smell less intense , just a hint when close to person.

Sandalwood, cinnamon, wintergreen etc.
 
Woman's advice: Less is more. Nothing beats just a fresh body.

That said, there are some colognes that I find yummy. "Weekend" and "Touch", both by Burberry although Weekend is more for a hot summery day. Touch is more everyday.
 
have you thought about blended essential oils instead ?

tend to smell less intense , just a hint when close to person.

Sandalwood, cinnamon, wintergreen etc.

I did try that but my skin reacted badly. My sister told me I should have diluted the oils with something else beforehand... this was years ago, mind. Great idea though so long as it's not patchouli.:D

So here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to write down (copy and paste) all the suggestions here and see if I can get samples of them this weekend. The only way to really get a sense of these is to try them out.

Has anyone ever tried this very realistic rain fragrance? I came across it a few years ago and really liked it although I didn't try wearing it.
 
Bottom line: I've NEVER worn cologne for any extended period. I had a girlfriend once who liked a particular scent (can't remember which one), but I had to wash it off after a few hours. It just irritated my olfactory senses too much. I'm extremely sensitive when it comes to smells so I'm wondering if there is a cologne out there for men that is fairly mild.

They get wet for my Polo Black...
 
I did try that but my skin reacted badly. My sister told me I should have diluted the oils with something else beforehand... this was years ago, mind. Great idea though so long as it's not patchouli.:D

yeah

you have to dilute them 1:10 in carrier
except lavender that one OK to use as is.

I mix lavender, clary sage, rosemary in almond oil for body cream with a hint of scent.
for men sandalwood or lemongrass are good and if have the $ a little of ambergris too.
 
Givenchy Gentleman and Royal Copenhagen are two of my long-time favorites. The ladies love them so much, my wife won't let me wear them unless she is around.

A good way to sample popular contemporary colognes is to buy a Men's Health magazine. It is full of samples (the folded pages that you lift up to get the smell).
 
I lived near Grasse in France for a while, and there are lots of parfumeries there. I brought back a stash of Concerto by Fragonard that I really like, as well as M by Molinard. I think you can find both of them online here in the States.
 
Why electroshock doesn't do cologne

I once was given a large jar of cologne as a gift many years ago. Not being familiar with cologne at the time, I didn't realize how strongly scented they normally were. Oops. I got a few unflattering comments, let's put it that way. :D

Fast forward years later. Having forgotten about the strongness, having not used cologne since the first and only time years before... I splashed some on, not realizing how strong it was. More unflattering comments ensued at a community event. I got mad and went home to take a shower to get rid of it then went somewhere else that evening.

So, that's the only two times I've worn cologne. I think it's just often too overpowering by default to be worth wearing. Aftershave is about it for me. :D I do look forward to seeing recommendations for mild colognes, though.
 
So here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to write down (copy and paste) all the suggestions here and see if I can get samples of them this weekend. The only way to really get a sense of these is to try them out.


With the Armani Mania I recommended, it really does smell brilliant, however spray it on your skin (such as your arm). After an hour, smell the area you sprayed. I think you'll agree it's a lovely aftershave!

I am uncertain if this comes in EDT and aftershave form. I have the EDT, which is stronger than the aftershave. This fragrance is not very strong though.
 
With the Armani Mania I recommended, it really does smell brilliant, however spray it on your skin (such as your arm). After an hour, smell the area you sprayed. I think you'll agree it's a lovely aftershave!

I am uncertain if this comes in EDT and aftershave form. I have the EDT, which is stronger than the aftershave. This fragrance is not very strong though.

Thanks for the tip. I'd forgotten about after-shave. I don't use it - never have. I use witch hazel instead. No scent, no burn, no irritation, and cheap.
 
Perhaps instead of a spray bottle get the other kind, the after shave bottle top where its not a spray, just a dab. Maybe make your own as someone else said.

I use aqua di gio and acqua di parma. Never had anyone complain that I was wearing too much. I don't like it when other people know I am wearing something, besides when they are close. I hate when someone walks by and you can smell them from feet away.
 
Surely says:

I once was given a large jar of cologne as a gift many years ago. Not being familiar with cologne at the time, I didn't realize how strongly scented they normally were. Oops. I got a few unflattering comments, let's put it that way. :D

Fast forward years later. Having forgotten about the strongness, having not used cologne since the first and only time years before... I splashed some on, not realizing how strong it was. More unflattering comments ensued at a community event. I got mad and went home to take a shower to get rid of it then went somewhere else that evening.

So, that's the only two times I've worn cologne. I think it's just often too overpowering by default to be worth wearing. Aftershave is about it for me. :D I do look forward to seeing recommendations for mild colognes, though.

Maybe you just need to learn how much you should be wearing? Splashing it on is just a bad idea.
 
My boyfriend's cologne smells amazing.. Too bad I don't know what it's called.. All I know is that it's by Calvin Klein, so that's a lot of different smells.. Go smell them all and pick the one that smells so good :D
 
Maybe you just need to learn how much you should be wearing? Splashing it on is just a bad idea.

Yeah, but that'd be more useful if I ever found any halfway decent cologne that I liked. :) So far, haven't. No great loss.
 
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon

That's the one the EPA recommends not having open flame nearby when wearing that one, right? :D

Laughed to tears at that whole scene, especially the quotables: "What is that? Smells like a **** covered in burnt hair!" and "It smells like Bigfoot's ****!" ;)
 
Water based colognes are usually milder/not as strong as oil based colognes. CK and Nautica have a few fresh/mild colognes. My personal favorite is Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani, not very strong and smells fresh.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.