How men should wear / apply cologne.

One of the subjects I chose to study and be an expert on is basically “How to be a gentleman”.

Namely: know your manners.

Yes it is rude to wear too much cologne, and at times (unless you are allergic to it), it could be considered rude not to wear any.  If you should be making an effort to impress, like when on a date, not wearing cologne could send the message that you just don’t care.

So what’s the rule?

If you are wearing cologne, it should be immediately noticeable to you and only those whom with you are sharing an intimate space.  Basically only the people you hug.  If someone can smell your cologne from even a handshake away, you are wearing too much.

So how much is that? How do you get the right amount out of the bottle?

Spray (or drop) enough onto one wrist that it can be wiped onto the other and still wet enough to wipe both sides of your neck just under and behind your jawbone (at the TMJ). 

This may be one or two spays depending on the bottle, almost never three.

Only apply cologne to your skin, not your clothes.  Your cologne is supposed to mix with your body chemistry and enhance your scent.  It is supposed to smell different on you than it does on other people.  Remember that scent is the closest sense tied to memory.  You don’t want to smell like anyone in someone’s history.  That’s a gamble you don’t want.  Let the cologne from you be distinct.  That way you can develop your own memorable moments.