sensitive but unsophisticated nose

My sense of smell is very strong (I tend to react strongly to scents) but I've never trained myself to pick out which scent is which in terms of multiple scents overlapping the way they do in perfume. I don't know if that made sense or not, but basically, it means that while I'll react very strongly to perfumes, I can't translate a written description into a practical understanding.

So, anyway, I've decided to give wearing cologne another shot (many years after a failed experiment involving girlfriend, Calvin Klein's Eternity, and nausea). I keep running into the same problem with every scent I try: they all smell really chemical (for lack of a better term), like to the point where I have to spend 10 minutes in the bathroom scrubbing away with soap to get rid of the stench or I wind up with a headache.

For a specific example: I got two samples of Hanae Mori EDT (one black, one white). From what I've been able to gather, the black was men's, the white was women's. They both had similar qualities to the scents, but while the women's smelled divine all day long (alot like cookies actually), the men's version started smelling really chemically and gave me a headache.

I think the women's HM may be a bit too feminine for me, but I was hoping someone might be able to help me figure out what it is in all these men's fragrances that's driving me up the wall, and maybe point me in the direction of a scent that I can not only survive wearing, but also enjoy it.

Sorry for the long rambly post, but any suggestions would be incredibly appreciated.

I've got three sets of samples from Geo F. Trumper, Trueffit and Hill, and Taylor of Bond Street, all of which have that nasty chemical tang to them, even their sandalwood scents, which is a smell I normally love, but they've done something to it which makes it unrecognizable.

Unfortunately I didn't think to write down the names of the fragrances at the perfume counter that I didn't like. They did give me a few samples though, I've got Chanel Allure Sport, DSquared wood, and Azzaro Chrome. Those three actually weren't that bad, the chemical portion wasn't too strong, but definitely was there.

I do have an aftershave balm of Burberry's The Beat which I like, but it doesn't last long... is there some checmical process involved in making cologne specifically as opposed to that balm that would create this chemical scent? I did try the Beat cologne, but I wasn't that impressed with the scent, but I will admit that it didn't give me a headache.

You're absolutely correct about everything being 'chemical'. I wasn't really happy using that as a description, but I couldn't think of a better way to describe it... maybe I mean that it doesn't smell natural... sort of medicine-ish... I'm not sure. I wish I could be more specific for you guys, but I just don't have the vocabulary. I definitely do notice the alcohol in the fragrances, but that tends to go away pretty quickly, so I don't think that's what's bothering me.

I just looked at the Perfumed Court site... WOW!! I didn't know you could buy samples... I guess I thought only stores got those. That's so cool! It's added a whole new dimension to this shopping journey. I hope I can reign in my collector's instinct (those $4-$5 samples will add up fast if I'm not careful).

I like the idea of and oil based perfumes. Would that mean they don't have the alcohol component? How do you know if a perfume is oil based or not?

Thanks again for the great ideas, guys. I can tell already this is going to be a lot of fun.

I just ordered a bunch of samples from The Perfumed Court, I'm so excited. The CB I Hate Perfume line sounds amazing, I can't wait to try it. I'm also picking up the Bvlgari Black along with a few others that I've heard good things about. I looked at the Ayala Moriel oils, but I think they're a bit out of my price range.

Those Perfumers' Apprentice kits look really interesting, too.

Thanks a bunch for all the great suggestions guys. I really appreciate it.