Why do you wear cologne?

[kirby1445]

When I first started collecting fragrances (right around two months ago), I had multiple people close to me ask; "Why the need for so many different fragrances?". And that made me wonder, why did I need so many different bottles? Am I trying to satisfy some sub-conscious odor-based memory or desire? Does a new smell make me feel like a new man? Do I need to really buy every variation of L'Homme? (That answer is an obvious yes). These are the questions that I have been thinking about as of recently, and I thought it'd be nice to gain some insight from the community.

I guess my question is, what is the draw of buying fragrances? Why the need for collections of 70+? And I do not mean that to be rhetorical. In the past two months I have increased my collection from 5 to 20, which has resulted in me having to recheck my intentions.

Now I know the obvious reasons that men wear fragrances; it makes us feel more confident, it boosts our sexual appeal, and men who actively wear frags typically have better hygiene practices then those who don't. So why so many? Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my current collection and I really like buying new ones, I'm just curious why you (the community) choose to collect.

If another member could thoroughly explain the reasons why they collect that would be much appreciated.

[cwill]

My only reason is because I am obsessed with smells. I don't know why, it started when I was very young. Not for any of the reasons listed above.

[lpp]

There are probably many reasons - but one wouldn't limit oneself to reading the same book over & over for the rest of one's days so why should fragrance be any different?

[hednic]

Simply because it gives me pleasure.

(2443)

[Redneck Perfumisto]

Why do I wear cologne? Same answer as hednic - it gives me pleasure.

Why do I collect fragrances? To give me expertise and deeper understanding - things which also give me pleasure.

If you know somebody who only golfs every once in a while, but who may actually consider themselves a golfer, they probably have their own putter. Next step up, a few clubs. A "real" golfer almost surely has their own set of clubs. But somebody who totally embraces golf has multiple sets of clubs - old ones, new ones, maybe some for travel, some that they gave away to friends and relatives when they got new ones, etc., etc. They probably keep clubs in the trunk of their car, "just in case". They take golf vacations, and even when they are doing something else, visiting a course is probably on the agenda.

Gun owners - very similar. To actually be proficient (and safe) with firearms takes effort and practice, and that means not just a single putter, if you really want to know what you're doing. There are even people who are analogous to Guerlainophiles, who can tell you the history of, say, Winchester lever-action rifles between 1850 and 1920, with names of inventors, dates, patents, calibers, ranges, numbers manufactured, etc. Which ones are classics, which ones are oddities, who used what, and so on. They are often people who write books, or who write source material used by books. Different specialties, too, very analogous to our own cults. Modern, classic, mainstream and niche. It's all there.

Anime - comics - home brewing - woodworking - knitting - general fashion - it's all there. What I find fascinating is how much human knowledge gets passed through these obscure channels, out of the mainstream knowledge base. However, I'm still waiting for the Perfume Channel on cable.

[The_Scentinel]

There are probably many reasons - but one wouldn't limit oneself to reading the same book over & over for the rest of one's days so why should fragrance be any different?

Simply because it gives me pleasure.

(2443)

I like both of these answers. I see it as interesting and another way to express myself. It is also a part of my grooming and hygiene routine; I spend most of my days in three piece suits and around a lot of people, so I see a good fragrance as something as important as choosing the right tie or a polished pair of shoes with a well-tailored suit.

[Tony T]

Basenotes
I use to have maybe 10 but it's the Brotherhood here..
Being able to give and receive knowledge from so many people worldwide..
Always searching for the next big thing..

My 1st real love was Chanel Allure..
Now we are buying stuff from Andy Tauer..
We know what he does but the rest of the world has no clue!!

[JamesBeach]

Art on the walls, plants in the garden, photos of travels, liqueurs in the cabinet. Perfumes are in that class of things we partake in not because we need them but purely because we enjoy them. Not everyone is compelled to collect, that's true, choosing instead to experience these things as they come across them happenstance. I subscribe to that notion for art and gardens and liquor but keep photos and perfumes close at hand. Pick and choose but rarely does a person appear to collect nothing, satisfied by their memories alone. I think, in a way, I'm envious of those people--I'd certainly be less weighted down by possessions if I were more like them! That said, some things bring me pleasure and I've gladly chosen to have them.

Collecting fragrances is decidedly less common but no less valid than collecting paintings or music.

This thread seems to be asking two different questions: The title asks why we wear perfume, but the body asks why we accumulate more than the average person. There's some overlap in the answers but insofar as you can argue one needs a perfume at all, it's much harder to argue one needs a lot of perfume. Suffice to say, I think many of us here abandoned ideas of necessity in justifying this pursuit a while ago!

[Trilby Lark]

Mood enhancement, creative expression, sex appeal.

[mike_d9]

No particular reason, it just make me happy for whole day.

[Darjeeling]

I don't. This just seemed to be a really fun forum filled with kind, creative and funny people so I just pretend so that I can be part of the community

[hedonist222]

Wearing perfume here is like how the Turkish have Hammams & the Chinese drink tea and the Egyptians smoke sheesha.

Just part of the culture.

I've been wearing perfume since as early as I can remember. 4 or 5 years old.

I'd always have a rotation of anywhere from 5 to 15 perfumes at any given time.

Its not a "its finished, you need to replenish'' culture.
More of a "you're at the mall, so you swing by the perfume shop to see if they have anything new".

Now I harass perfumers to keep releasing perfumes.

I don't. This just seemed to be a really fun forum filled with kind, creative and funny people so I just pretend so that I can be part of the community

I sort of knew it all along .

[Ken_Russell]

A variety of reasons in my case: favorable personal memories, simply enjoying the scent and its individual notes, the need to both expand my scent wardrobe yet also put it to some use, the admiration, fascination, interest for a certain fragrance brand and also the tendency to publicly admit it, the additional personalizing of my outfit by means of fragrances etc.

[sjg3839]

I enjoy the variation of scents. The way these fragrances smell. Enhances my mood throughout the day, while being a hobby that is very enjoyable. Compliments from the ladies doesn't hurt either.

[Rüssel]

Because I bought into the notion, promoted by the kind people who will take my money and give me their toilet water, that it's more fashionable to smell of perfume than of primate.

[Curly11]

This is an enjoyable thread because the answers to this seemingly obvious question are variable. I tend to agree most with lpp, hednic, and Tony T, and the answer from hedonist is interesting because of the cultural angle. My collection is small especially compared to some other BN members, but it is probably larger now than it was even one year ago. The short answer to this question is because it is satisfying to me.

[pluran]

Like there could be another f'ing reason ! I wear it because I like it ! It's an amazing smellable art that has no end. It's honest. I can always depend on it to make me feel a little better.

[döfä91]

First and most important is that i enjoy the smells of my favourite scents myself. A signature scent to me is the same kind of feeling like a guitar for a guitarist (i think so), in the best case scenario it can be part of the wearer's person.

Secondly i connect the smells of my certain classic scents to the valuable memories from my past.

[Beverly Hills Bad Boy]

For the Pure Excitement… And that unexpected whiff of sent in the afternoon… and no matter how bad the day is going…I tell myself damn you smell good!… and then I forge ahead in my conquest of the world

[ION-ONE]

Certainly these:

Mood enhancement, creative expression, sex appeal.

If one is feeling romantic / sporty / reflective - whatever - the scent can add an extra 5% like the icing on a cake. What also attracts me is the sheer simplicity of enjoying a good scent in a world that is more and more technological and fast-moving. There is also an element of navel-gazing, enjoying the luxury of spending a disproportionate amount of time contemplating ultimately irrelevant (to most people) questions.

[danieq]

I wear lots of different scents because I am a woman who loves variety. As to why scent, its just that I enjoy it.

[Primrose]

Simply because it gives me pleasure.

(2443)

Why do I wear cologne? Same answer as hednic - it gives me pleasure.

I wear and collect for the pleasure, too.

As for the number of scents I wear and own, it's like having a wardrobe of different pieces of clothing. One does not wear the same clothes day in and day out, so why wear the same fragrance?

[Ph8]

Here's Part 2 of a good doc that the BBC did.....Gives some of the reasons people wear cologne\perfume.....

[gooddeal123]

I wear different colognes because I am curious and I want to compare one cologne to another. Do you guys have favorite cologne?

[timdoeswell]

So my enemies and their sniffer dogs can't track me as easily.

[Wasatch]

For pleasure and to smell good.

[601red]

It's an amazing smellable art that has no end.

+1

Wearing some fragrances have a way of catapulting me to a certain happy period in my past...it puts me in good mood.

[Oproust]

I'm not sure why, but early in life I was fascinated with fragrances, usually the cheap stuff that your average guy wore in the 1970's. As I grew older, I noticed the powerful connection between the sense of smell and memories. That took me to Polo (and Proust). It reminded me of the forest where my family owns a cabin. Many great family memories are conjured up by that green bottle. From there, I became fascinated with just how many fragrances there are. When I discovered Basenotes, I realized that I was far from alone in my desire to delve much deeper into our collective passion (obsession?) for scents. For me, scent makes an already rich life even more memorable, similar to how the right spices make a favorite dish outstanding. Fragrance is the key to a whole new level of living. And ain't it nice?

[noirtomford]

Cuz i like to smell good

[gooddeal123]

I wear lots of different scents because I am a woman who loves variety. As to why scent, its just that I enjoy it.

I totally agree! Do you have a favorite scent?