Men's Colognes that make you confident aren’t a myth – they exist, and there’s one out there for every man.
Why should you make your scent a priority?
Did you know that our smell is the first sense activated after we’re born? That as humans we can literally smell emotions, from fear to – yes, confidence?
Scent plays a much bigger role in our psychology than we realize. It can subconsciously impact or emotions, behavior, and alter how others perceive us.
It’s for this reason that today we’re introducing you gentlemen to ten men's colognes that will make you more confident.
The Science Behind Scent
Perfumery is an art as old as history itself and has played a significant role in social culture since 1,000 BCE.
How does it work?
There’s chemistry involved, but it all boils down to the rate at which molecules evaporate into the air.
The denser and more stuck together the molecules are, the slower they’ll turn into gas.
Colognes usually contain variations of the following scents:
Head Notes are lighter molecules that evaporate quickly, releasing the first wave of the scent.
Heart Notes form the next layer – not quite heavy, but take a little longer to evaporate.
Base Notes form the densest layer of molecules. These notes linger for hours are taking much longer to evaporate.
By manipulating these we get thousands of different scents. What we care about though, are men's colognes that make you more confident. How does this all figure in?
Fragrances And Confidence – What’s The Connection?
Unfortunately, gentlemen, there’s no such thing as a magic potion you can spray on that’ll instantly make you ready to take on the world. Fortunately, scientific studies have isolated key notes that directly correlate with what is brain perceives as confidence.
A 2007 study from Nara University in Japan found that a combination of floral and musky scents was responsible. Floral scents increased testosterone levels and aggression in men who associated the scent with the opposite sex.
Musky notes, however, had the adverse effect – They decreased testosterone and aggression in men while increasing it significantly in women who smelled it for the same reasons.
Florals excite us, but musk relaxes us.
In other words, as men, we’re wired subconsciously to back down to superior musk – scents like wood, tobacco, and leather. It’s the scent we use to dominate. All the while floral scents make us feel good on a personal level.
Your best bet for men's colognes that boost your confidence is to hunt down those with a combination of floral and musky notes. The balance is totally up to you and the message you want to send.
10 Men's Colognes That Will Make You More Confident
The world of fragrance can be overwhelming, but don’t worry. Here’s a list to get you on the right track.
Le Labo – ‘Neroli 36’ Eau de Parfum
This fragrance kicks off our list strong as it strikes a perfect balance between both categories. Launched in 2006, this line is strong in white floral head notes like orange blossom and mandarin. Heart notes consist of more floral jasmine and rose.
Its base, however, is offset by strong musky notes strengthened by tonka bean and vanilla. If you want the middle ground, gents, this is where you go.
Jimmy Choo – Man Eau de Toilette
Another option for the man who favors balance, but leans a little toward musk. It starts off with floral notes that are designed to be enticing to the wearer himself. It comes down to woodsy heart notes and gives way to a strong musky base with mossy notes.
It’s designed specifically to leave a lingering, masculine scent.
Dolce & Gabbana – Intenso Eau de Parfum
As the name suggests, the Intenso is designed with rich, deep scents in mind. Though it starts off with some floral basil and lavender, it quickly gives way to more notes of tobacco, hay, and bran.
It’s a little more on the musky end of the spectrum – but it’s perfect for men who want to draw their confidence by sending a message.
Jo Malone – London Basil and Neroli Cologne
This particular cologne is so stabilized that it’s been considered suitable for all genders. It introduces soft white floral notes that are leveled out by light musky base notes with earthy scents.
It’s perfect for men who want versatility as well as confidence – perfect for business casual styles.
John Varvatos – Eau De Toilette
When it comes to Men's colognes that make you ready to take on the world, this one is less compromising than the others I've talked about.
It’s dominated by musk – rugged heart notes with a base of leather, wood, and even some smoke. Reviewers tend to pick up the leather and wood as the most dominant notes, associating the fragrance with overtly powerful and outgoing men.
It’s also in the more affordable range. The regular edition usually runs for about $70, though limited editions can cost up to $120.
Creed – Tabarome Millesime
This fragrance has origins steeped in traditional masculinity. Its founder, a British politician, wanted a scent to reflect his love of cigars and brandy.
This doesn’t overwhelm the fragrance though, and it still manages to strike a good compromise between floral notes and musk. It leads with tangerine and bergamot before leaving a firm base of tobacco, ambergris, and leather.
Clive Christian – Original X
Clive Christian has some royal history backing it. Want a Men's cologne that will give you more confidence? How about one that Queen Victoria allowed to use her royal seal?
It’s an intensely musky fragrance – mostly wood and moss but rounded out by floral head notes of jasmine and Iris.
Get A Room – Confessions of a Rebel
Another well-balanced fragrance – this one opens up with floral & fruity notes of bergamot, grapefruit, and lavender.
We’re introduced with floral & fruity notes of bergamot, grapefruit, and lavender. Afterward, we’re left with a lovely foundation of cedar wood and cypress.
Penhaligon's – The Tragedy of Lord George
This brand has a robust line of fragrances, but this one stands out. It was designed to embody the classic quintessential Patriarch – Hence the name. As you’d imagine, it comes packed with musky notes on all levels. These include brandy, wood, tonka beans, and amber.
If you’re the kind of man that wants to let others know who’s in charge, then look no further.
Acqua Di Parma – Colonia
So far we’ve covered a few balanced and musk-dominant fragrances. However, this line focuses on the other side of the spectrum – floral. It comes packed with jasmine, lavender, and rosemary. Still, some light musk accompanies it in the form of amber.
It’s the perfect scent for men who want to entice themselves and prefer to take things easy.
Gentleman, I've covered a lot today – from the basics of fragrance to different variations.
Whether you’re a veteran of scent or new to the game, the list above is perfect for you to explore and discover Men's colognes that ‘ll help you become the man you know yourself to be.