Men's cologne is one of the only culturally acceptable types of makeup enhancement for men throughout most of the world. As an emotional cosmetic, fragrance induces feelings and memories from deep inside our psyche. Close your eyes for a moment, and image yourself close to a special man in your past. What do you remember the most strongly? Was it the lingering smell of cigar smoke, whiskey or sweat? Whether you are buying a men's cologne for yourself or another, keep that image in your mind - scent memories are ingrained within your soul.
Types of Men's Cologne

The main fragrance categories are the same for both men's and women's scents. Although individual classification is a highly subjective process, the most common types are:
Floral
Chypre - woodsy or mossy
Fougere - fern
Marine - oceanic
Oriental
Citrus
Green

Men's colognes are commonly described with masculine marketing terms such as stylish, sexy, classic or outdoorsy. The most popular scents contain woodsy, citrus, fruity, and spice notes. Some men prefer to wear single notes, commonly found in aromatherapy oils.

In early times, men and women actually wore very similar fragrances. This tradition has emerged again recently with a variety of unisex fragrances on the market. Even though they are designed to be worn by a man or a woman, they can smell uniquely different due to the variations in female and male body chemistry.

Most men's fragrances are colognes. A cologne contains the lowest percentage of fragrance compounds, therefore it is a nice scent for men as it imparts a lighter background fragrance. Men's cologne is not as long-lasting, but instead is intended to be lavishly splashed over the entire body. Consequently, the prices tend to be less and the bottle size larger.
Brands

Men's cologne does not have the variety of brands found in the women's perfume collections, but there are still amble scents to choose from. Two worth mentioning are examples of the historic and the modern:
Old Spice

One of the best selling mass-market men's fragrances of all time is Old Spice. First launched in 1937, it is a spicy fougere with a woodsy earthy scent. Widely available and reasonably priced, this historic fragrance has certainly stood the test of time.
Michael Jordon

A signature celebrity fragrance attached to one of the most famous men of all time, Michael Jordon. A scent based on a lifestyle image, it uses new technology to create aroma blends. Combining individual scents to create an aurora of feeling, this cologne expresses smell clusters as aromas resembling the tropical beach air, coolness and the essence of a home run. All designed to symbolize the man behind the name.
Buying Tips

Fragrance is for your nose, as well as others. Keep this in mind while shopping for a men's cologne. Different scents draw out different emotions - some are invigorating, while others are more relaxing. Find the one that best suits your personality and mood. Most men utilize scent as a source of attraction and to cover up body odors. Fragrance manufacture's marketing teams promise all sorts of magic in a bottle, but the only true test is the nose. In order to find that perfect scent, try on a variety of colognes, taking that special person or a close friend with you. Don't just trust the scent in the bottle, be sure to always try it on your skin and wear it for about an hour before deciding. If buying men's cologne as a gift - unless it is already a scent he wears - buy it in small amounts.
Techniques for Maximum Performance

To gain the most from a men's cologne, keep the following in mind.
Avoid deodorant soap - as it is designed to remove all odors including cologne. Since it leaves a deodorant film on the skin, this will affect the cologne you apply anytime throughout the day. Instead, choose unscented or a soap from the same wardrobe as your cologne.
Coordinate your cologne with shaving cream and lotion. This will create a longer lasting scent collection.
Consider trying unisex cologne for you and your mate. Then you can keep the romantic smell of each other nearby, even when you are apart.
Avoid using men's cologne as an after-shave. Cologne is not designed to be applied on your freshly shaven face and it can cause irritation and stinging.