A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your Signature Aftershave 

For many men, the world of mens fragrances is an overwhelming one. There are many choices, often expensive, and the branding doesn’t do much to tell you about what kind of smell you’re getting. 

This leads many men to stick with same deodorant or body spray they used as a teenager. Which is fine, if that’s what you want. However, if you’re reading this? You probably want more. You know that building a signature set of smells for yourself is a true mark of adult refinement, even if you don’t know where to start. Well then, this article is for you. It’s a branding-free, no jargon guide to how you can pick mens aftershaves you like – that show the character and style you want, without spending a fortune along the way. 

Fragrance Families and What They’re For 

The simple place to start is the four scent families, and what kind of profile they offer. There are four major options that cover the majority of men’s fragrances and aftershaves. These are:

• Amber
• Floral
• Fresh
• Woody

Amber scents, formerly and traditionally called oriental scents by Western perfume makers, are rich and spicy. Think vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spicy, deep and wintry smells. They give off a more masculine, sophisticated vibe, ideal for evenings and colder weather. 

Floral aftershaves use exactly the kind of scents you would think – flowers. Traditionally more feminine, modern men’s fragrances often mix these with woody or amber scents to create a complex aroma that suggests many things at once. Floral scents are elegant and performative, and can signal confidence in a man’s feminine side – if you’re that way inclined.

Fresh scents are sharp, zesty and vibrant. They use things like citrus, and are often light and fruity. These suit daily wear during warm months, and give off an energetic, bright vibe. 

Woody scents dominate the mens fragrances market. Rich, grounding and deep, these scents often signal masculinity as they are slightly more primal and earthy than the other scent groups. They can suit any time of day or night, as they can also be quite subtle when applied properly. Key notes include, of course, woods like sandalwood, cedar, patchouli and oud, which are all common in these kinds of scents. 

The Art of the Free Sample – A Simple Way to Find Your Scent 

So – those are the key groups, and what kind of vibe and style they suit. However, they’re just words. No blog post can truly describe the smell of great mens aftershaves. So how do you know what your fragrance is?

Well, a simple way is to try before you buy. Traditionally fragrances were only available to consumers in big bottles, and the small tester vials were exclusively for shops. But that is no more.

With websites like www.fragrancesamplesuk.com, you can get fragrance samples of top scents delivered to you for a fraction of the price of a full bottle. You can then try out popular and premium aftershave brands, or have a rotating cast of options while you build your scent profile, without having to commit to a full bottle until you’re ready. 

As well as online ordering you can also try fragrance samples at high street or department stores. However, they’re not as common as they once were – and you don’t get to keep the sample bottle to try at your own leisure.

The 3-Step Rule and Test 

Once you have acquired your chosen fragrance(s), it’s time to try them out. Sample bottles often come with a card blotter, which you can spray some on and sniff to see if it is acceptable. 

Unless you really dislike the smell, then give it a try on your pulse points. Your wrist, your neck and the crook of your elbow (under your clothes). Try not to rub the skin after too much, as it can break apart some of the delicate fragrant molecules of the spray. 

After you’ve applied it – there are three times to judge men’s fragrances:

1. The initial burst, or the top notes, which is the first 15 minutes
2. Heart notes – the smell you catch a little of a few hours later
3. Base notes – what you can still smell on your clothes or your skin at the end of the day

The top and base notes are arguably the most important. The initial burst is what people will smell if you run small errands or meet someone quickly after applying. The heart notes last longer, and are more subtle. But the base notes are what people will begin to associate with you and your scent. You should only commit to a whole bottle, after trying fragrance samples, if you are consistently happy with the base notes. 

Obviously loving all three is ideal, but the base notes are the most important for defining your signature aftershave and style. 

Once you’ve found a fragrance you like you can look up the ingredients and base notes, and experiment with others that have different combinations to refine your scent for different occasions. Simple.