A woman should feel a mix of emotions when she smells a good cologne. Relaxed. Excited. Happy. Our sense of smell is one of our deepest pools of communication. The olfactory system is wired into the most simple and fundamental parts of our brain. It affects memory and mood more than any other. This is why a good cologne is so satisfying. It reminds us of something, even if it’s something we’ve never experienced before. It is appealing to our subconscious.
When it comes to cologne for men, there is very little that affects a woman more. Women have a more sensitive sense of smell than men do and women often rate scent as one of the most important characteristics of a man (so men, remember to be subtle! She can smell it better than you and your fragrance shouldn’t literally knock her out).
Unfortunately, colognes and perfumes are, simply put, incredibly poisonous. They are one of the worst things you could ever have on or in your body. Not only are a lot of the known ingredients bad for you, perfume is one of the worst products for hiding ingredients. This is because there is an exception clause in the FDA’s standards regarding food, drugs, and cosmetics that allows for ‘fragrance’ to be used as a cover-up for almost anything. This is justified as a trade-secret clause, but it is widely exploited to hide unpopular or untested chemicals.
Most perfumes average 14 additional chemicals not listed on the ingredients list because of that trick, with others hiding up to forty. And of these chemicals, many are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and mood destabilizers. They have been linked to everything from organ system toxicity to reproductive failure.
The toxins in these fragrances also have the unfortunate likelihood to accumulate in our bodies’ over time, especially in our most delicate tissue— fat and breast tissue. These toxins also frequently cause sperm damage. And that’s only some of them. The majority have never even been studied by the FDA. They could literally be, and do, anything. That is definitely not sexy.
This is one of the reasons why so many people have such negative reactions to current perfumes. There is a strong risk of allergies to such a large field of chemicals and many people, instead of enjoying them, get headaches or feel queasy when they smell cologne. This should never happen if the product is made of natural ingredients. It is a side effect of the poisonous components. But as we mentioned earlier, smell is powerful! And a good smell is a great thing! So please, don’t forgo it all together. Instead, go natural.
Top Brands
Here are three wonderfully scented, natural colognes that can make you feel and smell like the coolest guy around.
| Brand | Price | Rating /5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herban Cowboy |  | $$ | 5 |
| O’Douds |  | $$$ | 4.5 |
| Edens Garden |  | $$$$ | 4.5 |
1. Herban Cowboy
This is truly a classic cologne. It is an alcohol-based cologne that comes in a spritz bottle, so you literally just spritz it on and go. It comes in two scents, Dusk and Forest.
Dusk is made from an essential oil blend of lavender, bergamot, lemon peel, lime, clary sage, and ylang ylang flower. It has a strong, warm scent and is by far the more popular.
Forest is scented with lavender, geranium, black pepper, oak moss, and tree moss and has a slightly more mellow tone. Many people consider them to be unisex colognes.
Both are certified vegan and cruelty-free. They are also free of any parabens or phthalates. Because they contain alcohol, it is important not to spray them anywhere near an open flame. It dries quickly and has a good duration.
2. O’Douds
O’Douds Solid Cologne comes in a small tin, like a cream, but the cologne action is potent. It comes in two different fragrances, Heritage and Tobacco Rum, and both are outstanding.
The formula is made of simple ingredients: shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, and therapeutic-grade essential oils and absolutes. The Heritage version is scented with bergamot, sandalwood, and neroli, and is a classic, masculine scent that reminds you of the good old days. The Tobacco Rum scent is seasoned with actual tobacco, cedar, and clary sage. It is mature and rich.
Both colognes can be applied by wiping a small amount onto your fingertip and applying it at pulse points: your neck and wrists. The fragrance is subtle and simple but will last most of the day. Just make sure you don’t leave the tin out in the sun! With such simple ingredients, it will melt if it gets hot.
3. Edens Garden
If you want to skip any additives all together, try a straight essential oil blend for your fragrance. Eden’s Garden sells pre-blended oils for different purposes, including an Earth & Wood Synergy Blend that is formulated specifically for that manly, woodsy scent. It is a mix of cardamom (mmm… ), cedar leaf, cedar wood, fir needle, patchouli, and sandalwood.
This blend should be diluted with a carrier oil before applied, and then just lightly dabbed onto skin for a long-lasting and satisfying fragrance.
If you want a really consistent smell, you can even add these oils to your other products for an easy application and a great scent. Essential oils mix very well with your body’s natural fragrance, meaning the smell is truly unique on each person and never smells like it’s straight out of a box.
If you’re worried about the standards of these oils, don’t be. Eden’s Garden individually tests their oils by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to ensure that each bottle is filled with only true essential oils, and they promise their products are free from pesticides, herbicides, GMO ingredients, and any additives.
Conclusion
If you don’t see something you like, then don’t worry because there are a lot more options out there. Just make sure to check the label. If a brand contains the word ‘fragrance’, without specifying essential oils or extracts, then it’s probably not natural.