Keep reading for more ideas on how to prevent perspiration and sport your unique fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the Difference Between Deodorant and Cologne?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Similarities exist between deodorants and colognes, but each one exists for a different reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a lot of unscented deodorant options but many deodorants have fragrance added to them. Colognes are made of concentrated fragrance formulas. Both are ideally applied to the body only after you\u2019ve showered or bathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fragrance and order of application are two commonalities between deodorant and cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Should You Wear Deodorant?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of deodorant is to mask body odor or prevent those odors from forming in the first place. Deodorants can be applied to armpits, private body parts, and even the feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some deodorants are also antiperspirants. This subcategory of deodorants helps to prevent you from sweating by blocking your sweat glands. Since antiperspirants are still a deodorant, they also mask your body odor if you sweat anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless you are one of those rare individuals who doesn\u2019t perspire or release any body odor, you should apply deodorant daily. It\u2019s just good hygiene. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cultures body odor that isn\u2019t kept in check can be offensive to people – including yourself. Have you ever finished a workout, and then mistakenly caught a whiff of the smell in your armpits? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you haven\u2019t exercised at all, bacteria still accumulates on the body, causing a tart odor in your underarms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleaning your body daily is essential, but it won\u2019t prevent you from generating body odor throughout the day. So wearing deodorant can help keep you fresher for a longer period of time. Engaging in this practice daily is one way of engaging in self-care. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone likes deodorants, and it\u2019s true that some of them are made with questionable ingredients. But there are natural and\/or healthier deodorant options<\/a> on the market nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cologne on the other hand is optional; it\u2019s lagniappe, just something extra that isn\u2019t essential. If you\u2019re wearing deodorant, you don\u2019t have to also wear cologne.<\/strong> But many colognes smell wonderful and are more intense than deodorant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is nothing wrong with indulging in a good cologne. You simply do not want to use it as the primary solution to mask body odor.<\/strong> Strong body odor plus cologne is usually a bad combination<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every now and then you might squirt on cologne midday to freshen up after your lunch break, or something similar. But that\u2019s only if you aren\u2019t able to freshen up with a shower first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cologne is not a replacement for deodorant<\/strong>. It\u2019s more like an accessory and a form of personal expression.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Motivation for wearing cologne is a very personal decision. Some people wear cologne to complete their look or make them appear to be more attractive. Others wear it in order to feel good about themselves. And still others might apply it in order to change their mood. It can be worn daily or solely for special events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, wearing deodorant should be a daily occurrence but wearing cologne doesn\u2019t have to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, deodorant and cologne are not the same or intended to be used in the same way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Deodorant is formulated to be rubbed or sprayed onto your armpits and other sensitive areas of your body. But cologne is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your armpits house more sweat glands<\/a> than any other part of your body. It is also one of the areas of your body that traps a lot of heat. Those with a full range of motion also tend to move their arms around a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of these factors combined – the excess moisture, heat, and friction can create an environment that\u2019s prone to irritation and injury.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding highly concentrated colognes to this mix can lead to itching, burning, and possibly a rash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people are more sensitive to fragrances<\/a> than others whether they\u2019re inhaling them or placing them on the skin. If you have an existing skin condition or broken skin in this area, you definitely do not want to spray cologne on your armpits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even without a skin condition, the irritation you might experience isn\u2019t worth the risk. Especially since there are less harsh deodorants on the market that serve a better function in this area of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, spray cologne onto your upper chest area, inner elbow, or wrists. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019ve invested in a high quality cologne, it would feel like a waste of money if your deodorant overpowered the more expensive fragrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scents that smell nice individually might not combine well with one another.<\/strong> Perfumers dedicate a lot of time and expertise to developing fragrance combinations that work well together. So randomly combining scents on your own may not yield desired results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you really enjoy your cologne fragrance, you might be hesitant to wear deodorant, but don\u2019t be. Here are a couple suggestions for preventing clashing scents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can either: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to be a \u201cnose\u201d or fragrance chemist in order to find a deodorant that works well with your cologne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, start small. Think about the cologne fragrance you wear the most, and then research its fragrance notes. What are the base notes? Pay closer attention to these because they\u2019re the ones that continue to linger as the day progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you can\u2019t find the fragrance layers that make up your cologne, just read the description. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, this Silver Water & Birch Spray Cologne by Cremo<\/a> gives me hints of what to expect by its name alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the description mentions “cool moss,” “aquatic dive,” “mountain lake,” “clean woods” and so on. Since birch is in the title, my guess is that the clean woods scent is somehow connected to birchwood. If you already own the fragrance, then you know how it smells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When choosing a deodorant, highlighting one of these scent references can possibly lead to a really nice complementary fragrance layer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So if I owned Silver Water & Birch I might consider a deodorant like Dove\u2019s Eucalyptus and Birch plant-based deodorant<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course you would have to smell it to confirm, but it also incorporates the scent of birchwood. And eucalyptus has a cool fragrance quality to it, so that might pair well with the cool and clean descriptions used for the Cremo cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is just an example of how you can look for deodorants made with scents similar to your cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fragrance brands sometimes offer a full body care line for men. This could include a body wash, deodorant, lotion, and cologne that are all made with the same fragrance notes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, this gift set by Abercrombie & Fitch<\/a> includes cologne in multiple sizes, hand soap, body wash, a candle, room spray, body spray, hand sanitizer, and antiperspirant deodorant in one scent, Fierce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a smaller gift set, Phantom by Paco Rabanne<\/a> there are two fragrance sprays and a deodorant spray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your favorite cologne brand (or one you\u2019re interested in trying) offers a set such as these, it\u2019s one of the best ways to prevent a scent battle between your cologne and deodorant.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A more economical way to make sure your cologne remains the dominant fragrance throughout your day is to wear an unscented deodorant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of them on the market, but honestly not all of them are fragrance-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, Mitchum manufactures an unscented gel deodorant<\/a> that works really well as an antiperspirant. Even though it\u2019s for men, as a woman, I sometimes use this during warmer months to combat excess perspiration. This is how I know that although it\u2019s categorized as unscented, there is a light, fairly neutral fragrance to it. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ingredients list confirms this. The very last ingredient listed is parfum (fragrance) even though it\u2019s an \u201cUnscented\u201d deodorant\/antiperspirant.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While the fragrance is subtle, it\u2019s still there and might throw off your cologne choice a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More unscented options:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If Mitchum sounds undesirable, here are more suggestions to look into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of these have no scent at all, others a similar to Mitchum. The only way to know which one will work best for you is to try the one that’s most appealing for a few weeks while wearing your cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more:<\/p>\n\n\n\nShould You Wear Cologne?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Deodorant and Cologne Combinations to Avoid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Never Apply Cologne to Your Armpits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best Deodorants to Wear with Cologne<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Complementary Deodorants to Wear with Cologne<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Matching Scent Deodorants to Wear with Cologne<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unscented Deodorants to Wear with Cologne<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mitchum Power Gel Antiperspirant Deodorant<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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