Stinky boy

The greatest perfume salesman helped us wade through the cologne at Nordstroms to find the perfect scent for Ben. I feel my knowledge of the scent world quadrupled in the seven minutes I spent at the counter. Here are a few tips I picked up:

1. Put one spray on the tester strip and hold it straight up and down in front of your nose. Don't put it under your nose, don't wave it around, just breathe.

2. When wearing your scent, apply it to the inside of your elbows and a little on your chest. This is true for men and women because your scent needs heat in order to work properly.

3. With any scent, it takes a little bit for the alcohol to evaporate. Your cologne is at its best after you have been wearing it for a couple hours.


We were taken through a whole series of sniffing tests without seeing the labels or knowing anything about what we were smelling. In the end, these were the five major contenders for Ben's next scent (descriptions from Sephora):

A. London for Men starts safely, with the scent of lavender-bergamot, then comes cinnamon, pepper and wine (with a faint hint of leather). For me, it’s ALL about the base notes in this fragrance: the rich amber, the strong, but mellow, tobacco leaf, and smooth guaiac wood. London for Men is the most powerful and masculine of the Burberry men's fragrances.

B. Armani Code (an old favorite of mine)
A seductive fragrance for men, Armani Code is a sexy blend of fresh lemon and bergamot softened with hints of orange tree blossom, warmed with soothing guaiac wood, and tonka bean.

C. Chanel Allure Homme Édition Blanche (Ben's choice du jour)
This scent contains lemon, bergamot, cedar, sandalwood, tonka bean, white musk, vetiver, ginger, amber, vanilla, white and pink pepper. Allure Homme Édition Blanche is a creamy fragrance but still has some sparkle thanks to its citrus, ginger, and vetiver notes.

D. John Varvatos Vintage (think classy hunting lodge ... my new favorite)
This sensual, masculine fragrance is aromatic, with an assertive, spicy core and a warm, leathery-like background that makes it unique and inherently noble and gentleman-like.

E. Boss Selection
Classic, serious, straightforward, and elegant, the Boss Selection man is focused on his goals and being successful and balanced in his personal and professional life. This elegant blend of fresh, spicy, watery notes is his signature scent.