The clothes make a man... but what makes another man (or woman) make love to the man?

Scent. If you are blessed with an amazing personal aroma (as I know there are who have that gift) then you should not be worried with finding the right scent for you. But for commoners, other people end up recognizing you by your trademark scent. It can be sometimes good, or bad.

I remember, there was a time I knew a friend of mine would be nearby when I could smell her. Literally. Her scent was, let's just say, head turning. It was the most pleasant of odors but it was her. This just proves the statement, you are what you smell like... hahahaha (I just made that up).

If you are the type who wears the same cologne year after year and realize that it never works for you, you may be in need of a slight change in personal fragrance. Just throw away your Old Spice and take a look at what's new at the fragrance counters of a nearby department store.

I can't state enough how essential it is to know that every scent or cologne smells different on every person. The way your body blends with the scent is a question of chemistry, and has to do with the chemical reaction between you and the particular fragrance. While your friend smells great in the latest Calvin Klein cologne, it could make you smell more like a gym locker. Honest.

With this in mind, it's very important to try on a scent before purchasing it and never ever assume that what smells good on everyone else will smell good on you. You would never buy a pair of shoes before trying them on, right? Well, the same goes for cologne.

To do this, just go to the store and spray different types of cologne on one of those card thingies. The reason behind this is if you try them all on your arm, your arms and wrists will be drenched by the other scents by your fourth cologne. You will never know the right fragrance unless you put each one on different cards or pieces of paper. Note to yourself that when one of those annoying counter people standing in front of the cologne section at the department store is ready to massacre you with a spray from a bottle of cologne, you should stand back. Just tell them to spray the cologne on a card instead so your wrists remain scent-free.

Try to test the different scents by smelling the various cards to check which fragances you like, and which ones smell more like RAID. You can throw away the ones you really don't like. After having sniffed and smelled all the cologne you are interested in -- or until you feel faint, whichever comes first -- take a breather and walk around the shopping center or outside the store for a while. It would also prove helpful if you sniff coffee between each cologne. This will help give you the full effect of each scent since coffee refreshes your sense of smell. So if you're walking around the department store with a cup of Starbucks, you don't even need to take a break from sniffing. You want to give your nose a little bit of a rest so that your sense of smell is rejuvenated before returning to the store to make your final purchase.

When you are finished "resting", go back to the store to make your decision. This time you can test out how the cologne smells on you. You shouldn't have as many options since you won't be as bombarded by an assortment of scents and fragrances, after having already gone through an elimination process.

That should get you started. Now, from the scents I know of, these are my favorites (on me or on another guy)...

Hugo by Hugo Boss --> get's me worked up... he he he... did I just say that out loud?

L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake --> this is one classic smell. It has that tangerine twist which is just divine. I do feel bad for a friend who had his Issey stolen. I do hope you'll get something soon to at least lessen the pain from being parted with your scent.

Happy for Men by Clinique --> this is what I'm using now. I like it because it smells so fresh and clean. Straight out of the shower type of clean. :) hmmmmm... smells good!

Others I can't really remember. Basically, just like anything, choose something you'll feel comfortable with. If possible, ask a friend to go with you when you're buying a new scent. A second opinion helps. Happy sniffing.