Wearing Cologne
by: Jeff Lakie
Walk into any nightclub, and you're bound to catch a drift
of some guy's cologne. Men today use cologne just as women use
makeup or perfume-to enhance their attraction. But did you know
that in the early days people used cologne instead of bathing?
Cologne was invented in the 1700s, primarily to be used in
bath water. Strangely, it was also used as mouthwash and sometimes
even as an enema! People believed cologne could cure just about
any ailment. Cologne manufacturers even marketed it this way.
Fortunately, we know more about science and medicine than our
forefathers, and most of us will probably never take a sip of
our favorite cologne.
Back in the 18th century, people didn't bathe nearly as often
as they do today. Perfume and cologne were necessities to cover
up body odor. Cologne was also used to spruce up the odor of different
rooms in a house. (Remember, this was before the days of plug-in
scents and fragrant candles.)
What a different status these fragrances hold in today's society!
Peruse any popular magazine, and you will see photos of glamorous
men and women in advertisements for perfume or cologne. The fragrances
are equated with sex appeal. Perhaps that is why so many men wear
cologne when they go out to bars, parties, and clubs-ads lead
them to believe the way they smell will determine the quality
of the women they date. Dab a little cologne on the neck before
heading out, and lean in close while dancing. It's kind of like
a pick-up assistant in a bottle!
Do women really like men's cologne, though? That depends. There
was a time when it was considered okay to wear perfume or cologne
to the office. Nowadays, though, it seems that many people are
allergic to the fragrances, and some companies have banned cologne
in the workplace as part of the dress code. Still, research studies
continue to show that cologne can indeed trigger human pheromones,
which can chemically increase sexual attraction. So maybe those
ads aren't completely farcical? Looks like there is more to cologne
than meets the nose after all.
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