When considering how you present yourself to the world each day, a few things come to mind: the clothes you wear, the car you drive, the way you cut your hair, etc.

But did you know that your cologne can be an important and powerful way to make a great impression? Here's why. 

1. You appear more successful and sophisticated. 

If you want to make a good first impression, cologne is the way to go. 

The sense of smell is the strongest of the five senses, and it’s also the sense that is most closely linked to memory and emotion. If you want people to take notice of you or feel something about you, use a high-quality scent to make that happen. 

Cologne also sets the right tone for initial interactions. Wearing cologne shows others that you care about grooming and your appearance. It instantly makes you appear more polished, refined, and put-together. This can boost others’ opinions of you right away, helping you make powerful first impressions and cement important relationships.

Do guys wear cologne to impress? Absolutely. Because it does.

Why do guys wear cologne to work? Because, like it or not, it projects success.

2. It’s a mark of good hygiene and health.

Cologne can both make you feel more hygienic and help you be more healthy. 

When you’re wearing cologne, you won’t be self-conscious about body odor leaving a negative impression. What’s more, fragrances can have a positive effect on your health by:

• Easing stress, anxiety, or depression
• Improving sleep 
• Boosting feelings of relaxation, confidence, or energy

These are well-known effects of aromatherapy, but they can also be achieved simply by wearing a cologne with high-quality, pure essential oils.

The right fragrance sends a positive, mood-boosting message about yourself to everyone you interact with - powerful indeed.

3. It makes you stand out from the crowd.

Not every guy wears cologne, so having a signature scent will help you easily stand out from the crowd. 

To make this happen, use a high-quality cologne that will last throughout the day. A great fragrance will have top notes (the notes that you smell right away), middle notes (the notes that appear after around 30 minutes), and base notes (which can linger for several hours).

With a cheap cologne, the mid notes and base notes are usually missing, so you won’t stand out or make a lasting impression for very long. 

So if you're wondering, "Should I wear cologne?" or if wearing cologne to work is a smart idea, be sure you're using a quality fragrance that will impress, not irritate.

4. It helps you focus. 

Colognes can have aromatherapy-like effects on the brain. Citrus scents, in particular, can help you focus more on what’s going on around you. Bergamot can work in the brain to help elevate your mood. 

Interested in these effects? Look for these ingredients:

• Cedarwood 
• Guaiac wood 
• Sandalwood 
• Italian bergamot 
• Lemon 

The resulting scent is warm, smoky, and balanced with crisp citrus - and it can certainly get you in the right headspace too.

5. It fosters emotional connections.

Smell is the most powerful sense you have - it's a whopping 150,000 times more sensitive than your vision. 

It also relates to memory because (to get a little sciencey) the olfactory bulb is directly triggered to the limbic system, which is often referred to as the “emotional brain.” That’s why smell triggers instant memories and emotions and why simply catching a whiff of a familiar scent can bring you right back to a certain place or person. 

Using a unique, high-quality cologne, then, can help you foster deep, lasting connections with those around you. 

It can also help you attract a romantic partner. In one study, it was shown that, while visual cues are most important for men when finding a partner, scent is the most powerful factor for women when choosing a mate. So having a great signature scent can help you in more ways than you realize.