Ditch axe: five best cologne brands

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Clara Yang

When it comes to men’s cologne, there are countless scents to choose from. Most are too strong and overpowering, making them unpleasant for the wearer and those around him. Ditch the Axe body spray and check out the five best subtle fragrances for fall.

1. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme
The hints of wood and spice in Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue Pour Homme cologne are masculine without being overwhelming. Subtle and long lasting, this cologne was designed to capture the sensuality of the Mediterranean while maintaining an aroma of sophistication.

“It’s not that strong. I like its subtleness,” said CAS freshman Jeffery Kim, who is loyal to Light Blue Pour Homme.

Courtesy of Sephora.com

2. Bleu de Chanel
Bleu de Chanel blends fresh pine and citrus to create a natural fragrance. This cologne has a crisp and sultry scent that requires generous application to allow for subtle development.

“It’s light and crisp,” said CAS junior Joseph Jung. “It’s perfect to wear just around college.”

Courtesy of abercrombie.com

3. Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce Cologne
Abercrombie’s Fierce cologne has a clean, youthful vibe. At first, Fierce creates a heavy aura, but it fades to an attenuate but distinct fragrance.

“I like it because girls like it, and that’s the only reason I wear [this] cologne,” said LSP sophomore Max Gorden.

Courtesy of atraighteyeforthestraightguy.blogspot.com

4. Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme by Giorgio Armani
An Allure Best Beauty Award-winner, Acqua Di Gio has a modern, masculine scent. This cologne has a transparent style that alludes to an earthy aromatic blend of rosemary and amber. Its sophistication is pleasant and recognizable, created by herbs rather than spices.

Courtesy of sephora.com

5. Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection #1
Part of Ralph Lauren’s Big Pony Collection, this cologne is becoming popular among students because of its playful, athletic scent. Subtle yet spirited, this fragrance includes a mixture of grapefruit and lime. The citrus aroma creates clean and light finish, making the perfect post-workout cologne.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Oct. 17 print edition. Clara Yang is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Mark F TOMLINSON

I really don’t see the difference between Axe, Tag and the Metro sexual smells being described here. I’m 40 years old and don’t want to smell like a kid. I want to smell like a man. Aftershaves like Proraso, Clubman, Bayrum, Oldspice, Aqua velva, have all stood the test of time. Give all this overpriced girl smelling cologne a proper burial, the metro sexual area is dead, real men are shaving with shave soaps, straights razors and aftershaves.