Replace Cologne With These Essential Oils For Men

There's nothing that distinguishes a man quite like the type of cologne he wears. For this reason, many men will splurge on buying their favorite cologne, just like women will pay more for their favorite perfumes or essential oils. The trouble is, often the scents in cologne tend to fade and be overcome by sweat and odors, and many kinds still use ingredients that aren't organic or natural.

Fortunately there's a solution to this that works equally well for both men and women, even though it may be traditionally thought of as a product only for women - essential oils.

These oils are actually quite gender-neutral for the most part, with most of them appealing equally to both sexes, but there are certain blends that have a distinctly more masculine scent and work well for men.

As with perfume or cologne, everyone experiences fragrances differently. We all have personal preferences and some scents even react differently on different people. The good thing about essential oils is that they can be combined in an almost endless variety of combinations to suit each individual.

Even though these oils are suitable for any gender, some oils are more commonly used by men for their rich, distinctive fragrances, such as black pepper essential oil. With its woodsy, spicy, sporty aroma, it is ideal in an after-exercise formula and adds a classic and robust vibe to any men's blend.

Another good choice is sandalwood essential oil, which is also woodsy in nature, but a bit more uplifting, sweet and invigorating. Sandalwood is often found in products like men's cologne, soap and aftershave.

Common Oils Used By Men

The following are some oils that anyone can use, but tend to be more favored by men:

- Citrus: Sweet orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin, tangerine, bergamot. 

- Herbaceous: Eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, oregano, rosemary, tea tree, basil, bay, sage, thyme.

 

- Rich Base Notes: Patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, oakmoss, oakwood, vanilla.

- Spice: Anise, black pepper, cinnamon leaf (note: for topical application, always use cinnamon leaf rather than cinnamon bark, which is too irritating for the skin), ginger, nutmeg, allspice

- Woodsy: Cedarwood, black spruce, cypress, pine, juniper berry

As far as blending these scents together, the possibilities are endless. Choose one of your favorites and add small amounts of other oils to create a scent that's just right for you. The good thing about blending essential oils for fragrance is that you can create your own customized, distinctive scents for a variety of occasions. 

Essential Oil Combinations For Cologne

Here are two examples of scent combinations that you can try for yourself or customize any way you want:

For a more aromatic blend, begin by combining small amounts of spice essential oils like black pepper, ginger, bay, coriander, nutmeg or any others that you like. Keep in mind that the spice oils have stronger aromas than other oils and can be sensitizing to the skin, so use them sparingly at first and test for any kind of skin reaction that you may have.

Lighter, more uplifting and even citrus or floral blends can also work well for men who do not desire a heavy, rich scent. Try combining various amounts of lemon oil, mandarin, neroli, lavender, rosemary, bergamot and amber for a lighter, refreshing scent.

 

When combining oils, remember that you can always vary the amounts of the individual oils if you prefer one fragrance over another. You can create scents that are more lavender based, sandalwood-based, etc. with light accents of other oils to enhance the primary scent.

DIY Moisturizer For Men

Essential oils are not just limited to cologne scents. They can be used with a carrier oil to make an excellent skin moisturizer. While many moisturizers are targeted toward women, men need to keep their skin properly moisturized as well, especially if you live in a colder or drier climate.

To make your own moisturizer, choose a high quality oil such as almond, jojoba or sesame and add your essential oils to achieve your desired strength of scent. That's it! It is best to apply the moisturizer after a shower while the skin is still warm. Allow a few moments for the oil to absorb for maximum effectiveness.

Why Use Essential Oils Instead Of Cologne

If you are looking for an alternative to mainstream fragrances and want to steer clear of the chemical-laden colognes out there today, essential oils are a great choice. Not only will you know exactly what is in the fragrance that you're putting on your skin and know that it's all natural, but you can totally customize your scent and create endless varieties to suit your mood, season or occasion.

Try something new with essential oils and see how much your own distinctive scent can add to your life! Take a look at our selection of organic essential oils to find the perfect oil for you.