Cologne and aftershave serve two different purposes for men.

Cologne is best known as a fragrance that men use on their bodies. Colognes can come in mixtures of Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette or even Eau de Parfum. The different mixtures denote the amount of fragrant oils it contains. Eau de Cologne has a greater amount of fragrant essential oils than an aftershave does. Having about 3% to 8% essential oils in the Eau de Cologne, the actual scent should last around two to four hours without reapplying.

An aftershave is used purely on the face when the pores have been opened from shaving. The purpose of an aftershave is to clean the pores and any open cuts that have been made, acting like an astringent. Some aftershaves have added moisturizers that replenish any natural oils that have been lost from shaving. Aftershave has a smaller amount of essential oils ranging from 1% to 3%, meaning the fragrance will not last as long as an Eau de Cologne.

To find out if you need cologne or aftershave, follow these tips to help you find the answer.

Use cologne if you:

• Want a slight fragrance through out the day.
• Hate the smell of your sweat. If you apply cologne to your naked chest or back earlier that day, your body heat will reactivate the scent when you need it.
• Want people to remember you by your scent. When ever people smell your cologne, they will be reminded of you.

Use aftershave if you:

• Nick or cut yourself while shaving. The alcohol in the aftershave will clean your cut and prevent infection.
• Want to layer your fragrance for a lasting scent. By using the same scent of aftershave as your deodorant and cologne your scent will last longer.
• Are prone to blackheads or clogged pores. The alcohol acts like an astringent and keeps your pores clear.
• Need to moisturize after you shave. Usually aftershave cream or gels contain moisturizers that keep your skin from drying and flaking.

If you can’t decide if you want to use a cologne or an aftershave, you can actually use them both. When you use two or more products from the same fragrance line you are layering the fragrance. The main benefit of layering is that the scent will last longer on your skin without reapplying. To find a cologne and aftershave set with the notes that you prefer, be sure to check out Become.com for easy cologne and aftershave set comparisons.

Here are some cologne and aftershave sets to get you started:

• Prada for Men by Prada has a 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette spray and a 3.4 oz aftershave splash featuring a mix of citrus, musk, vanilla and patchouli notes
• Hugo by Hugo Boss perfume has a 1.3 oz Eau de Toilete spray and a 2.5 oz aftershave balm featuring deep woods and fresh citrus notes
• Aspen by Coty has a 1 oz Eau de Cologne and a 2 oz aftershave conditioning gel featuring fresh spice and citrus with deep woods notes.

For more cologne and other fragrance tips, check out Become.com Tip Center.

- Desiree