1. You have two weeks to go on vacationwhere do you go?

A. A quiet mountain cabin
B. Staycation! Time to tackle errands and relax
C. To the beach, duh

D. Road trip with the boys

E. A new city with a lot going on

2. Youre grabbing drinks with some coworkers. What do you order first?

A. Smoky barbecue and a microbrew

B. Deep dish pizza done right

C. Why do I have to pick just one cuisine? I want it all!

D. A lobster roll and chips, eaten dockside

E. Farmers market salad and a homemade soda

A. My favorite restaurant/bar

B. Surrounded by fresh air

C. When Im invested in a project

D. At home, obviously

E. At a partyready to meet new people

4. Which is your favorite meal of the day?

A. Dinner

B. Breakfast

C. Lunch

D. All the same to me

E. 3 a.m. bodega sandwich

A. Dog

B. No thanks, not a pet person

C. Cat

D. Fish

E. Tiger, naturally

A. Spring

B. No preference

C. Summer

D. Winter

E. Fall

7. Okserious questionhow many colognes do you currently own?

A. One, and I got it as a gift

B. None

C. Two or three 
D. Does deodorant count?

E. Too many to keep track

A. Freshly cut grass

B. Clean laundry

C. A juice place

D. A wood-burning fire

E. A big pot of homemade chili

##Mostly As
Atelier Cologne - Trfle Pur Cologne Absolue

You love a wide, open field. And you might not have known this about yourself, but you also are a picnic basket person. Thats right, grab that checkered cloth youve seen in the movies, pack a picnic basket, and find a clearing in the forest. This highly concentrated scent has earthy notes with some hints of clover, so expect to smell primed and ready for this nature-filled life youre about to lead.

Modesty is the name of your game, and this fragrance is about to make that the quality that everyone knows (and appreciates) you for. Youre a quiet leader that always thinks before you speak. You enjoy the feeling of fresh air in your lungs, and a wooded forest around you. This crisp scent is a cultivated blend of all of those things distilled into bottle form: woodsy notes, with delicate hints of apple and citrus.

Did you know that youre an Everyman? Youre an even-keeled person who also just happens to look as comfortable in a tux as spending a sunny day at the beach. We all wanna be like you, with your breezy attitude and refreshing demeanor. What does an irresistible Everyman smell like? Zesty lemon and mint, with fresh geranium and sandalwoodobviously.

Are you a scientist? Do you want to be? This fragrance has a transformative quality where the scent has more than meets the surface, reacting with your body chemistry to create a unique experience for each wearer. Starting as a subtle fragrance, and then evolving into a smoldering mix of warm incense and cool salt water. See, we knew you were a scientist.

No one holds you back. Experiences are what its all about, right? You do what you want, and hate being boxed in. Thats why this is the scent for you: woodsy in nature, but with floral notes that give way to creamy coconut. The juxtaposition of scents make this the cologne that fits all the seasons. Keep being you, it sounds (and smells) glorious.

When youre wearing the right scent, its impossible to get tired of it.

No more losing sleep over whether or not youre wearing the right cologne: Help has arrived. Answer a few simple questions and youll be well on your way to smelling like the person you were always meant to be.

Find a Cologne Youll Never Get Sick Of | Birchbox

English Laundry Eau de Parfum Oxford Bleu

Brighten up your days with this ultra-fresh scent that has top notes of zesty lemon and mint. It'll teleport you straight to a hammock strung between two palm trees. With a fresh lemonade in hand, just kick back, chill, and enjoy the warm weather with this beach-worthy fragrance.

Channel the ancient Greeks and hop around the Mediterranean islands all summer long with this fragrance that will have you wanting to catch up on your Greek mythology. Its grassy, floral scent will have you pulling out your Panama hat and favorite pair of flip flops. Plus, when the sun sets, this will be your go-to nighttime scent thanks to its rich woodsy base notes teamed with just the right touch of vanilla.

Original Penguin Premium Blend Eau de Toilette

Whats summer without at least one trip to the beach? But when work has you tied down and youre not up for the weekend crowds, try out this maritime-inspired fragrance thatll go perfectly with your cool post-beach hair (hint: read this). Notes of tangy lime and bergamot mix with sea salt for a coastal escape even when youre stuck at your desk.

Switch your scent up with our roundup of summer-approved fragrances.

If theres ever a moment to try out a new fragrance, summer is the time. From the bright and citrusy to the nautically-inspired, pack up those heavy scents for the season and lighten up with our picks of the best mens summer fragrances.

Play Chemist
Mixing and matching fragrances inevitably requires a little trial and error. But thats the fun part! This is all about experimentation, says Carlos Benaim, Master Perfumer at International Flavors & Fragrances. There are infinite combinations that you can create, and the only way to know if one is going to work is to try it. Point being, get ready to spend a little time spritzing and sniffing. (Pro tip: If you feel like your sense of smell is starting to burn out, take a break and smell a tissue; its neutral scent can help cleanse your palette, so to speak.)

Look for Contrast
As a general rule, people are usually drawn to fragrances that fall within one olfactive category, says Sue Phillips, President & CEO of Scenterprises & The Scentarium. Thats why even if you have 10 different perfumes in your collection, they may all be predominantly floral, clean, or supersweet. "But if you mix fragrances that are too similar, theyll end up cancelling one another out. You want to create contrast, explains Benaim. The easiest way to do so is to layer lighter fragrances with ones that are a bit heavier or more intense. One pairing we like: Pinrose Moonlight Gypsy Eau de Parfum and Pinrose Garden Gansgster Eau de Parfum.

Mix It Up Using Notes
Its not just about the predominant scent when it comes to finding complementary fragrances. The top notes (what you initially smell) and base notes (the scent that lingers after application) come into play as well. Look for a fragrance with top notes you love and pair it with a fragrance that has base notes you love, says Benaim. Its obviously a matter of personal preference, but we found that the crisp and clean Etat Libre dOrange You or Someone Like You Eau de Parfum mixes nicely with the green lime, neroli, and jasmine base notes in the Juliette Has a Gun Anyway Eau de Parfum.

Embrace Less is More
Phillips likens mixing and matching fragrances to choosing spices when youre cooking: Individually, each spice is amazing, but if you were to combine every single one in your cabinet, youd end up with a blend thats overpowering and not distinct, she says. The same goes for perfume. Start with just two scents, and possibly adding a third. But cap it at three, advises Phillips.

Test It Out
Resist the temptation to use your skin as your canvas since our body chemistry can interact with the fragrance and affect the final result. To set up a proper at-home test, spray each fragrance on separate cotton balls, press them together, and then toss them in a Ziploc bag. Then, open the bag and take a whiff. If youre into the mix youve made, then try it on to make sure it smells good on you This is the easiest way to see if the scents mix well together, points out Phillips.

Vary the Proportions
Once youve got a combo you like, you can fine tune the formula. Something as simple as changing the amount of each fragrance that youre mixing can make the blend even more distinct, says Benaim. Start with one spray of each, then try two of one and one of the other, or three spritzes to two spritzes. One blend to try: CLEAN Reserve Amber Saffron Eau de Parfum and CLEAN Reserve Velvet Flora Eau de Parfum. Experiment until you find exactly what youre looking for, and write down exactly how you got there so that you can recreate your new signature scent in the future.

Say no to spritzing just one perfume as you head out the door. Read on to learn how to layer fragrances and create your own super-unique, signature blend!

With so many amazing [fragrances available in the Shop](https://www.birchbox.com/category/7), it can be so hard to pick just one to be your signature scent. Luckily, you dont have to: Layer a few up to create your own! Mix and match your existing faves or find a new blend to add to your collection and create a scent thats as unique as you are. Ahead, the best tips and tricks for layering fragrances and ending up with a result that smells eau so good.

Beauty DIY: How to Layer Fragrances to Create Your Own Signature Scent

We don't know about you, but no matter how early the greeting cards hit drug stores, we still wind up scrambling to find the perfect present for Mother's Day. What do you get for the woman who birthed you (not to mention, took care of you when you were sick, attended every sporting event, and still treats your birthday like a national holiday)to show her how much you appreciate her?

Let's just say we've sniffed out all the options, and we're going to make it easy for you. Here are five fragrances to make her Mother's Day (and beyond) "eau" so special, no matter what her perfume personality.

For the Mom with the Green Thumb: CLEAN Reserve Rain Reserve Blend Eau de Parfum

You know that subtle smell that lingers after a downpour, when dew starts to settle on the ground? This fragrance was created to capture that crisp and pure aroma, with notes of water lily, sheer musk and daffodil. So, if gardening is her thinga few spritzes of this will instantly transport her to her happy place.

For the Sophisticated Mom: Etat Libre d'Orange You or Someone Like You

Named after a Chandler Burr novel that's set in Los Angelesand inspired by its glamorous female characterthis beautiful blend leaves you guessing about its ingredients. What we can reveal, however, is that the modern and fresh fragrance will make her feel mysterious and invigorated.

For the Romantic Mom: TOCCA Giulietta Eau de Parfum

Is she a sucker for a touching love story (or perhaps the latest rom com)? Wearing this bouquet of Bulgarian rose and pink tulips mixed with woody notes of cedarwood and musk will evoke her feminine flair.

For the Yogi Mom: Nanette Lepore Eau de Pafum

Maybe she doesn't downward dog every day, but if she spreads zen with her peaceful presence, she'll probably enjoy this sweet scent. The layers of grapefruit, pear, lily of the valley, and sugar will have a complementary calming effect.

For the Jetsetter Mom: Oribe Cte d'Azur Eau de Parfum

Who needs a yacht and ros when you can bring the sunny notes of bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood to her vanity? She'll understand thats more in our budget, right? Either way, she's probably already hooked on this brand's line of luxurious haircare, and now she'll be able to douse herself in its familiar fragrance wherever her travels take her.

Don't wait until the last minute to find the perfect Mother's Day gifthere are five fragrances that will make her feel special day in and day out.

How To Make Her Mother's Day Scent-sational

Want even more fragrance tips to make your cologne or perfume last longer? Here are five suggestions (no hacks, just application tips) from Carlos Huber of Arquiste Parfumeur.

Check out the Birchbox Man YouTube Channel for more tips and tricks.

Here are some tricks we've picked up that will help make the most of your fragrancenot to mention impress your friends.

We've shown you how to [properly apply cologne](/guide/article/how-to-apply-fragrance-gifs), and even [make your fragrance last longer](/guide/video/how-to-make-your-fragrance-last-longer). But there are other ways to maximize a scent besides spraying it on your skin. Here are four tricks we've picked up that will help pronounce your fragrancenot to mention impress your friends. 

Fragrance Hacks: 4 Tricks for Smelling Better, Longer


Jao Parfum Outscent

It's rare to find a fragrance that does anything more than smell good. Made with grapefruit, fir, and hints of patchouli, this natural cologne pairs a bright, earthy scent with a blend of essential oils that helps repel insects.


Ursa Major Willoughby Cologne

Made deep in the woods of Vermont, this scent is the latest addition to Ursa Major's all-natural lineup. Mint, ginger, and bergamot mingle with spicy and woodsy notes, for an outdoor-inspired aroma that won't overpower.


Juniper Ridge Backpacker's Cologne - Big Sur

This fragrance adheres to the mantra that if you want the real thing, you have to go to the source. Each batch is handcrafted with moss, bark, flowers, and shrubs from along the Pacific coast, resulting in an unmistakeable scent reminiscent of the forest floor.

If you can't live the life of a backwoods trapper, smelling like a forest is the next best thing.

If you can't live the life of a backwoods trapper, smelling like a forest is the next best thing. From three storied brands that wrote the book on outdoor living, here's a trio of woodsy alternatives to your traditional musky cologne.

3 Rugged, Woodsy Colognes That Will Take You Into the Wilderness

To find your signature scent from English Laundrys impressive catalog of classic-with-a-twist colognes. 

Research shows that our olfactory sense creates stronger memories of people and places than any other sense. This in mind, [English Laundry](/men/brands/english-laundry) offers an impressively diverse catalog of colognes. Before we dig in, a note on notes: *Top notes* introduce the blend, are usually lighter, and are quickest to evaporate. *Middle* or *heart notes* are full-bodied and long-lasting, and help balance and harmonize the top and the base notes. *Base notes* are the densest, richest scents, help anchor the blend and give it staying power.

English Laundry: A Glossary of Fragrances

Try spraying fragrance on a hairier part of your body, so that the hair and skin both absorb the fragrance molecules. For example, spray it on your forearm instead of your bare wrist, or on the underside of your beard instead of your neck.

Perspiration can wear away at your fragrance, especially once your sweat evaporates. Try spraying cologne on the collar of your shirt, where it will more easily linger longer.

Instead of applying an extra amount in the morning (in hopes that a greater concentration will last longer), spray a moderate amount at first, then re-apply as needed.

4. Abandon Seasonality, Especially in Summer

Even though it is perceived as a cold-weather fragrance, a woodsier cologne actually mixes well with the body's natural sweat and warmer scent, giving it better summer endurance than many lighter, more citrusy notes.

Year round, musky fragrances best complement the body's natural scent, and will almost always outlast any others.

Next, learn how to properly apply cologne.

Check out the Birchbox Man YouTube Channel for more grooming and style tips.

That pre-work spritz of cologne will rarely get you through the day. Arquistes Carlos Huber shares a few tips for prolonging the scent. 

That pre-work spritz of cologne will rarely last all day, especially in warmer months. We asked [Arquiste](/men/brands/arquiste) founder Carlos Huber for his pointers on prolonging the scentwithout applying an excessive amount, of course.

5 Ways to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer

For the guy who doesn't reach for a fancy eau de parfum each morning.

If you can't quite bring yourself to reach for a fancy eau de parfum every morning, there's a more subtle way to don a signature scent: ingredient-rich body wash and soap. Here are a few that will help you smell as good as you feel.


####For the Mariner
Histoires de Parfums 1828, $125

This cologne was inspired by the seaside town of Nantes, where author Jules Verne was born in (you guessed it) 1828. Top notes of grapefruit lead to mid notes of pepper and nutmeg, followed by an exotic base of vetiver and incense.


####For the Woodsman
Juniper Ridge Backpacker's Cologne - Big Sur, $55

If your summers are spent in the wilderness, this fragrance will strike a chord. Each batch is handcrafted with moss, bark, flowers, and shrubs from along the Pacific coast, resulting in an unmistakeable scent reminiscent of the forest floor.


####For the Jet Setter
Atelier Cologne Cedrat Enivrant, $110

A vivid ode to citrus cologne, this scent taps a roster of far-flung ingredients: cedrat from Morocco, lime from Mexico, and bitter bergamot from Calabria. Juniper, mint, and vetiver balance the aroma with an earthy, mellow finish.


####For the Beach Bum
English Laundry Tahitian Waters, $85

While this bright, tropical fragrance is the most traditional of the bunch, its aroma is anything but commonplace. Bright citrus top notes are tempered by jasmine and coconut, which rest atop a subtle base of brown sugar and cedar.


####For the City Dweller
Capsule Parfums URBANE, $38

Not every summer cologne is inspired by the great outdoors. Designed with love in Los Angeles, this scent blends sweet and fruity top notes with tonka bean and oakmoss, for a uniquely complex aroma that evolves over time.

If you're looking to swap out your musky cologne, here are five summer fragrances to keep you smelling and feeling crisp.

As the days grow long and the temperatures rise, warm and musky colognes begin to lose their appeal. If you're looking to change up your signature scent, here are five summer fragrances that will keep you smelling (and feeling) crisp.

Summer Fragrances: 5 Scents to Keep You Cool in Warm Weather

If youve ever used Oribe hair products, you probably fell in love with the decadent scent at first spritz, like we did. We routinely add an extra mist (or three) of the texturizing spray, not-so-secretly hoping that the fragrance will follow us around all day.

It looks like our prayers have been answered: Oribe recently teamed up with one of the oldest French fragrance houses to create two perfumes, and they smell just as addictive as the shampoos and texturizing sprays that make our hair look amazing.

Theres Cte dAzur, modeled after the brand's signature blend of citrus, tuberose, jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver, and amber. Its light enough to spritz everywhere, but has staying power that lasts for hoursespecially when you pair it with other products, like the Cte dAzur Hair Refresher, Oribe's version of hair perfume that has the same scent.

The other fragrance, Silver Pearl, is a bit more adventurous, mixing notes of green fig, bamboo, amber, and leather for a unisex effect. Its on the stronger side, so were saving it for nights out when we want to feel luxe and a little mysteriousall it takes is a few dabs.

The real reason we love these perfumes? Now we can be a little more conservative about how much texturizing spray we use.

Cant get enough of the hair products scent? Wait til you get a whiff of their two perfumes. 

Wear Oribes Addictive Scent (Almost) Everywhere

We told you last month that wed have a big announcement coming your way and its finally here: Cupcakes and Cashmere (aka one of our all-time favorite blogs) is curating the May 2015 Birchbox! You can commence freaking out now. A few weeks ago we visited founder and new mom Emily Schuman at her home in Los Angeles and here she shares this months theme (Elevate Everyday) and some of the awesome samples she picked for the box.

Learn more about the May Birchbox and Emilys 2nd book, Cupcakes and Cashmere At Home, here. Well be celebrating the launch of her book with the Birchbox book club this month when it launches.

Keep in mind that the samples in your Birchbox will still be chosen based on your beauty profile and these are just a few of the many, many samples that Emily has chosen for our subscribers this month.

Watch another video with Emily about the products (also from the May Birchbox) that she uses to put the finishing touches on her everyday makeup routine.

We're so thrilled to announce that Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere will be curating the May Birchbox. Watch to here about a few of her favorite samples. 

Birchbox May 2015: Curated by Cupcakes and Cashmere

Homemade fragrance is hardly a novel concept, but it's generally considered to be an advanced and complex art form. Jeremy Glass of Supercompressor has challenged that notion, crafting a wide array of hardboiled scents with a handful of simple ingredients.

His experiments produced a range of rugged aromas, from "Eau de Old Man" to Manhattan cocktails, but our favorite of the bunch involves the robust scent of tobacco. Here's the play by play:

1. Gather a tablespoon's worth of your favorite tobacco. You can use a loose blend, or extract some from a cigar.

2. Place it in a container with a little grapeseed oil, and let sit for an hour or two. The oil will soak up the tobacco's aroma without imparting its own.

3. Strain the oil infusion into a spray bottle filled with grain alcohola few small drops should do it. Bonus points if you add a dash or two of your favorite bourbon or bitters.

4. Spritz a bit of cologne on each of your pulse points, and savor your manly quintessence.

To check out the rest of Jeremy's recipes, read the full article here.

The team at Supercompressor shows that making your own cologne can not only be easy, but incredibly manly to boot.

The team at [Supercompressor](http://www.supercompressor.com/) shows that making your own cologne can not only be easy, but incredibly manly to boot.

Smoke and Bourbon: How to Make Cologne with Ingredients from Your Wet Bar

Its impossible to separate the allure of some of our favorite designers from their iconic fragrancesChanel No. 5, Burberry Britespecially when wearing them feels just as fancy as one of their gowns (or at least what we imagine that feels like). Just in time for awards season, its time to add a new name to the group: Silhouette by Christian Siriano, an eau de parfum from the red carpet veteran whose dresses we most recently spotted at the 2015 Golden Globes.

We sat down with the designer in his gown-filled studio in New York City to get the scoop on the perfume and why he created one: Ive always wanted to have a fragrance, something that would last forever, he explained. Inspired by one of the whimsical dresses from his spring 2013 collection, Silhouette embodies the relaxed elegance and femininity of Siriano's designs, mixing rose and freesia notes with a spicy splash of cassis and moss. Of its smoky pink sculptural bottle, he says, I wanted it to be a romantic, pleated, twisted gown with the cap as the overlay. Our take? Its a girly, wearable scent that injects even the most run-of-the-mill Monday with a little bit of glamour.

Unlike some other messages the fashion industry sends, we love the one Siriano has for his fragrance: Its all about your celebrating your silhouette, he told us. It can be any shape, any size, any age. A perfume that smells like a dream and promotes a positive body image? Well spritz to that.

The fashion designer enters the world of perfume with an unabashedly feminine scent.

Christian Sirianos New Fragrance Cuts a Romantic Silhouette

Think about your style not only in terms of the clothes you wear, but of the image, vibe, and attitude that you exude. You can change in and out of your clothes, but a scent has more depth. Choose one that draws you in; it will likely draw others in, too.

1. Citrus: As the name states, these are all citrus-derived scents. They are described as fresh, bright, and juicy.

2. Aromatic: These are herbs, grasses, and other mossy or rooty notes. They are brisk, green, and more woodsy.

3. Aquatic and Ozonic: Marine and airy notes. They are very crisp or refreshing.

4. Woody: Similar to aromatic. These include woods, resins, and incenses.

5. Florals: Oddly enough, these run the spectrum between dainty and rugged. Some are very strange. I personally love how jungly, green, and crunchy a gardenia can smell.

Using a darker, woody fragrance may say you have a more serious, mysterious, or rugged personality, and something fresher and brighter may represent a lighter, more outdoorsy personality. Dont try too hard to match your multilayered personality to one scent. That's why we make more than one: So you can use different ones depending on your mood.

This is fragrance, not a marriage. It's an easy, attainable luxury, so you should have fun with it and vary your scents, whether from weekday to weekend, or from one season to the next.

Research the FragranceOr At Least Read the Packaging

Most fragrances have a backstory, which can be a great conversation piece when people ask you about your scent. For example, each one I create comes from an actual site visit to somewhere remarkable. It has to have a great story and a natural scent must be involved. This gives the fragrance a unique identity and provides me with creative direction. I use the ingredients present in the place, which will then determine the scent family. From there, I refine what kind of man or woman would wear it and decide which season is best for launch.

Click here to watch Carlos Huber describe his own finishing touchesboth on crafting scents and on his own personal style.

This article is part of the Birchbox Man 31-Day Challenge for January 2015. Click to see all daily challenges and to learn how you can win sweet stuff all month.

Fragrance expert Carlos Huber of Arquiste Parfumeur outlines the basics of picking your perfect cologne.

Of the five senses, scent is the one most strongly linked to memory and association. This is why fragrance can play a huge part in making a good impression: It adds complexity to your persona. To help you find a scent that matches your mood and style, we tapped the brain (and nose) of Carlos Huber, founder of [Arquiste Parfumeur](/men/brands/arquiste). Here are his tips on picking the perfect fragrance and, in turn, making a favorable and lasting impression.

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