Anyone who has a father or brother can attest to the fact they're usually impossible to shop for. Colognes are always an excellent option, but many find it frustrating to choose a fragrance for men. Here are our top five pointers for men buying fragrance for themselves, or for others wishing to buy a gift for a special man in their life.

Consider purpose
Does he wear cologne to please himself? Attract a partner? Or just as part of his daily shaving ritual? These factors can influence the style of fragrance you might like to buy. If he uses cologne purely as part of his shaving habits, consider an aftershave splash, moisturising balm or light eau de cologne. If he's single and looking for fun, a sexy, masculine, mysterious eau de toilette or eau de parfum could be just the ticket.

Consider lifestyle
An important consideration when choosing a scent is to consider his lifestyle. A young athletic guy might prefer something citrusy, fresh and sporty over something heavy, spicy and conservative. A businessman would likely enjoy something bold, confident and commanding, while a doctor or undertaker - something low-key, hushed and unassuming.

Consider scenario
When and where is it most likely to be worn? To school? To the office? On a date? To a special event or occasion? You can refine your choices by choosing a scent that will work best in any specific situation. A hard-hitting woody/musky stinkbomb may not go down well at work or on a date, but something well-mannered, refined and sophisticated might.

Consider age
Just be mindful that no mature man wants to smell like Justin Beiber! By the same token, your just-starting-to-shave teenage son will not appreciate the same strong cologne his grandfather wore that made your eyes water at 10 paces! Let your nose determine which colognes are targeted at certain demographics, and make your purchases accordingly.

Consider personality
A lot can be determined about a man by the cologne he chooses to wear, so find something that matches his personality. If he's artistic and devoutly independent, look for a unique niche scent that will set him apart from the crowd. If he has a good sense of humour, even the fragrance name, bottle and packaging can play a role in the choices you might consider.

A quick note about splashes vs sprays
A splash-on scent has been designed to apply to the face from the jawline up; and a spray, from the jawline down. Aftershave splashes act as a tonic for skin after shaving, and eau de toilette sprays are for perfuming oneself.

This quick checklist should help take some of the guesswork out of buying fragrances for men, and arm you with the tools to find something every bit as individual as the man you're shopping for.

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