Fragrance Fracas

I remember the first time I dabbed on cologne. It was the seventh grade in Morganton. Tommy Williams had a dance party at his house. “Johnny Angel" by Shelley Fabares was playing on the turn table. Perfect for slow dancing. “Here, try some English Leather,” Tommy said. “The girls love it.” I walked into the bathroom and moistened my fingers with the sweet smelling potion and applied it to the back of my neck. During the next dance the girl I was trying to impress said: “Nice scent. But did you have to take a bath in it?”

Ever since then I’ve tried to be careful about cologne. I even consulted the Man’s Official Guide to Cologne which states: “When you apply cologne, do not apply more than one or two fingers' worth. This is the normal amount if you simply dab cologne on your body. Alternatively, you can even use a spray bottle to apply your cologne. In this case, a single squirt of the bottle is more than enough.”

Today I rarely use cologne out of respect for people with allergies. I’ve noticed that more and more Fragrant Free Zones are popping in places such as churches, restaurants and stores. Allergies aside, it can be quite irritating when you shake a hand and have to carry that person’s overpowering fragrance with you the rest of the day.

I am sure you could smell the following questions at least a mile way:

What is the perfect name for a North Carolina fragrance? Bodie Island, perhaps?

What are the best and worst smelling colognes of all-time?

What is your opinion of fragrance free zones?

If you don't like these questions please hold your nose and answer any way. Thank you.