Fall/Autumn seems to be the best period of the year as it serves you with the best of colors, the designs and variety too. In my last article I already spoke about the outerwear collection that Fall 2008 brought for us. In this one I’ll be focusing on the accessories that have spelled a new style statement this season. Along with this, I’ll be talking about the scents men ought to use in this season to create the perfect magic around them and have loads of heads turning.

Alright, here we go!
The accessory which found its way the most this season was the scarf. Lots of scarves were seen draping the necks of men, thereby giving a unique look to the entire ensemble. One precise reason of these being in form this season is that it suits the weather at this time of the year too well. Thus you can use them in the early fall season as well as during the bitter cold of northern winter. Scarves add a new level of distinction to one’s personality and are a perfect accessory to find place in your wardrobe. A perfect substitute for the necktie– it is a centerpiece of the outerwear collection and is something that immediately catches the eye of the passerby.

Ideally either a woolen scarf or a cotton one is recommended, as silk tends to look rather foppish. The color of the scarf should be such that it matches well with your most commonly worn coat. Since these are not very expensive, you can pick quiet a few (plain as well as patterned). Never forget that when it comes to ties and scarves, they play a very crucial role in reflecting your personality type and rendering a sense of style to you. So be very judicious in choosing it. It also calls for a decent sense of color shades so that you know which colored scarf will go with which kind of shirt.

Let’s come to the scent of the season now!
One thing that needs to be kept in mind is that having a signature cologne is a must for every man. It is one of the smartest ways to leave a strong impression or say a mental imprint on the minds of those you meet. Whether it be people associated to you casually, romantically or professionally, a standard cologne forms an essential part of your personal and speaks about how well have you been groomed.

Your scent should be masculine and mild without being too pungent even to smell. Some names that have caught rage this season are Kenneth Cole’s offering, R.S.V.P. and Reaction, Perry Ellis’ 360 degrees and Calvin Klein’s CKin2U.

So here you are, with all the essentials you need to know to make a perfect style statement this Fall/Winter. Always remember that the key lies in flaunting anything you wear with an air of self confidence and firm belief in yourself.

Perfume is used by individuals to give a pleasant smell to their bodies. Perfume is essentially a mixture of aromatic compounds and fragrant oils. The word perfume is derived from the Latin word “per fumum” which means ‘through smoke.’ Perfumes were first made by Egyptians. The art of perfume making was later developed by Persians and Romans. Persian doctor and chemist Avicenna made world’s first scent that used rose oil as floral extract. Hungarians introduced the first modern perfume in Europe during the fourteenth century.

Fragrances are categorized according to their concentration level, notes and the family. There are three popular methods of classifying scents, the traditional and modern and fragrance wheel. The classification introduced many new categories of scents like oceanic, gourmand and fruity. Fragrance wheel method was introduced by perfume consultant Michael Edwards in 1983. This method categorizes perfumes in four groups - floral, oriental, fresh and woody.

A diluted solution of ethanol is most commonly used as a solvent for perfumes. Some manufacturers also use lipids like jojoba or fractionated coconut oil as solvent for scents. The intensity and longevity of a perfume increases in direct proportion to the percentage of aromatic compounds used in it. Fragrances are typically made of three notes, the top, the middle and the base that unfold themselves gradually as one applies scent on her or his body. The top note leaves an immediate impression while middle and base notes gradually appear later. Raw material for scents can be sourced from plants and animals or they can be synthesized artificially as well.

GET IT RIGHT
Let’s get this straight - until recently men used to wear only after shave and deodorant, period. Most still do, but colognes are slowly getting into the mainstream.

Men shave every morning, and there are as many shaving styles and rituals as there are men. Some use blades - others use electric shaving machines, but they all use some type of after shave or cologne at the end.

But, you’ll be amazed to know that most men don’t know the proper steps to a “clean shave”. Basic scenario - wake up, take a shower, dry up, apply shaving cream, shave, splash water on the face, dry up, apply after shave or cologne to finish. Well, that’s wrong.

The correct scenario is - wake up, take a shower, dry up, apply alcohol (yes, alcohol) on your unshaven face (no stinging there) and onto the shaving blade - that will kill the bacteria. Apply after shave or men’s cologne to finish. Men don’t have to apply cologne to certain points on the body - so applying it on the face is ok. You may also want to spray a little on your body
Men prefer fresh sporty scents, or deep masculine tobacco and musk scents.