Here’s Exactly Which Perfume To Wear, Based On The Type Of Man You Want To Attract

Going out this weekend? Attempting to hook a man? We all do it, no shame in our game. Valentine’s Day IS on its way. If this is indeed what you’re planning, take it to the next level with a tailor-made fragrance. As a certified Perfume Junkie, I’ve done more than my fair share of field research in this realm. (And if you just want a few free drinks, Angel by Thierry Mugler has never hurt me in that arena.)

Which type of guy are you angling for?

Investment banker

So you wanna land a man with cash. You have two choices: go very upscale, a bit preppy, or go down ‘n’ dirty sultry. I would recommend you try Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere because it will remind him of his beloved, moneyed grandma, just younger. Or go a little bit sexy and trashy with Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, which might get you wifed.

Club owner

Tired of meeting just any rando dude at the club? If you wanna hook the owner, you need Victoria’s Secret. I don’t mean their tarty, juvenile body splashes like Love Spell and Amber Romance. I mean the big guns: Very Sexy. This blend of amber, orchid, musk and blackberry is just the thing for those dark clubs where the music is loud and the lights flash red and blue.

Hippie dude

Steer clear of the patchouli oil. Seriously, cool it with that. It’s really pungent. Try a fragrance that spotlights patchouli instead, like Nicole Richie’s surprisingly good eponymous scent. Prada Amber would suit a rich “gypset” type.

Big, burly lumberjack man

You know what I’ve found in my life as a perfume-wearing woman? The bigger and burlier the man, the more he melts when he smells a candy-sweet perfume. Pink Sugar is the best of the best; it smells exactly like hot cotton candy. Mechanics love anything vanilla.

Hipster guy

Well, you certainly can’t wear just anything with this dude. It’s got to be totally cool and unique. Get thee to Etsy so you can grab a few handmade perfume oils and tell him, “Oh, it’s just this local stuff I got, I don’t even remember what the label is. It’s hard to find.”

Outdoorsy boy

Definitely go green here. Jo Malone’s Lime Basil and Mandarin or her Orange Blossom scents are feminine, but still fresh. You’ll smell like you’ve been hanging out in nature all day, which is exactly the vibe you’re going for with a dude who climbs trees and goes hiking and shit.

French dude

Dior’s Hypnotic Poison, which smells a bit like cream soda and root beer, is popular in France. It smells nothing like the loud, tuberose-heavy Poison, which your mom probably wore in the ’80s. Hypnotic Poison manages to be both adorable and totally sexy, which will hook a Frenchman for sure. By Kilian’s Back to Black is tobacco and honey, pure sex in a fragrance. We know the Frenchies love their cigarettes.

Older man

Shalimar by Guerlain. Trust me. They go crazy for it. When I wear Shalimar, the 60something men in suits always stop me to compliment it.

Boy next door

If you want to snag the boy next door, try something fresh and all-American. Jennifer Aniston’s fragrance smells like laundry and beachy jasmine. The original Juicy Couture, which was developed as a scent Barbie would wear, is just floral enough to be charming.