Scent is style. It’s not the afterthought—it’s the finish. Long before you speak, your scent announces you. Long after you leave, it lingers like a rumour. And if you’re still treating fragrance like a spritz-and-go moment, it’s time to change that.
Here’s how to pick a signature scent—the kind that fits like a custom suit and smells like you have good taste and better intentions.
1. Don’t Shop the Hype—Shop the Mood
Yes, everyone and their cousin is wearing Baccarat Rouge. That doesn’t mean you should. Choosing your signature scent isn’t about hype—it’s about finding your identity. Think: how do you want people to feel when you walk past them? Intrigued? Calm? Slightly distracted? The answer should guide your bottle, not TikTok trends.
2. Test on Skin, Not on Paper
Fragrance is chemistry. What smells seductive on your best friend might smell like a Sunday air freshener on you. Spray on your wrist, not a tester strip. Wear it. Live in it. Fragrance is a story—it unfolds in chapters: top, heart, base. Wait till page three.
3. Know the Notes that Speak Your Language
If you’re a classic man—clean lines, white shirts, quiet power—look for woody or musky notes, such as sandalwood, cedar, amber, and vetiver. If you’re all about drama, decadence, and a bit of chaos? Lean into spices, oud, tobacco, and leather. For the romantics (yes, we see you): florals. Rose, jasmine, even iris—soft, but not weak. And for the laid-back Lagos cool guy? Go citrus—bergamot, lemon, green tea, mint.
4. Consider the Climate (We’re in Nigeria, Sir)
This is not London. Lagos heat + heavy oud = asphyxiation. Choose lighter notes for the day, such as citrus, aquatic, or herbal. Save the deep, resinous blends for evening, air conditioning, or Owambes with enough space for you to make an entrance. Your scent shouldn’t arrive ten minutes before you do.
5. Make It Fashion
Scent is part of the look. That linen two-piece from David Wej? Pair it with something green, crisp, and mineral. Your structured agbada in a deep, jewel-toned shade? Reach for spice and wood. Your scent should sit beside your outfit in the mirror, quietly approving.
6. Don’t Try to Impress. Try to Belong (To Yourself)
Fragrance isn’t about seduction. It’s about self-awareness. Your signature scent should smell like you—even when you’re dressed down, moody, or hungover. Especially then. If it doesn’t feel like it fits you at your worst, it won’t elevate you at your best.
7. Less Is Always More
Two, maybe three sprays. Pulse points. Don’t soak your shirt, don’t shower your neck. Let people lean in. Mystery is always more fashionable than assault.
8. Know When to Switch It Up
A signature doesn’t mean only one. You’re not a cartoon character. Day scent. Night scent. Weekend scent. Maybe one for when you’re in your “don’t talk to me unless you’re rich or romantic” mood. Have a rotation. Just like your wardrobe.
9. Respect the Memory It Leaves
People won’t remember what belt you wore. They will remember how you smelled. And the best scents aren’t just noticed—they’re missed. If someone walks into a room after you and inhales instinctively? That’s style.
10. Bonus Rule: The Best Scent Is the One That Feels Like Confidence
Confidence doesn’t mean loud. It doesn’t mean expensive. It means considered. Whether you’re wearing a niche Italian brand or a discreet oil from a Kano market, if you wear it with conviction, it becomes yours.
