by: Jeff Lakie

Walk into any nightclub, and you're bound to catch a drift of some guy's cologne. Men today use cologne just as women use makeup or perfume-to enhance their attraction. But did you know that in the early days people used cologne instead of bathing?

Cologne was invented in the 1700s, primarily to be used in bath water. Strangely, it was also used as mouthwash and sometimes even as an enema! People believed cologne could cure just about any ailment. Cologne manufacturers even marketed it this way. Fortunately, we know more about science and medicine than our forefathers, and most of us will probably never take a sip of our favorite cologne.

Back in the18th century, people didn't bathe nearly as often as they do today. Perfume and cologne were necessities to cover up body odor. Cologne was also used to spruce up the odor of different rooms in a house. (Remember, this was before the days of plug-in scents and fragrant candles.)

What a different status these fragrances hold in today's society! Peruse any popular magazine, and you will see photos of glamorous men and women in advertisements for perfume or cologne. The fragrances are equated with sex appeal. Perhaps that is why so many men wear cologne when they go out to bars, parties, and clubs-ads lead them to believe the way they smell will determine the quality of the women they date. Dab a little cologne on the neck before heading out, and lean in close while dancing…. It's kind of like a pick-up assistant in a bottle!

Do women really like men's cologne, though? That depends. There was a time when it was considered okay to wear perfume or cologne to the office. Nowadays, though, it seems that many people are allergic to the fragrances, and some companies have banned cologne in the workplace as part of the dress code. Still, research studies continue to show that cologne can indeed trigger human pheromones, which can chemically increase sexual attraction. So maybe those ads aren't completely farcical? Looks like there is more to cologne than meets the nose after all.