Okay, so I’ve been seeing this “New York Cologne” thing pop up all over my TikTok feed, and I got curious. I mean, who wouldn’t want to smell like the Big Apple, right? But, like, in a good way, not like a hot garbage summer day way. So I decided to give it a shot and document the whole, messy process.
The Hunt Begins
First, I had to figure out what this “New York Cologne” even was. Turns out, it’s not one specific scent, but more like a vibe. People were talking about different colognes that reminded them of different parts of the city. Some were woody and smoky, like a Brooklyn bar, others were fresh and clean, like Central Park in the spring. So many options!
Digging Through My Stash (and My Husband’s)
Before I went out and bought anything new, I raided my own fragrance collection, and then, I snuck into my husband’s side of the cabinet. I found a few that kinda fit the bill. One was this old bottle of something that smelled like cedar and leather – definitely gave me a “vintage bookstore in the Village” feeling. Another was super citrusy, which reminded me of walking through the flower district. But, not quite “New York” enough for me.
The Shopping Spree
Time for the fun part – actually buying some colognes! I headed to a department store, because I wanted to be able to smell a bunch of different things.
The stores are pretty large, with many different brands and the fragrance area seems to go on forever.
I ended up getting completely turned around.
- I spent like an hour just sniffing those little paper strips.
- I tried not to get too overwhelmed, I grabbed anything that had “New York” in the name, or looked like it might fit the vibe.
- I may have also sprayed myself with too much cologne, because I think the sales lady was starting to give me the side-eye.
The Line Up
The sales lady managed to track me down in the maze of products and offered some assistance.
I described to her the vibe and feeling I was searching for, which seemed to do the trick.
She was super helpful and after a bit of back and forth, I walked out with three contenders:
- One that’s supposed to smell like a “night out in the Meatpacking District” (whatever that means). It’s pretty intense.
- Another that’s all about “Brooklyn cool” – it’s got this smoky, woody thing going on.
- And finally, one that’s just called “Central Park” – super fresh and green, like freshly cut grass.
The Verdict
I wore each one for a day, to see how they felt in real life. The “Meatpacking District” one? Way too strong for me. I felt like I was choking on it. The “Brooklyn” one was actually pretty nice – I could see myself wearing that on a date night. But the “Central Park” one? That’s the winner. It’s just so clean and refreshing, it makes me feel like I’m strolling through the park on a sunny day. I think I finally understand the whole “New York Cologne” thing. It’s not about smelling like New York, it’s about capturing the feeling of it. And for me, that feeling is a crisp, sunny day in Central Park.