In the battle of solid cologne vs spray cologne, will there ever be just one winner? In our experience, it really depends on what you’re looking to get out of your fragrance — and what situation you’ll be wearing it in.
In today’s guide, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the benefits of solid cologne vs spray cologne, answering all of your most frequently asked questions before giving out verdicts on when solid cologne is best, and when you might want to choose spray instead. By the end of the article, you’ll be fully in the know about the relative pros and cons of solid and spray colognes, so let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What Is Spray Cologne And Its Benefits?
Alcohol is the key ingredient of every spray cologne — but not the sort of alcohol you’d be drinking in a Margarita. Though distilled spirits were used to extract aromatics in the oldest colognes, today’s fragrances are made with a special perfumer’s alcohol that is made to hold as much aromatic essence as possible.
Spray cologne uses this alcohol base to great effect in creating convenient, easy to use fragrances with the help of a pump-activated bottle. The pump action introduces air into the cologne inside of a thin tube, which is then forced through a tiny opening. And voila! You have a measured spray of cologne any time you want.
The major benefit of spray cologne is its convenience. With just the press of a button, you can have your favorite cologne aerosolized and ready to wear. The addition of air to the fragrance helps to immediately open it up, quickly displaying the full array of its most prominent notes.
What Is Solid Cologne And Its Benefits?
Also known as “dry cologne” or “hard cologne”, solid cologne eschews the fast-evaporating alcohol base of spray colognes for a compact, long lasting wax base. Though they’ve only recently begun to develop a popular following, solid colognes have existed in some form or another since ancient Egyptian times, where fine botanicals would be suspended in creams and unguents.
The primary benefit of solid cologne is its easy portability. A comparable amount of aromatic potential can be kept in a palm-sized container of solid cologne as you’ll find in an entire bottle of spray cologne — and it has the added benefit of being less prone to breakage and easier to travel on planes with.
A side benefit of solid cologne is its potentially longer duration of wear as compared to spray cologne. The wax base of solid cologne will interact with the heat of your skin over a much longer time period than spray cologne, and it can take longer for the base notes to come out fully — but once they do, they make a fantastically durable scent.
How Do Men Use Solid Cologne?
Men commonly use solid cologne in one of two ways: Applied in the same situations as spray cologne (early morning, after work, etc.), or as a convenient travel cologne. When applied as part of your morning routine, solid cologne will have the time necessary to develop its full array of aromas; taken traveling, it’s an easy way to smell your best no matter where you end up, without the worry of carrying a glass bottle of spray cologne with you.
Applying solid cologne is quite simple: You can rub your finger in the waxy ointment to warm it and get it moving, then apply it to your wrists and neck. If you’d rather not have the scent on your fingertips, consider using a cotton swab for application.
How Do You Make Solid Cologne Last Longer?
Both solid and spray colognes will change over time, as delicate aromatics tend to fade and more prominent base notes take over. But as far as making your colognes last longer, the same rules apply to both solid cologne vs spray cologne:
First, don’t store or expose your cologne jar or bottle to prolonged periods of heat. When solid cologne melts and is reconstituted, its aromatic essential oils have a chance to escape. For best results, keep your solid colognes stored at room temperature, but not more than about 90 degrees F.
Second, don’t expose your cologne to direct sunlight. This is more of a concern for spray colognes, as their aqueous nature allows light to penetrate fully and degrade the essential oils — but even solid colognes can become dry and brittle when exposed to sun for long periods of time.
Does Solid Cologne Expire?
Just like spray cologne, solid cologne does not technically “expire” — though as mentioned above, it does degrade over time. While this is unavoidable, following the tips to keep it out of sunlight and heat will extend the effective life of the fragrance.
Depending on the producer, a solid cologne will smell its best for anywhere from 4 to 8 months of daily use. Thankfully this is plenty of time to use up the entire tin of cologne, making it a wonderfully convenient, effective, and affordable way to apply your daily fragrance.
Are Solid Colognes Worth The Money?
Another benefit of solid colognes: A little bit goes a very long way, indeed. The waxy base of a solid cologne lends itself well to being strongly infused with aromatics, so even a tiny dab of wax can last for as long as a few sprays of most colognes.
In considering whether a solid cologne is worth the money, though, you should ask yourself: How much is it worth to you to be able to easily carry your cologne with you? More than anything, this is what makes solid cologne a great choice to add to your collection.
If you’re a regular traveler (or just love having a fragrance as part of your everyday carry), solid cologne is a definite go-to. For the homebody or office worker, though, it can add pleasant variety to your usual fragrance rotation.
Why You Should Switch To Solid Cologne
To summarize, solid cologne is unique in three ways:
First, it’s incredibly easy to travel with. Business travelers swear by it thanks to how easy it is to carry with you through TSA checkpoints — so if you’re boarding planes on a regular basis, solid cologne should definitely be a part of your carry on baggage.
Second, solid cologne has a longer development on the skin than comparably priced colognes. Its waxy nature gives extra time for your body heat and skin chemistry to interact with unique aromatics, meaning it’s a great choice for people who want a more subtle scent.
Third, solid cologne can be a great value choice for budget-conscious consumers. An average tin of solid cologne costs somewhere around $20, and can easily last as long as an average bottle of spray cologne. If you’re looking to smell great without emptying your wallet, solid cologne is an excellent alternative to pricier spray bottles.
Final Verdict: Is Solid Cologne Better Or Is Spray Cologne Better?
In the end, we’re of the opinion that neither solid nor spray cologne is definitively better than the other. Rather, each type of cologne has definite benefits in certain situations — and drawbacks in others.
If you’re a frequent traveler, solid cologne is easily the right way to go. Its pocket-sized tins are easy to throw in a backpack or carry case, and the lack of liquid makes them so much easier to take on an airplane than a spray cologne. They get bonus points for being a more affordable way for beginners to get into the world of fine fragrances.
Spray cologne, however, has a much longer history of production, with more unique bottlings and varieties of scents. If you’re willing to spend the extra cash, and don’t plan on taking your bottles traveling with you often, then spray fragrances definitely have the best winter colognes, best fall colognes, and best summer colognes from a purely aesthetic standpoint.
Quite honestly, we’re happy to have both solid cologne vs spray cologne available for use in our collections. They each have their own unique place where they shine, so in this case two really is better than one.
Brian Adee
Brian has been fascinated with fragrances since his 8th birthday, when his Dad gifted him a bottle of Acqua di Gio. Since then, he has become a men's grooming & style aficionado who teaches men how to look sharp. Backed by personal experience, Brian's articles are known for his no-holds-barred style where he holds nothing back. You will get his real opinions on the latest men's grooming products and best practices where he reveals the best (and worst) style advice every man should know.