What order to apply body wash, body butter and cologne
The order is body wash in the shower, a light pat dry, body butter or lotion on damp skin, a few minutes to settle, then one spray of cologne, then clothes. Each step goes on top of the one before, so scent comes last and the wash comes first.
The one step people get wrong is the wash. A strongly scented body wash can fight the butter and the cologne that follow, so it is worth choosing it on purpose.
What is the full order, step by step?
- Wash with something that suits what comes next. A plain body wash is the safe choice, and a scented one in the same family as your butter and cologne is the other.
- Pat dry instead of rubbing dry. You want to step out with skin that is still a little damp, not dripping and not bone dry.
- Put a thin layer of butter or lotion on damp skin: chest, upper arms and the sides of the neck.
- Wait a few minutes while it settles.
- Add one spray of cologne if you want one, inside the area the butter covers.
- Dress last. A butter or any oil can mark fabric if clothes go on before it absorbs.
It takes the same time you already spend after a shower, and the only real difference is the order.
Why does the butter go on damp skin?
Two reasons point the same way. The American Academy of Dermatology advises moisturizing while your skin is still damp. And with our jars, wear is longest on damp skin after a shower. We give 12+ hours on most skin, which is a claim about our jars and not a rule for every product.
When does a scented body wash clash?
When it points in a different direction from what goes on top. The same goes for a scented deodorant or aftershave, since each adds its own smell to the mix.
Say your butter is a warm, woody scent and your wash smells of fresh citrus. What you smell by midday is a mix of both, and neither one is the scent you chose. If something smells off a few hours into the day, the wash is a good suspect, because it is the layer you gave the least thought.
A scented wash helps when it sits in the same family as the rest. A fresh wash under a fresh butter reads as one scent. In my experience a heavily perfumed wash can take over a quiet butter.
Skin matters too. The American Academy of Dermatology advises gentle fragrance-free products for dry skin, and says to avoid scented soaps. If your skin runs dry, a plain wash is the better pick, and the butter can carry the scent by itself.
A simple rule: pick one layer to be the loudest. If it is the cologne, keep the wash and butter quiet. If it is the butter, use a plain wash.
What changes if you use lotion instead of butter?
The order does not change. It is still wash, pat dry, moisturizer on damp skin, wait, then spray. What changes is the scent.
An unscented lotion leaves your cologne as it is. A scented lotion adds its own smell, so choose it to match. A scented butter is your moisturizer and your base layer in one, which is why it sits in the middle of the order.
Do you need all three?
No. Butter on its own is a complete routine for a quiet day. Cologne on its own is how some men start. Layering is optional. Our layering guide has a one-week test to see whether it does anything for you.
If the butter is not right for you, reply to your order email for the 30-day money-back guarantee. Details are on the guarantee page.
Quick answers
Do you put body butter on before or after cologne? Before. Butter goes on damp skin first, then one spray of cologne on top.
Should body wash and cologne smell the same? They do not have to, but they should not fight. Match the family, or use a plain wash.
Can you put cologne on right after lotion? Yes, but give the lotion a few minutes to settle. An unscented lotion leaves the cologne as it is, and a scented one adds its own smell.
When should I get dressed? After the butter has absorbed and your skin no longer feels slick.
Pick the butter first and build the order around it. All six scents are in one place, and the scent quiz can choose one for you.
