CMT Blog: Cologne

Gift cards are not gifts. That is just my opinion but in a day and age where grocery stores have end-of-aisle displays stocked with gift cards for everywhere from Best Buy to Victoria's Secret to Applebee's, I think it needs to be said. To me, a gift card says, "I care about you but not enough to actually put some thought into a gift." Frankly, it's just plain lazy holiday shopping. So to get you thinking about some more creative gifts for the country fans on your list, I will start with a gift guide and you can feel free to add some of your own ideas.

1. The Rise of Kahne DVD with narrator Dierks Bentley. Fans of Bentley tend to love his vocals even when all he's doing is talking about the life of NASCAR hero, Kasey Kahne. According to USA Weekend, they met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

Read more...

Sounds like a great new song title, doesn't it? But how does it smell? According to a few sources, pretty damn good.

Southern Blend is Tim McGraw's new cologne. And it has the heady concoction of grapefruit, star anise, bergamot, a heart of lavender, violet leaves, amber and tobacco. At first glance, it seems like it would make a guy smell like he just ate a grapefruit, took an aromatherapy bath and then smoked a cigarette. But I'm sure it's better than that. Otherwise, I doubt McGraw would put his name on it. When it comes to this fragrance stuff, he really knows what he's doing.

Read more...

The first thing I thought of when I sprayed Tim McGraw's new cologne this morning was, "This smells like a high school dance." Back then, I was all about Preferred Stock, which I thought was the best-smelling cologne ever. When I got into country music, I occasionally wore Stetson - to go to the fair, for example. This new cologne, simply called McGraw, is from Coty, and you can tell, because it has the same notes as Preferred Stock and Stetson (at least to my amateur nose). I haven't dabbed from those little bottles in years, because now I'm into Allure Homme Sport, but I'll never forget those fragrances, and all the awkward moments associated with them. Unfortunately, I may have to change my shirt, partly because I'm not particularly fond of the fragrance, but also because I have a lot to do today and I don't want all the Tim McGraw fans in my office sniffing me.

The cologne copywriters must’ve had a tough time on this one. McGraw by Tim McGraw is, according to the advertising, a woody, spicy fragrance that's irresistibly masculine. Do you think he wears it? Do you think his wife Faith Hill likes it and finds McGraw (the fragrance) that much more irresistibly masculine? It’s available now for sale at about $20. So if you’ve bought it and/or worn it, please post a comment and tell us all what you think.