Question: Is there any reluctance in Jewish law for a man to wear cologne?

Answer: In practice, wearing cologne seems to be seen as, minimally, an inappropriate display of pampering; if not, a lack of modesty; if not, a prohibition of “simlas isha” (something women wear).

However, Jewish law does not, in fact, reflect this.

First of all, the prohibition on Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av of “annointing” is in reference to aromatic oils that people – clearly, men and women – used to wear.

Secondly, the talmud in Nazir 59 tells us that it is a Rabbinic prohibition for a man to shave his body hair (armpits, etc), as that is what women do. However, if it is a place where it is common for men to shave, it is not prohibited. Obviously, it is common for men to wear cologne in the world in which we live, hence there would be no prohibition.

Now, arguably, if you live in a tight-knit community where no men wear cologne except for you, that logic would no longer work. Nevertheless, on the level technical Jewish law, there is no prohibition to wear cologne.

Interestingly, once we find justification in Jewish law for wearing cologne, it can be argued that it may be a mitzvah of Kavod HaBriyos (respecting people) to wear it! (After all, a person can wear cologne without a) smelling like a perfume factory and b) smelling like he’s trying to impress someone.)

Rabbi Yosef Friedman