November 8–15, 2001

naked city

On the Spot

CP’s Sean O’Neal tests out DJ Cologne.

It’s hard to run around with a little vial of cologne, put it up to people’s noses and get a serious response. But generally, I was able to see the reaction from guys, girls and DJs in the club scene to DJ Cologne. In the sweaty heat of several clubs in Philly, after asking more than a dozen peeps what they thought of it — whether it’s sensual and exotic, or just straight up smells nice — I received positive responses from well-over half the interviewees. Here are some of the more critical responses from local clubs.

Carl Michaels of 611 and Shampoo fame whiffs it and says, "I don’t know what the essence of that scent has to do with DJs. I think it’s gimmicky.… It smells OK — like Drakkar."

I approach Emmi Chen and ask with the vial rammed up her nose, "Would you wanna get on a DJ who was wearing this?" She replies, "It reminds me of too much smell — the kind that makes you faint."

I didn’t have to ask DJ Circuit Breaker what he thought. He was already wearing it.

Mike Kummery of the Illasound house group and an Aqualounge resident says, "It’s very fruitcake-y."

Kevin Jae, deep house/acid jazz resident DJ at the soon-to-be Bleu Martini [currently Foodtek in Old City] says, "It’s OK. Kinda guido-ish, though."

DJ Trevitt of Automatic Tuesdays at New City Tavern responds, "Is that the stuff that comes in a little DJ coffin? I’ll buy it just for that novelty."

A random raver girl, Kate, says dreamily, "Smells like frolicking in the meadows."

And how could a cologne field test be complete without asking my own honey-bunny? So I sprayed some on my neck, got nice and close and asked my lovely Erin Anderson, "Does this turn you on?" Already not a huge fan of colognes in the first place, she replies, "At first, it smells like every other cologne I smell, but mixed with your own body’s scent, yeah, I think I am rather aroused right now."

We then went on to make sweet, sweet love for the first time in months. Thank you, DJ Cologne. I will never forget you.

—Sean O’Neal