Are you still rocking your Dad’s Old Spice aftershave?
If you are, you’re not going to impress Mel Wells, publisher of the Cars and Cologne YouTube channel.
Though take it from the rest of us, you could benefit from Mel’s advice on the proper scent you should be wearing.
As an avid Corvette enthusiast and lifelong cologne “Fragrancista,” Mel has the expertise to put you on the right path.
We were fortunate to run into Mel at October’s monthly Caffeine & Octane event. What grabbed our attention initially was how the early morning light made his 2008 Atomic Orange Corvette paint come alive.
Honestly, we could see Mel’s ultra-clean C6 glowing from across the parking lot.
So, one thing leads to another, and during our discussion, we noticed he was wearing a ball cap that read “Cars & Cologne.” So, naturally, being the curious sort, we had to ask about it, and we’re glad we did.
We are fond of saying that every Corvette owner has a story. In Mel’s case, he had one we had to share.
Rare Atomic Orange
Rod Worley – Editor – Before we get into your Cars and Cologne YouTube channel, let’s talk about your eye-catching 2008 C6 Atomic Orange LS3 coupe.
When did you get it, and what about the sixth generation drew you to it?
Mel Wells – Cars and Cologne – I’ve wanted a C6 the minute Chevy brought it out. The low stance and wide body really caught my eye.
Also, it’s the last year of the sixth-generation body style with the four oval tail lights. To me, that’s the classic Corvette look.
So, I wanted one, and my wife bought it to celebrate my 53 birthday. You don’t see many Atomic Orange ones with an LS3 motor, which is part of why I like them.
I’ve gone ahead and named the car “Bitter Orange.”
Starting The Channel
Rod Worley – Editor – So, let’s transition to your YouTube channel, “Cars and Cologne.” How did the concept come about, and can you tell us more about it?
Mel Wells – Cars and Cologne – My wife, bless her soul, came up with the concept. I collect cologne like some guys collect watches, shoes, guns, and whatnot.
I collect cologne and have somewhere around 300 different ones. But I am an avid car enthusiast as well.
So one day, I was conversing with my wife while watching videos on YouTube. She noticed I was flipping back and forth between car channels and cologne channels.
After a while, my wife said, “Look, why don’t you start a YouTube channel matching cars and cologne?” “You could recommend the cologne that best matches the car they’re driving.”
Usually, people don’t think to combine the two until they’ve watched the videos. I started about two years ago, and now it’s grown to include an Instagram account.
An Early Passion
Rod Worley – Editor – For most of our passions, there’s a backstory of when it began for us. Is there one of those for you and cologne?
Mel Wells – Cars & Cologne – There is. I was in the third grade, probably around nine years old, and there was this little girl in my class whom I wanted to impress.
I had seen this commercial on TV about guys wearing Bullet cologne and how girls were attracted to them. So, I went down to the Walgreens drugstore and bought a bottle.
Unfortunately, being only nine years old and never having worn cologne before, I drowned myself in it. Needless to say, when I went to school, I cleared the room.
I can look back on it now and smile, but that was when it all started for me.
The Right Scent
Usually, when we talk to another Corvette owner, we learn something new about America’s Sports Car. But, this time, we picked up fresh insights into the C6 and the world of colognes.
While there’s little chance we’ll be confused for a “Fragrancista” in the near term, we have picked up some of the basics.
When you think about it, many of us spend considerable time and treasure upgrading our “pride n’ joy.” So perhaps, it’s high time we do a bit of personal upgrading.
Cars and Cologne would be the perfect place to start if you wanted to bring the right scent to your Corvette.
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