Is your pup chic enough for canine cologne? We test the best dog air fresheners

Donna Karan once concocted a perfume that recreated the scent of her husband’s neck. The smell of my beloved is warm, powdery, mineral, velvety.

If the aroma were replicated by a perfume house nose, it would be earthy and elemental flint. And I would constantly bury my nose in it.

As a middle-aged woman, said beloved is obviously a dog: Pimlico, my beautiful blue whippet. Drunk, I constantly kiss Pim while soaking up her silky scent. And yet, as Britain’s 3.2 million new dog owners will attest, there are times when our four-legged friends don’t smell so sublime after rolling around in duck poo.

So how to alleviate the problem? I present to you the new fashionable genre of the perfume industry: canine cologne. Britain’s more than 11 million dogs are no longer just pampered, but scented.

‘Can that be wise?’ I ask south London whisperer Adam Tinsley of the Goddard Veterinary Group, who saved Pim’s life on numerous occasions. Won’t those artificial scents bother his nose and skin? ‘

Owners use them in conjunction with bathing or as a spruce up between washes,” he says, “They’re designed for dogs, so they’re not a problem for their skin. And that’s way better than smelling fox urine.

I invested in a canine cologne before Pim arrived, paranoid about having one of those homes where the smell of the wet dog is obvious to all but its owner.

The spritz I opted for was BOS Naturals Baby Powder & Aloe Vera Scented Dog Cologne, which I bought on Amazon wowed with its naturalness, British manufacture and understated subtlety. But how does BOS compare to its dog air freshener rivals? Pim and I sniffed out the best of the bunch…

FOR BATH-PHOBES

Kiehl’s Cuddly-Coat Cleansing Spritz (£15, for 250ml, kiehls.co.uk)

They say: ‘Formulated with chamomile flower extract and glycerin, this freshly scented formula helps cleanse and deodorize puppies on the go. Spray for a healthy glow.’

What does that mean: A convenient leave-in cleansing spray with barely there aroma. Smell: A minimum of freshness.

Best for: Bath phobic dogs.

Paw Points: 8/10

HEADACHE

Natural Peach Bum scent for Lady Dogs (£12 for 250ml, dogslovehownd.com)

They say: ‘A feminine scent with heart notes of sweet orange, jasmine and peach.’

What does that mean : A sickening affront to all creatures, great and small.

The smell: Potpourri in the basement of a sickening saccharine affair.

Best for: Give you a headache.

Paw points: 0/10

THE CHOICE OF TOILET

BOS Naturals Baby Powder and Aloe Vera Scented Dog Cologne (£13.59 for 250ml, amazon.co.uk)

They say: ‘The most popular fragrance with professional groomers. It contains aloe vera which helps nourish the coat and skin. We offer a 100% money back guarantee.

What does that mean : Pimlico gets soaked in it when she rolls around in fox pee.

The smell: Powdered baby skin.

Best for: Silk Whippets.

Paw points: 10/10

AFTERSHAVE STYLE

Barbour Dog Cologne (£14.95 for 100ml, johnlewis.com)

They say: ‘A dog cologne to refresh and soothe skin to keep it smelling fresh.’

What this means: A cologne in the cheekiest sense.

The smell: Traditional aftershave.

Best for: The four-legged friends of golfers and country pubs?

Paw points: 5/10

SEASIDE PERFUME

Men’s Society Good Dog Cologne in Coastal (£9.50 for 200ml, johnlewis.com)

They say: “Handcrafted on the Norfolk coast, this natural scent is the perfect finishing touch to a bath routine.”

What this means: A minimal approach with a luxurious feel.

The smell: Flint rocks and sea air.

Best for: Subtle scent for the chicest pets.

Paw points: 9/10

DOGGY DE-STINKER

Bramley Digby Dog Deodorant Spray (£14, bramleyproducts.co.uk)

They say: ‘This cedarwood and peppermint spray has a higher pH so it’s suitable for your dog’s sensitive skin. It is naturally antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial.’

What this means: A dog deodorant with health benefits.

The smell: Juicy fruit chewing gum.

Best for: Hippie dogs whose long locks call for a groom.

Paw Points: 7/10