When I was in high school, I had a huge crush on a boy who wore Drakkar Noir — lots of Drakkar Noir. I could smell him before I saw him, and 15 years ago, that was really exciting. To this day, I can’t walk through the men’s department at Dillard’s without thinking of that boy.

And laughing.

Last week, my friend C texted me: “What do you think of men who wear cologne to work? Do you think it sends a message?”

Ooh good question!

An informal poll on Twitter and Facebook confirmed my own gut reaction: In general, cologne at the office is a don’t, for a couple of specific reasons:

It can be overwhelming. The biggest complaint I heard about men’s cologne was that too many of the guys are erring on the side of bathing in it, rather than dabbing it on for effect. Gentlemen, if you’re going to wear cologne to work, keep it light. Ladies, same goes for you. The last thing you want is to leave an important meeting and have people buzzing about your scent — rather than your presentation.

It can be an environmental hazard. If your job puts you into close contact with other people — you’re a dentist, for example — then skip scent all together. By the same token, if your job puts into contact with lots of people during the day, especially in small places — conference rooms or elevators — think twice about cologne or perfume. You never know who might have an allergy, and you’d hate to be the source of anyone’s hives.

But what about the second part of C’s question: Does cologne at work send a message? Twitter and Facebook said yes, it does. My friend JP summed it up this way: “If [my husband] was putting on more than just aftershave to go to work, I’d think something was up.”

I have to say that I agree — but I also have to say that I’m married to a man who doesn’t wear cologne or aftershave. Ever. Then again, I’m married to a man who only wears his wedding ring about half the time, and that doesn’t bother me at all — or make me suspicious.

So I’m tossing this one out to you, dear readers: When a man wears cologne to the office, what’s the message it sends? Is the office an appropriate place for cologne, or should the menfolk save it for the weekend?

And do you wear scent to the office? Does that send a message? Or is that a completely different thing?