If you finally choose your signature fragrance or just find a fragrance you’d like to wear now and again, the tendency is just to spritz it on any old how and forget about it.
But there are plenty of ways you can go wrong, when it comes to the best way to apply perfume.
To make the most of your chosen fragrance, here are the do’s and don’ts to remember around wearing perfume.
How to Wear Perfume
Apply To Clean Skin
Apply fragrance straight after a bath or shower to clean skin. Ensure that your body lotion does not clash with your perfume. A light fragrance is fine but not a heavily scented lotion.
Layer Your Fragrance
To help your fragrance last, use a bath or shower gel and body lotion from the same range so that you have literally “layers” of fragrance.
Consider Your Skin Type
Perfume disappears more quickly from dry skin than from oily skin. If you have dry skin you may need to reapply your fragrance in the evening or apply to moisturized skin so the fragrance lasts longer.
Spray From a Distance
Spray your skin with eau de parfum or toilette from a distance of about two feet rather than right next to the skin so that the fragrance covers a wider area.
Change Your Perfume To Suit The Mood
Summer weather calls for a lighter fragrance as well as lighter makeup than winter and use a lighter fragrance during the day than for an evening function. Of course if you have a special signature scent, you might like to ignore that advice!
Remove Any Excess
If you accidentally spray too much perfume, then wash the area you sprayed with soap and water as soon as possible to remove the overpowering aroma.
Buy An Atomizer
Transfer some of your eau de parfum or toilette to a mini spray you can carry in your handbag so you can use it to refresh the fragrance without carrying around a bit heavy bottle.
How NOT to Wear Perfume
Don’t Overdo It
You don’t want to be the girl who smothers everyone with overpowering fragrance in the elevator.
How much is too much perfume?
It depends on the type of perfume you are using. If you have a concentrated perfume in liquid or oil form, you need only dab it onto pulse points (on the wrists or behind the ears but not both) and nothing more. An eau de parfum is slightly less concentrated and can be dabbed or lightly sprayed onto both sets of pulse points. An eau de toilette is the least concentrated and can be sprayed onto ankles, wrist pulse points and base of the throat.
Also, remember you stop noticing fragrance after a while. Check with a friend you trust, if you suspect you may be using too much.
Don’t Rub
Rubbing perfume into the skin (for instance rubbing your wrists together after applying) crushes the chemicals and destroys the delicate balance of the scent.
Don’t Spray Your Hair
I like to spray the air and walk into a cloud of fragrance but don’t do this unless you have normal, freshly washed hair. The alcohol in perfume can make dry hair drier and oily hair intensifies fragrance so it can be overpowering.
Don’t Spray Clothes and Jewelry
The chemicals in perfume can stain or cling to clothes (silk stains particularly easily) and they can damage the surface of fine or costume jewelry.
Don’t Use Old Perfume
Fragrance lasts about 3 to 5 years – plenty of time to use it as long as you use it regularly. Any longer and it can go off. Throw perfume away if it changes color or smells odd. To make sure your perfume lasts a few years store it in a cool dry place, away from strong sunlight and always replace the cap tightly to prevent evaporation.
