The Proper Way to Apply Perfume
Many people don’t realize that the way they apply perfume can significantly affect its longevity and scent profile. Most of us have picked up the habit of spraying perfume on our wrists and then rubbing them together, often mimicking techniques we’ve seen from family members or friends. However, according to fragrance expert Emma from the popular Instagram account Perfumerism, this method isn’t the most effective.
“Rubbing your wrists causes friction and heat, which can cause the volatile top notes to disappear more quickly,” Emma explains. “Perfumers formulate fragrances with the entire top-to-bottom experience in mind, so adding friction will change the carefully crafted formula, and disrupt the experience. It will also make your perfume not last as long, as you are essentially evaporating away the fragrance.”
While Emma acknowledges that most people don’t rub hard enough to cause major issues, she still recommends avoiding the wrist-rubbing technique in favor of a gentler approach. “I recommend that instead of rubbing, you tap your wrists gently to transfer the formula,” she says.
Spraying Fragrance Onto the Body
It’s important to understand that the issue lies in the rubbing of the skin, not the act of spraying itself. In fact, spraying perfume directly onto the body is generally fine. One of the most important places to spray perfume is actually the belly button!
“Spraying fragrance too close to the body is not a problem, in my opinion,” Emma tells us. “Your perfume will diffuse from where it is sprayed, so if you only spray on your wrists, you will only smell it on your wrists.” Emma prefers to spray her fragrance on her chest so it hits both her clothing and her skin. “Your skin helps the fragrance develop, and the matrix of fabric is extremely efficient at holding onto fragrance and helping it last longer,” she explains.
Another popular method is to spritz perfume into the air and walk through it. Emma approves of this technique as well. While both methods can work, their effectiveness often depends on the specific perfume you’re using. Brands that are more potent tend to be better suited for less intense “walk-through application.” For example, one notable brand that Emma believes shouldn’t be sprayed directly onto the skin is Mugler. On the other hand, brands like Jo Malone London, which produce lighter and more natural fragrances, are better suited for being sprayed closer to the body to prevent the scent from getting lost in the air.
Layering Perfume with Moisturizer
In addition to choosing the right spraying technique, you can also make your perfume last longer by moisturizing your skin first. “I like the Lubriderm unscented body lotion, also DedCool Milk Hand + Body Lotion is a nice neutral scent for layering,” Emma exclusively tells us. However, it’s crucial to apply your lotion before your perfume rather than afterward. “You always want to do lotion first!” Emma warns.
Spraying your fragrance on your clothing can also help it last longer, especially if you’re wearing a less intense perfume. “If your perfume is on the lighter side, there is an ‘overspraying’ technique you can do, where you spray just a little more than you would regularly do, so that your fragrance lasts longer and weakens to the perfect amount when you are out at special events, etc.,” Emma explains.
The only thing to be careful of when it comes to spraying your clothing is ensuring the fragrance you’re using doesn’t have dark-colored ingredients (like vanilla), and isn’t colored itself. If it is, it may stain your white clothes.
