How to Wear and Apply Perfume Like a Pro
Wearing fragrance is easy, just a little spritz, and you’re done. But wearing fragrance "well" requires a little more skill and finesse. For example, did you know that correct placement depends entirely on both the environment in which it’s worn and the outfit it goes with? And that tendency you have toward dressing your wrists and then rubbing them together? “Very bad,” says perfume house Parfums de Marly. And, sure, while a bottle of your signature scent may look like the perfect prop for any chic bathroom vanity, the daily stream of steam from the shower may be curbing its freshness (and, in turn, yours). Fortunately, a few simple tweaks can set you back on the right olfactory course. Here are a few helpful tips when it comes to buying and wearing perfume.
Don’t rub, just spray.
That almost unconscious application habit, misting a little scent on your wrists and then pressing them together before reaching for your neck is actually very bad. Why? The friction created by rubbing heats up the skin, which produces natural enzymes that change the course of the scent. Most impacted are the top and middle notes, along with the dry-down, or the last and longest period of your fragrance’s unfolding. To preserve the integrity of your fragrance (and also ensure it lasts longer on your skin), spritz both wrists lightly, let the liquid sink in, and then do absolutely nothing at all.
The best things come in small packages.
Precious as it is, perfume should be consumed at a brisk pace. Keeping a half-used bottle on your shelf allows oxygen to slowly break down the scent’s molecules, altering its composition. The ideal size when purchasing is in the range of 2.4 to 1.2 milliliters. And if you’re faced with only one, rather generously sized bottle at the perfume counter? Assuming it has a screw cap or stopper, you can always decant the liquid into smaller vials or tuck your half-empty fragrances in the fridge to maintain their olfactory narrative.
Environment is key.
When it comes to storage, perfume is almost like a living organism. It's extremely sensitive to environmental changes and shifts in temperature set off unexpected chemical reactions within the natural ingredients, and therefore age the perfume faster. Surprisingly, the best place to store fragrance is the box it originally came in, and at room temperature.
When in doubt, use your head (or your hair).
A few common-sense rules can carry a smell a long way. Perfume doesn’t last long on dry skin. Parfums de Marly, for example, offers their signature Delina scent as a body wash, hairspray, and moisturizer. Furthermore, don't cover up your scent with your clothing, and instead target areas exposed to the air - the pulse points of the neck, wrists, and inner elbows if you’re wearing a sleeveless top. The only exception, however, is if you’re in an intensely hot climate. Then, you can also apply scent to your hair (gently misting), scarf, or sarong. Because they move with the air, it helps with the diffusion of the scent, leaving a lasting impression.
