Antonio Mcgowan
Applying perfume is an art, and when done right, it can enhance your overall look and make you feel more confident. The right perfume can complement your natural scent and express your personal style. The key is to diffuse it all over, rather than concentrating it in one area. Pulse points, such as the wrists, inner elbows, collarbone, and behind the knees, are ideal spots to apply perfume as the heat from your body helps release the scent. Other factors, such as the environment, occasion, and outfit, also play a role in how you apply perfume. Applying perfume post-shower and on moisturized skin can also help it last longer.
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What You'll Learn
Apply to pulse points
Pulse points are areas on the body where blood vessels are close to the skin. These zones emit more heat than the rest of the body, helping to diffuse the fragrance and create a lasting scent. The heat allows the oils in your perfume to warm up faster and absorb more quickly into the skin. As a result, the aroma of your perfume can last much longer and smell more potent.
The most common pulse points to apply perfume are the wrists, neck, and jawline area. Applying perfume to the wrists is perhaps the most well-known area, offering a perfect way to distribute your scent to other pulse points. Avoid rubbing your wrists together, as this can break down the top notes of the perfume and affect how the scent develops on your skin. Instead, spritz both wrists lightly, let the liquid sink in, and then do nothing at all. You can then use your wrists to create fragrance blends before touching your neck, hair, and beyond.
The side of the neck is another powerful pulse point due to the carotid artery that resides there. A spritz behind the ears is also effective and ritualistic, as it ensures your perfume will wind up in your hair, contributing to its range and longevity while guaranteeing an all-day diffusion.
Other pulse points include the elbow creases, behind the knees, and the temples (located on the outer edges of each eye).
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Spray, don't rub
When applying perfume, it is important to remember to spray and refrain from rubbing it in. This is because the friction from rubbing can change the course of the scent. The heat generated from rubbing can affect the composition of the perfume.
Rubbing your wrists together after spraying perfume can cause the middle and top notes, as well as the dry-down (the last and longest period of a fragrance's unfolding) to be altered. For example, if you are wearing a floral fragrance, the heat from rubbing can cause it to lose its crispness.
To avoid this, spritz both wrists lightly and let the liquid sink in without rubbing. You can also spritz or dab perfume onto your pulse points, which are areas where your veins sit closest to your skin, and your fragrance will linger all day. These include the inside of your wrists, inner elbows, below your belly button, behind your earlobes, and the back of your knees.
Another technique is to do a "spritz and step", where you spray your perfume in front of you and then walk into it and back out, leaving a light layer on your clothes.
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Moisturise skin first
To make your perfume last longer, it's important to ensure your skin is soft and hydrated before applying it. This is because dry skin can cause perfume to evaporate quickly. Applying an unscented body lotion or moisturiser first will help to lock in the scent.
Vaseline or petroleum jelly can also be used to moisturise the skin before applying perfume. This is because moisturisers give the perfume oils something to grasp onto, allowing the scent to last longer.
Applying perfume after a shower is a good way to ensure your skin is warm and hydrated. However, make sure your skin is completely dry before applying perfume, especially on the pulse points, otherwise it won't stick.
Pulse points are the best spots to apply perfume. These are the areas where your veins are closest to the skin, such as the neck, wrists, inner elbows, and behind the earlobes. These warm spots emit extra body heat, which helps to diffuse the scent.
Applying perfume to your hair is another way to make your scent last longer, as hair can hold perfume better than skin due to its porous nature. However, be cautious about putting certain perfume formulas in your hair.
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Spritz hair
Spritzing perfume on your hair is a great way to make the scent last longer. However, it is important to note that perfumes contain about 60 to 70% alcohol, which can be drying for your hair. Therefore, it is recommended to use an alcohol-free formula or a fragrance designed specifically for hair. Hair perfumes typically only contain traces of alcohol to avoid drying out the hair and scalp.
Before applying any perfume to your hair, it is important to start with clean hair. Use your favourite shampoo to wash your hair thoroughly and follow up with a conditioner to hydrate your locks. If you have coarse, damaged, colour-treated, or naturally dry hair, you may want to use a leave-in conditioning treatment.
Once your hair is clean and moisturised, make sure it is completely dry before applying any perfume. You can use a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting and apply a heat protectant product to speed up the drying process. Just be sure to avoid any heat sources when spraying the perfume to avoid any potential fire hazards.
When your hair is dry and ready for perfume, hold the bottle at least 20 cm from your head and lightly mist your hair. You can also try spraying the perfume in front of you and then walking into the aromatic mist, or spraying it onto your wrists and then dabbing it into your hair. This will create a lovely sillage, leaving a scented trail wherever you go.
Remember, a little goes a long way when it comes to perfuming your hair. One or two spritzes are usually enough to make the scent last without drying out your hair. Enjoy experimenting with different fragrances and finding the one that suits you best!
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Avoid spraying clothes
While spraying perfume on your clothes may seem like a good idea to make the scent last longer, it is best avoided. The alcohol in perfumes can potentially stain and discolour fabrics, especially synthetic materials and silk. Synthetic fabrics can also alter the scent of the perfume.
Perfumes are designed to interact with the skin and the natural oils your body produces. When applied to the skin, the scent can mingle with your body odour, creating a unique fragrance. This chemistry is lost when perfume is sprayed on clothing.
If you want your perfume to last longer, it is better to apply it to your pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, inside of the elbows, and behind the knees. These areas are warmer and allow the fragrance to circulate into the air, keeping the scent with you throughout the day.
It is recommended to spray perfume before putting on your clothes and to let it dry on your skin to avoid potential stains. Applying an unscented moisturiser or lotion before spraying perfume can also help to prolong the scent, as perfume evaporates more quickly on dry skin.
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Frequently asked questions
Less is more when it comes to perfume. A few spritzes should be enough to leave a lasting impression. The number of sprays depends on the strength of the perfume and your fragrance goals. For a powerful EDT or EDP, one spray on the forearm, then dab your arms together, or apply one spray to the mid-torso. For a weaker fragrance, you may need two or three sprays on the chest or collarbone.
Pulse points are ideal places to apply perfume. These are areas where blood flows near the skin’s surface, such as the wrists, inner elbows, collarbone, neck, behind the ears and knees, and the torso. These warm spots on your body emit extra body heat, which helps to naturally diffuse a scent. You can also apply perfume to your hair and clothes, but be careful of stains and discolouration.
Apply perfume post-shower when the skin is dried off but still warm. This is when the skin is most receptive to fragrance. If you have dry skin, apply an unscented body lotion or moisturiser first to help the perfume last longer.
