Lance Carson
There's more to applying perfume than meets the eye. The way you apply your fragrance can impact how long it lasts and how it smells. For example, it's best not to spritz your perfume into the air or directly onto your clothes, as it can cause staining. Instead, perfume is designed to interact with your body's chemistry and warmth. The best way to make your perfume last longer is to apply it directly to your pulse points, which are the warmest parts of your body. These include your wrists, neck, behind your ears, and even behind your knees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to apply | Spray directly onto the body, not hair or clothes. |
| How to spray | Spray about five inches from the skin. |
| Where to apply | Warm pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, collarbones, behind the ears and knees, and inner elbows. |
| Skin type | Dry skin causes perfume to evaporate quickly. Moisturise first or use an unscented body lotion. |
| Application frequency | Two or three spritzes are enough. |
| Clothing | Apply perfume before getting dressed to avoid stains. |
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What You'll Learn
Moisturise first with an unscented lotion or Vaseline
Moisturising your skin before applying perfume is a great way to make your fragrance last longer. This is because perfume evaporates quickly on dry skin. By applying an unscented lotion or Vaseline, you're creating a base that will help the perfume oils to grasp onto your skin, allowing the scent to linger.
It's best to opt for an unscented moisturiser to prevent any olfactory interference. This way, your perfume can shine without competing with another fragrance. A light coat is all you need—moisturise sparingly, focusing on your pulse points. These are the areas where your veins sit closest to the skin, so you can literally feel your pulse. Pulse points include the inside of your wrists, inner elbows, neck, behind your earlobes, collarbones, and the back of your knees.
If you're going to be wearing a sleeveless blouse, target the pulse points of your neck and wrists or inner elbows. These areas are exposed to the air, allowing your fragrance to develop quicker. If you want to smell your perfume throughout the day, apply it to the pulse points closest to your nose.
After moisturising, wait for your skin to dry before spritzing on your perfume. This is an important step because perfume doesn't stick to wet skin. Once your skin is dry, go ahead and spray your perfume about five inches away from the skin. This distance ensures that you avoid an unpleasant flow of liquid.
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Apply to pulse points: wrists, neck, elbows, knees, collarbones
To make your perfume last longer, apply it to your pulse points. These are areas where your veins sit closest to your skin, so you can literally feel your pulse. The warmth from your body helps to diffuse the fragrance.
The wrists are one of the most common spots to apply perfume. However, avoid rubbing your wrists together after application as this can ruin your perfume by crushing the top notes. Instead, spritz both wrists lightly and let the liquid sink in.
Another common pulse point to apply perfume is the neck. This is a good choice if your goal is to smell the perfume yourself, as it is close to your nose. You can also apply perfume to the collarbones, which are another set of pulse points.
Other pulse points include the elbows, behind the knees, and behind the ears. Applying perfume to the inner elbows allows you to sniff your perfume whenever you feel like it.
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Don't rub wrists together—let dry naturally
While it may be tempting to spritz some perfume on your wrist and then rub it with the other wrist, experts advise against doing this. Award-winning perfumer Francis Kurkdjian describes this as "very bad". By rubbing your wrists together, you create friction, which heats up the skin and produces natural enzymes that can alter the course of the scent. This can cause the top and middle notes of your perfume to fade and evaporate before they settle, changing the scent.
Instead, you should spritz the perfume onto your pulse points and let it dry naturally. Pulse points are areas where your veins sit closest to the skin, so you can feel your pulse. These include the inside of your wrists, inner elbows, neck, collarbones, behind the ears and knees, and below the belly button. These warm spots on your body emit extra body heat, which helps to diffuse the scent.
Applying perfume to your pulse points allows the fragrance to interact with your body's chemistry and warmth, which helps the perfume to last and linger. It is also important to moisturize your skin before applying perfume, as it can evaporate quickly on dry skin. This can be done by applying an unscented body lotion, Vaseline, or a companion body lotion to your fragrance.
By following these steps and avoiding rubbing your wrists together, you can preserve the integrity of your fragrance and ensure that it lasts longer on your skin.
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Spray perfume before getting dressed to avoid stains
To avoid staining your clothes with perfume, it's best to spray your fragrance before getting dressed. Directly apply the perfume to your skin, focusing on your neck, wrists, or inner elbows. These areas are considered pulse points, where your body emits heat, helping the fragrance notes to develop and linger. By spraying your perfume before dressing, you prevent the oils in the perfume from soaking into your clothing and causing stains.
While spraying perfume onto your clothes may make the fragrance last longer, it can also cause unwanted stains on your favourite garments. White clothes and light fabrics are more prone to stains, but fabric type and perfume colour also play a role. To avoid staining, it's recommended to spray the fragrance about five inches from the skin. This distance ensures that the perfume mist is spread out, preventing the oils from saturating your clothes in one spot.
If you have sensitive skin, spraying perfume onto your clothes may be preferable. However, this method can result in stains due to the oil content in perfumes. To minimise the risk of staining, consider spraying the front of your shirt near the neckline or the front of your shoulders if the neckline is lower. This way, you can still enjoy the scent of the perfume without directly applying it to your skin.
Additionally, be mindful of the environment in which you'll be wearing the perfume. If you're in an intensely hot climate, avoid applying scent directly to your body. As you sweat, the natural oils of your skin can interact with the perfume and cause it to deteriorate faster. Instead, lightly mist your hair, scarf, or sarong to leave a lasting impression.
Remember, the key to avoiding perfume stains is to apply the fragrance to your skin before getting dressed and allowing it to dry completely. This simple tweak can make a significant difference in preventing those unwanted stains on your favourite clothes.
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Store away from steamy bathrooms to preserve freshness
Storing perfume in the bathroom is a common practice due to its convenience for getting ready. However, this can significantly impact the fragrance's lifespan and quality. The bathroom is a hotspot for temperature and humidity fluctuations, which can break down the chemical structure of the perfume, causing it to lose its original scent.
The fragrance oils, essential oils, and alcohols in perfume are delicate and can easily break down, altering the scent or causing it to disappear. Excess heat and temperature changes can accelerate this process, and constant exposure to steam and temperature variations in the bathroom can have this effect.
To preserve the freshness of your perfume, it is recommended to store it in a cool, dark, and dry location. A bedroom drawer, a closed cabinet, or a dresser away from windows are ideal choices. These areas provide a stable environment with minimal temperature and humidity fluctuations, ensuring that your perfume remains fresh and true to its original formulation.
Additionally, avoid storing perfume in direct sunlight or near heat sources, as these can accelerate the aging process and further degrade the ingredients. Prolonged exposure to light can also shorten the shelf life and reduce the vibrancy of the fragrance.
By choosing the right storage location and conditions, you can ensure that your perfume stays fresh and maintains its original scent for an extended period.
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Frequently asked questions
Moisturise first. Perfume evaporates quickly on dry skin. Apply an unscented body lotion or Vaseline before spraying your perfume.
Spray perfume on your pulse points. These are areas where your veins sit closest to your skin, so you can feel your pulse. Pulse points include the inside of your wrists, inner elbows, neck, collarbones, behind the knees, and behind your earlobes.
It is recommended to spray perfume about five inches away from the skin. Spraying too close can lead to an unpleasant flow of liquid.
No, do not rub your wrists together. This can cause the fragrance's top notes to fade and evaporate before they can settle. Instead, let the fragrance dry down naturally.
