Heidi Norton
Working with perfume requires a certain level of skill and finesse. The correct placement of perfume depends on the environment and outfit. It is important to note that the nose can become desensitized and quickly accustomed to the notes of a perfume. To maintain good nose health, it is recommended to manage nose blindness and avoid overusing saline rinses. Diluting materials can reduce shock to the olfactory bulb, and staying away from nicotine can help clear nasal pathways. Choosing the right perfume involves giving it time and avoiding spraying it too close to the skin. Storing perfume correctly is crucial, as oxygen can break down scent molecules over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to choose a perfume | Give it time; don't spray, sniff, and walk away. Try the fragrance on a blotter or your wrist and wait a few minutes for the alcohol and top notes to subside before smelling again. |
| Placement of perfume | Avoid rubbing it into your wrists and neck as this can change the course of the scent. Instead, spritz both wrists lightly and let the liquid sink in. Other spots to spray include behind the knees, collarbone, hair, and scarf. |
| Storing perfume | Perfume is sensitive to environmental changes. To maintain freshness, use smaller vessels that can be finished within three months or store half-empty fragrances in the fridge. |
| Protecting your nose | Avoid overusing saline rinses for congestion as this can be harmful. Stay away from vape/cigarette nicotine. |
| Training your nose | Explore different quantities of perfumes and test things from your spice cabinet on your skin. |
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What You'll Learn
- Avoid rubbing your wrists together after applying perfume to preserve the scent's integrity
- Try perfumes on blotting paper to avoid the smell of alcohol
- Avoid spraying perfume on clothes as it may discolour them
- Dilute materials to reduce shock to the olfactory bulb
- Avoid nicotine to keep your nasal pathways clear
Avoid rubbing your wrists together after applying perfume to preserve the scent's integrity
Rubbing your wrists together after applying perfume is a common habit and an iconic way of applying fragrance. However, experts advise against this practice as it can negatively impact the scent's longevity and integrity.
Firstly, the friction generated by rubbing your wrists together creates sudden and uneven heat. This heat accelerates the evaporation of certain scent molecules, particularly the lighter and more delicate top notes. As a result, the fragrance can become distorted, with the top notes disappearing more quickly than they otherwise would. While the change in scent may not be drastic, it can still be noticeable, especially to those with a well-trained sense of smell.
Additionally, rubbing your wrists together can cause the perfume to be absorbed into the skin more quickly. This can give the impression that the scent is fading or not lasting as long as it should. To preserve the integrity of the scent and ensure its longevity, it is recommended to simply touch the wrists together without rubbing, or to apply the perfume to pulse points such as the inner elbow or behind the ear.
By avoiding the wrist-rubbing habit and understanding how heat and friction affect perfume development, you can better enjoy your favourite fragrances and ensure they perform as intended on your skin.
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Try perfumes on blotting paper to avoid the smell of alcohol
To avoid the smell of alcohol when testing perfumes, blotting paper is a convenient and cost-effective solution. Blotting paper, or perfume blotters, are small pieces of paper used to test fragrances. They are highly absorbent and porous, allowing the perfume to be absorbed quickly and effectively. This makes them ideal for testing multiple scents, as you can easily compare their respective notes and profiles without the scents interacting with each other or your skin.
When using a blotter, hold it about an inch away from the fragrance and spray the scent onto the paper. Avoid touching the blotter to your skin or nose as this can alter the scent. Allow the scent to settle for a few moments before smelling it. It's important to note that different types of paper can affect the way the fragrance smells, so while blotters are a great starting point, they may not provide a fully accurate representation of the scent. Fragrances with a high alcohol content, for example, may not translate as well to paper as the alcohol can evaporate quickly, leaving behind a less accurate representation of the scent.
On the other hand, heavier and more complex scents may be more accurately represented on paper as they have more time to develop and evolve. Paper blotters are easily accessible, as they can be found in drug stores and perfumeries, or ordered online from printing houses, producers, or perfume suppliers. You can even make your own blotters at home, allowing you to customize the shape, size, and colour. If you choose to make your own, be sure to spray the fragrance on the blank side of the paper, as the print may react with the perfume and change the smell.
While blotting paper is a useful tool for initial fragrance testing, it's important to also try the perfume on your skin before buying it. This is because the scent will react with your natural body chemistry, and may smell different than it does on the paper. By testing the perfume on your skin, you can get a true sense of how it will smell on you and how it develops over time.
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Avoid spraying perfume on clothes as it may discolour them
While perfume can be used to scent your clothes, it is important to be cautious when applying it directly to fabrics. Clothing fibres are more absorbent than human skin, and they retain perfume oils and additives in their fibres. This can result in discolouration or oily spots on your clothes, as the perfume residue sits on the surface of the fabric.
Perfumes that contain alcohol can be particularly damaging to clothing. Alcohol can cause dyes to fade and strip fabrics of their natural oils and proteins, leading to discolouration and a breakdown of the fabric structure. This is especially true for delicate and synthetic fabrics such as silk, rayon, acrylic, and wool.
To avoid discolouration, it is best to apply perfume to the skin rather than clothing. Pulse points, such as the inner wrists, base of the throat, behind the ear lobes, behind the knees, and inner elbows, are ideal as the perfume will react with your body and emit the scent throughout the day. Always allow the perfume to dry completely before dressing.
If you do choose to spray perfume on your clothes, be mindful that it may stain or discolour the fabric. For fresh stains, gently blot the area with a dry sponge or paper towel to absorb the excess perfume. If this does not remove the stain, create a mild soap solution and gently apply the foam to the stain before wiping it away with a dry cloth.
For older or more stubborn stains, a pre-treatment may be necessary. Apply a white vinegar or bicarb solution to the stain and then blot the area with a damp cloth or press with a dry paper towel to lift the scent and stain. If this does not work, try pre-treating the stain again with a mild detergent before washing the garment as usual. Avoid using scented detergents or fabric softeners as these may disrupt your perfume scent.
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Dilute materials to reduce shock to the olfactory bulb
Diluting your perfume materials is an effective way to reduce the shock to your olfactory bulb. The olfactory nerve has the unique ability to regenerate and add new neurons, so it is important to reduce any potential shock.
When diluting, it is important to dilute in the medium you will be working with. For example, if you are making an oil-based perfume, dilute your materials in oil. If you are making an alcohol-based perfume, dilute in perfumer's alcohol. This will not work for bases such as candles, creams, detergents, or oils, but it is good for evaluating the odour profile of your materials.
If you are creating a natural perfume, you may want to avoid using Di Propylene Glycol (DPG) as it is a synthetic petrochemical. However, it is commonly used in the fragrance industry as it is soluble in water, alcohol, and some oils, and it has fixative properties.
Diluting your materials can make it easier to work with trace amounts of strong-smelling substances and can also help you waste less material. It is important to dilute by weight rather than volume, and you can use a weight/weight dilution calculator to help with this.
Some materials, such as violet leaf absolute, are wonderful when used sparingly, so diluting them can help enhance the fragrance rather than overwhelming it.
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Avoid nicotine to keep your nasal pathways clear
Nicotine is a harmful substance that can negatively impact your nasal health and sense of smell. It is a common ingredient in cigarettes and other tobacco products, and it is highly addictive. When nicotine is absorbed through the nasal membranes, it can cause a range of side effects, including a burning sensation in the nose, an increase in mucus production, and even nasal pain.
To keep your nasal pathways clear and protect your sense of smell, it is best to avoid nicotine entirely. This includes staying away from cigarettes, vaping, and other nicotine-containing products such as nasal snuff. Nasal snuff is a smokeless tobacco product that is inhaled or "sniffed" into the nasal cavity, delivering a rapid absorption of nicotine. While it may be tempting to use nicotine nasal sprays to aid in smoking cessation, these products can also have serious side effects and must be used with caution and under medical supervision.
The effects of nicotine on the nasal mucosa have been studied, and it has been found to cause mucosal exudation of plasma and derangement of the epithelial lining in animal studies. While similar effects in humans have not been confirmed, it is possible that nicotine contributes to the development of airway diseases. Additionally, long-term use of smokeless tobacco products, including nasal snuff, has been linked to an increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease and stroke.
By avoiding nicotine, you can help keep your nasal pathways clear and maintain your sense of smell. It is important to remember that your olfactory nerve has the unique ability to regenerate, so even if there has been some damage, you can take steps to improve your nasal health by staying away from nicotine and other harmful substances.
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