The Art Of Wearing Fragrance: Application Points

Knowing where to apply your fragrance can make a huge difference in how long it lasts and how strong it smells. The best places to apply perfume are pulse points, which are the warmest spots on your body, such as the wrists, inside the elbows, behind the knees, the neck, and behind the ears. These areas help circulate the fragrance into the air throughout the day and night. However, it's important to note that rubbing perfume into the skin can lead to evaporation and can distort the scent, so it's best to dab it on instead. Additionally, spraying perfume on the hair or clothes can also make the scent last longer, but it's important to be cautious of the alcohol content to avoid damage.

Where to Put Fragrance

Behind the ears

Spraying perfume behind your ears is a great way to create a lasting scent bubble and prevent nose blindness. The area behind your ears is one of the prime spots for applying fragrances, known as pulse points. These are areas on the body where blood vessels are closest to the skin, and they emanate heat, which helps fragrance project from your skin into the air around you.

Pulse points are the warmest areas on the body and, naturally, the best places to spray perfume. Perfume consists primarily of oils and extracts that cling to the area they are applied to. They are amplified by heat, so the more warmth they are exposed to, the stronger they will smell and the longer they will last.

Some people find it awkward to spray behind their ears, either missing the spot or getting most of the spray in their hair. One tip is to press the atomizer against your skin where you want to spray, then pull it outward a couple of inches before spraying. Another is to use your other hand to stretch out your ear, creating a bigger target area for the spray to hit.

The back of the neck is also a good alternative to behind the ears, as it is another pulse point and you can't miss it.

While spraying perfume on your hair can work, it is best avoided as the alcohol content in perfume can dry out your hair.

On the wrists

The wrists are perhaps the most common place to apply perfume. They are pulse points, which are the warmest areas of your body, and emit heat to enhance the fragrance and its longevity. The friction created by rubbing your wrists together can break down the top notes of the perfume and affect how the scent develops on your skin. To avoid this, spritz both wrists lightly, let the liquid sink in, and then do absolutely nothing.

Applying perfume to your wrists is a great way to distribute your scent to other pulse points. You can use your wrists to create any fragrance blends before touching your neck, hair, and beyond.

The wrists are also an area that is likely to get closer to other people. In the past, women would extend their hand to men when meeting them, sometimes kissing the hand, which would give them a waft of the scent being worn.

If you are wearing a sleeveless blouse, your wrists are an ideal place to apply perfume as they are exposed and won't be covered by clothing.

On the chest

The chest is a popular place to apply perfume or cologne, and for good reason. Firstly, it is a convenient place to spray, and it is also where the perfume is projected the most. When you make hand gestures, the scent is projected towards the person you are interacting with.

The chest is also a good distance from your nose. If you spray perfume on your head or upper neck, the olfactory stimulus will be too intense and almost constant, and your nose will become fatigued. The chest provides the right amount of warmth and is located at the right distance from your nose. This means you can fully appreciate the perfume, as there are oscillations in the intensity of the smell.

Spraying perfume on the chest also allows the fragrance to cling to the shirt fabric, contributing to its longevity. It is also a good place to apply a lot of perfume without it being overwhelming, as the shirt will hold back the sillage.

When applying perfume to the chest, make a couple of spritzes on both sides. This will project the perfume towards the person in front of you.

On the knees

Applying perfume behind the knees is a common practice that can enhance the fragrance and make it last longer. This method maximises the scent's diffusion when the person moves, creating a pleasant aroma around them. The skin behind the knees is thin, warm, and emits heat, which helps to activate the perfume's ingredients and release the fragrance more effectively. This allows individuals to enjoy the scent themselves as the fragrance rises with body heat whenever they cross their legs or sit down.

The science behind perfume placement suggests that fragrance molecules are attracted to areas of the skin that produce more heat, such as pulse points. The area behind the knees is one such pulse point, generating warmth and helping to diffuse the scent, allowing it to develop and linger throughout the day. By applying perfume to multiple pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, and behind the knees, individuals can create a multi-dimensional fragrance experience, with each pulse point contributing its unique scent.

The practice of applying perfume behind the knees has cultural and historical significance. Many cultures have embraced this placement as a way to enhance fragrance longevity. In ancient times, when long garments covered most of the body, the perfume applied behind the knees would emanate a delightful scent as the person walked, leaving a trail of fragrance in their wake.

Some people may choose to apply perfume behind their knees for a more intimate, surprising, or personal scent encounter. This area is not usually associated with perfume, making it a subtle and unexpected choice. Additionally, the skin behind the knees is softer and warmer, allowing for better projection and absorption of the scent. The motion of walking throughout the day further intensifies the fragrance, making it a strategic choice for maximising the impact and longevity of the perfume.

On the hair and clothes

While applying perfume to your skin is the ideal way to maximise your fragrance performance, you can also apply it to your hair and clothes.

Applying Fragrance to Your Hair

Some people like to apply perfume to their hair, especially if they are shorter in stature and want to make their fragrance more noticeable. However, it is generally recommended that you do not spray perfume directly onto your hair. This is because the high alcohol content in fragrances can dry out your hair, irritate your scalp, and even lead to breakage or dandruff.

If you want to scent your hair, there are a few alternative methods you can try:

• Spray your perfume into the air and walk through it. This will help the scent settle on your hair without saturating it with alcohol.
• Spray your perfume onto your brush or comb and then run it through your hair. Avoid brushing too close to your roots and concentrate on evenly distributing the scent through the lengths of your hair.
• Use a hair mist, which is formulated with a lower concentration of alcohol.

Applying Fragrance to Your Clothes

You can also apply perfume to your clothes to intensify the scent trail you leave behind. However, be cautious when applying perfume to very light-coloured clothing or fabrics that easily stain, such as silk, as some perfumes with higher oil content may show or stain. In addition, the scent may linger beyond the desired effect, even after washing.

If you want to avoid potential staining, spray a cloud of perfume in front of you and then walk into it. This method will also help you avoid applying too much fragrance, which can be overpowering.

It is recommended that you apply perfume to clothing made from natural materials such as cotton, cashmere, silk, wool, or linen. These fabrics will absorb and retain the perfume for longer.

Frequently asked questions