Yes, there IS a right and wrong way to do something as simple and casual as applying your perfume.
Spray your clothes
Fabric is able to hold onto scents even after you’ve washed it. So, if you want to be surrounded by your favourite perfume all day long (and longer), make sure you spritz some on your outfit as well. But be careful – some perfumes might leave nasty stains!
Cover skin with oil or lotion
Not, like, bathe in it, of course… but a light touch of unscented body oil or lotion on the parts where you normally apply perfume will help hold the fragrance longer. Perfumes stick to oily skin better than to a dry one.
Spray the top of your ears
Behind the ears is believed to be a must-spray zone for perfume but it’s actually better to spray the top of your ears instead because this area is oilier and, as you already know, oil holds perfume better.
Apply perfume after the shower
Residual moisture on your body will help lock in the scent and will make it more pronounced. Make sure you wait a few seconds before getting dressed, otherwise your clothes will rub the perfume off.
Don’t rub your wrists
No matter how automatic this gesture seems, resist the urge to rub or dab your wrists after applying perfume on your pulse points. It will only make it disappear faster.
Spray your hairbrush
Hair holds scent longer than your skin but spraying it on directly is a bad idea – the alcohol in the product can dry it out. Instead, apply some on your hairbrush to keep your hair lightly scented and healthy.
Choose unscented deodorant
There is a reason great perfumers spend years perfecting every single fragrance – the more ingredients involved, the more difficult it is to achieve a perfect balance. So, no matter how attached you are to your ‘Morning Freshness’ deo, even the lightest aroma will interfere with your perfume’s harmony and ruin the result. If you want your perfume to smell just like its creator intended, choose unscented deodorant to go with it.
Never shake your perfume
It’s not a fancy cocktail. Perfumes were designed to stay still. Shaking the bottle reduces the quality of the product.
Don’t be too sophisticated
You know how in the movies they always spray perfume around the room and then just walk through it? Yeah, nah. It might look cool but it’s actually nothing but a big waste of product. And whatever little you manage to catch on your body will evaporate in a short period of time. Always spritz your perfume directly on your skin or clothes! 10-15 cm is all the distance you need.
Don’t store it in the bathroom
Humidity, bright light and high temperatures are perfume’s worst enemies. So, if you want to preserve the quality of your favourite product for longer, store it in a cool, dry place, like your bedroom or walk-in wardrobe. Keeping the bottle inside its original packaging is also a great idea.
