Just like your style, fragrance is an essential aspect of your grooming and beauty routine. I mean, one of the best compliments you can receive is, ‘Damn! You smell like heaven. What perfume are you wearing?’
Often at times we invest in the latest scents and look forward to wearing them on a date night or perhaps, as an everyday scent. We could literally bathe ourselves in the fragrance and wonder why it only lasts till lunchtime.
Well, according to perfumers, there’s a right and wrong way to wear perfume. Here are some of the few tricks and hacks on applying perfume and making it last so that you can smell heavenly, 24/7.
Know your scents.
More often than not, the reason why your scent is not be serving you all day is because you’re not paying attention to what kind of perfume you’re actually reaching for.
In the world of fragrances, those that have the highest concentration of essential oils last the longest. We have the perfume and Eau de parfum scents in this category that last anywhere between 8-24 hours.
Scents labeled Eau de toilette and eau de cologne, on the other hand, have lower essential oil concentrations and, therefore, may need to be touched up every two to four hours.
Moisturize beforehand
Apart from applying your fragrance at the right points on your body, it would be best if you also considered using it on moisturized skin.
This means dabbing them on after you’ve showered and slathered on your favorite unscented body lotion or petroleum jelly. The oil on your skin will hold the fragrance and keep it on your skin for longer.
Bonus tip: Showering and then moisturizing allows you to get rid of dust, grime, and body odor, enabling your fragrance of choice to shine uninhibited.
Choose the Right Fragrance Family
Now comes one of the most critical steps – you have to decide whether you want a fresh, floral, fruity, or woodsy scent.
It would help if you also considered the weather or the season you plan to use this scent. You gotta know your bases and notes.
Citrus and floral undertones thrive during the spring and summer seasons, while muskier with wood oriental and oud scents are perfect for autumn and winter seasons.
Layer your scents
Just like you layer your clothes or your lasagna, you need to start layering your scents.
If you decide to use a fragrance with strong vanilla notes, consider getting vanilla body wash and vanilla-scented lotion.
Using a similar scented product allows you to build upon the scent and, in turn, have it last longer.
Apply Your Fragrance on the Right Spots
Wearing a fragrance is simple – just a little spritz, and you’re done. Nonetheless, wearing it well requires more skill and finesse.
You can spritz some on your clothes, but if you’re looking to leave a lasting impression, make sure you wear it on your skin (especially the areas exposed to the air).
This means dabbing the scent on the pulse points of your neck, your wrists, your inner elbows (if you love your sleeveless tops), and your ankles.
An additional hack you can start incorporating is spraying your favorite scent on your hairbrush before you do your hair.
Dab, but don’t rub
When you smell a fragrance for the first time, the top notes will immediately stick in your olfactory scenes.
So, when you rub a scent on your skin rather than dab it (which is what you probably think you’re doing), you trigger friction, which causes the top notes to fade faster.
If your fragrance comes with a spray function, you should consider holding the bottle a small distance away from your skin before spraying. It’ll allow a more even distribution of the fragrance all over your body.
Don’t Drown Yourself in It
When it comes to perfume, less is always more. Think about it, have you ever been stuck in a small space with someone who seems to have downed the whole bottle of cologne on their body. It was utter hell, right?
Well, you should also avoid spraying half the bottle on your clothes. In most cases, a few dabs or spritzes is enough to have you turning heads without giving other people, and yourself included a migraine.
You can also consider changing up your scents now and then – it prevents you from dulling your olfactory senses.
Store Your Fragrances Correctly
Most fragrances are made using essential oils, and these are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.
Many perfumers recommend storing your fragrances in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Better yet, make sure that you keep them in the original packaging.
It would be best if you also considered checking the expiry date of the perfume –wearing expired perfume can cause acne and other health issues. So, be vigilant.
