Wearing perfume is simple – or is it? If you’re like most people, you’re probably wearing perfume the wrong way. Whether you’re wearing Maison 21g or your favorite body spray, it’s important to know how and where to apply your perfume.
Here are 5 perfume mistakes to avoid.
1. Rubbing Your Wrists Together After Spraying
Do you rub your wrists together after spraying your perfume? It’s a common habit, but it’s a bad one.
When you rub your wrists together, you create friction that heats up the skin. The heat causes your skin to produce enzymes that change the course of the scent. The top and middle notes are most affected by the heat.
Ultimately, your wrist-rubbing habit will shorten your perfume’s life and dull the crispness of some scents.
The good news is that it’s easy to avoid this mistake.
- Spray your wrists with your favorite perfume.
- Allow the scent to soak in and work its magic.
- Enjoy!
Just spray and go. That’s all you need to do to make your perfume last a little longer and preserve those top and middle notes.
2. Storing Your Perfume in the Wrong Environment
Where do you keep your perfume? If you’re like most people, you probably store your scents in the bathroom.
The problem with storing your scent in the bathroom is that perfume is very sensitive to environmental changes. Temperature swings from hot to cold can change the scent and even create unintended chemical reactions.
Environmental changes can cause your perfumes to age more quickly, and some scents are more sensitive to these changes than others.
Leaving your perfume in the sun can also alter its scent.
So, what’s the best way to store your perfume?
- In the original box it came in.
- In a room with a steady temperature (70 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal).
If you really want to go above and beyond, you can store your favorite scent in the refrigerator to extend its lifespan.
3. Saving Your Perfume for Special Occasions
Do you have a perfume that you save only for special occasions? Maybe it’s an expensive bottle of scent that you want to stretch as much as you can.
But perfumes are meant to be used quickly. Ideally, you should use up a bottle in three months or less. That’s why it’s best to buy perfumes in small bottles that are easy to use quickly.
If you wear scent every day, you can likely buy a larger bottle and go through it before it starts to go off.
If larger bottles are your only option, you can decant the scent into small vials or store your half-empty bottles in the refrigerator.
4. Applying Scent to the Wrong Areas
Where you apply your scent matters. Ideally, you want to spray your perfume:
- On exposed areas of the skin (wrists, neck, or elbows)
- On your hair, OR
- On your clothing
If you don’t have any skin exposed, you can spray your hair with perfume. If it’s especially hot or humid, it’s best to apply your scent to your clothing. The natural oils in your sweat will degrade the scent faster.
Also, make sure that you’re not covering up your scent with your clothing.
5. You’re Applying Scent to Skin That’s Too Dry
Perfume doesn’t play well with dry skin – the scent fades quickly. Make sure that you’re applying an unscented moisturizer before spraying scent. You don’t want your moisturizer to compete with your perfume, so make sure that your product is free of scent.
These five common perfume mistakes are easy to avoid. It’s all about understanding how perfume works and how it’s affected by its environment. Use the tips above to maximize your perfume’s life.
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