Fragrances are an integral part of personal style for many women. Therefore, knowing how to apply perfume is as important as learning the correct way to apply makeup or style your hair. Remember, it's not just about wearing a scent; it's about making it your signature! So let’s dive in and decode the art of applying fragrances that goes beyond the basic spritz-and-dab.
Different perfume concentrations
Before we begin, it can be helpful to understand that there are different types of perfumes available on the market today. They come in different scent concentrations, which can affect how long a perfume lasts on your skin. (If you’re looking for tips on how to make perfume last longer, check out our blog here.) Here are the different types of perfumes and their strengths:
Pure Perfume (Parfum)
Pure perfume, also called Extrait de Parfum, has the strongest concentration of fragrant essential oils or aromatic compounds, typically ranging from 15% and above. It’s the most potent and expensive type of perfume on the market. Extrait de Parfum comes in small bottles and is intended to be used sparingly due to its heavy scent.
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Next in line is Eau de Parfum, with a scent concentration typically between 10% and 20%. It is less intense than Parfum but is one of the most popular types of perfume for women, with a scent that can last for up to six hours or more.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Eau de Toilette is a lightly scented fragrance with a scent concentration of 5% to 15%. It typically has fresh citrus notes and is suitable for daily use, though you may need to reapply it throughout the day for a lasting scent.
Eau de Cologne (EDC)
Eau de Cologne is one of the lightest forms of fragrance and comes with a scent concentration between 3% and 8%. EDC is clean, crisp, and refreshing—ideal for a quick spritz, but its scent quickly fades into the background after a while.
Preparing your skin for perfume
Your skin condition can play a role in how your favourite perfume unfolds after spraying, which also affects how long it lasts on your skin. Here are a few tips to prep your skin before applying perfume:
Hydrate your skin
Perfumes tend to last longer on hydrated and moisturised skin. So the best time to wear fragrance is right after a shower, when your skin is clean and hydrated. The other option is to apply an unscented body lotion or moisturiser before wearing a perfume. This not only keeps your skin soft, but it also helps the scent adhere to your skin, making it last longer.
Avoid using fragrance-infused products with perfume
It is best to avoid using body washes, lotions, or other skincare products with strong fragrances because they can change the scent profile of your perfume and make it smell different than usual.
The perfume hotspots for a long-lasting scent
Perfumes are most commonly applied at your pulse points, which are areas of your body where the blood vessels are closest to the surface of your skin. These spots are the warmest parts of your body and can diffuse the scent easily, enhancing its intensity and effectiveness.
- The wrist is the most common pulse point to apply perfume. It is best to avoid rubbing your wrists together, as the fragrance will blend more with the natural oils on your skin, changing the way it smells.
- The neck is another common pulse point, which will allow the scent to rise and make it more noticeable.
- Behind the ears is an excellent pulse point for wearing perfume, particularly for intimate occasions and date nights.
- Inner elbows are often one of the most overlooked pulse points, but they are great hotspots to apply fragrances, especially during summer months or when wearing sleeveless tops.
How to apply perfume in three easy steps
Now that you know where to apply perfume, let's get into how to apply it for a long-lasting effect.
Hydrate and moisturise your skin
Cleanse your skin by taking a shower or bath. Once dry, apply an unscented lotion or moisturiser to your skin before wearing your favourite perfume.
Apply perfume to pulse points
Spray or dab fragrance on your chosen pulse points. Try not to rub the scent if you're applying it to your wrists. Allow the fragrance to settle.
Avoid overdoing it
When it comes to perfume, less is always better, especially when wearing potent fragrances like Parfum or EDP. Start with a dab or spritz, let it be, and then reapply if needed. Remember, the goal is to become comfortable with the scent and draw people in, not overpower your nose or theirs.
Final thoughts
Fragrances are a part of your personal style that faintly blends with your background, but they have a powerful effect on how people see and remember us. Any scent you wear is a unique sensorial experience to appreciate the beautiful scent notes and aromas that make a scent, your signature scent. So take the time to understand, choose and wear your perfume correctly, and let it work its magic.
Before you leave, have you checked our collection of women’s perfume samples yet? We’ve got many luxury brands for you to try, including Amouage, Byredo, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford and many more. Not sure which scent to try? Browse our starter suggestions for ideas and inspiration.