January 23, 2023
When you’ve invested in a personal scent, you want to make sure that you’re using it a lot, and getting the most out of it. But did you know that some of the things you do on autopilot - like rubbing your wrists, or storing it in the bathroom – could actually be damaging your fragrance? Here, we offer our best fragrance tips for storing and wearing your personal scent, so it can last for years to come.
There’s a right way to store your personal scent
You might’ve seen food instructions to “store in a cool, dry place”. This works for fragrance too. Scent is a sensitive soul, and because they are oil based they’re very much affected by its environment. Anything too hot or humid will break it down and can change the efficacy of the juice– this is especially true of citrus notes. Similarly, light can affect the quality of the perfume so avoid direct light, inconsistencies in heat, and be mindful if it’s too close to the heater too.
Where to best apply your fragrance
It’s not just a myth - perfume does work best on the pulse points. That’s because they naturally emanate heat, so the scent will be more potent in those places. You’re probably familiar with putting it on the neck and wrists, but don’t forget that you can also place behind your knees and in the elbow crease too. Alternatively you can also spray on your clothes as certain fibres can hold scent for a long time (which is why your partner’s clothes always smell deliciously like them). But, avoid delicate fabrics like silk which may stain.
EDT, EDP, Cologne - What it all means
Not all fragrances were created equal – and the clue is on the packaging. EDT, EDP and Colognes are of course, all scents, but how they work and how long they last differ greatly. Here’s what you need to know: Eau de Cologne had the lowest concentrations of perfume oil and EDP has the highest concentration at 15%-20%. EDT sits in the middle of these and are the most common at fragrance counters as it’s more affordable (because perfume oil is expensive!). The flip side of affordability is that the lower concentrations won’t last as long or be as intense. You can read more about the difference in our blog here
When to apply your personal scent
Fun fact: fragrance doesn’t like to be on dry skin, so the perfect time to apply is is actually post-shower when your skin is hydrated. In a similar vein, oily skin helps to hold the fragrance better as it will bind to the oil in the skin.
Why you shouldn't rub your fragrance
This is one of the things you’ve probably done for years without thinking about it – because that’s what you do right? Wrong. In fact, dabbing and rubbing the perfume is one of the worst things you can do if you want your perfume to last. See, the friction from that motion not only heats up the skin, but it produces some enzymes that make it wear down faster and actually change the scent.
Do layer with Body Lotion
Fragrance may not like dry skin but it loves oily skin because it binds to the oil. Because of this, layering your fragrance over an unscented oil or body cream is ideal. Or, alternatively if you want to make an even bigger impact with your scent choice, layer it with its matching body lotion (if it has one) to really amp up the smell.
Need some fragrance inspo? Here’s a few of our favourites:
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