8 Smart Places You Should Do Your Perfume Spray On

Perfumes are as old as civilization itself, the use of fragrances has been traced all the way to ancient Egypt. Back then, only the rich and elite could afford to wear perfume, most fragrances were oil-based and they anointed their bodies with it to smell nice all day long. Fortunately for us today, everyone can afford perfume, prices vary to suit everyone’s wallet. However, we all want our fragrance to last longer and provide satisfaction for our bucks.

For this to happen there are certain hacks we can use and there’s a right way to wear it if we want to make the most of our fragrance. Coco Chanel once said, ‘’ a woman should apply perfume in those areas where she would like to be kissed’’. While the  French live by this, there are other guidelines to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the rules for using your perfume for maximum effect.

- Store your perfume in a cool and dry place, heat, light, and humidity will break down your fragrance and reduce its quality.

- Don't dab on your fragrance after spraying. If you rub it in, it will be absorbed by your pores and the top notes will disappear faster.
 
- Less is more, don’t wear too much perfume, instead of being attractive too much fragrance is a turn off for most people.

- To get the most out of your fragrance, pair it with accompanying body lotions and wash of the same brand.

- Choose the right concentration, perfumes are divided into Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne, Eau de Parfum and Extrait de Parfum (Perfume), depending on their concentration.

Many people believe that to have a long-lasting aura of fragrance following you around all day, you need to spray it on your clothes. While perfume may last longer on clothes than on skin, it's not necessarily the right way to go, this is why:

Though clothes can keep the scent of your perfume for a long time, it’s not recommended to spray perfume directly on your clothes. Fragrance often leaves stains on clothes and jewelry that will damage it. So if you like your clothes and want them to last, best avoid covering them with perfume. And when you spray it on your body wait for it to dry before putting on clothes. As a last resort and on the off chance that you absolutely want to spray it on something other than your skin, opt for a scarf, handkerchief or head tie then put it on for a long-lasting scent around you.

Another great way to make your clothes smell good without spraying them directly is to spray your favorite scent on tissue papers or cotton swabs and keep them is your dresser and drawers. This way all your clothes will have the sweet smell of your fragrance when you wear them. The tissue papers can be renewed after every few weeks to keep the scent fresh and strong on washed clothes.

There's not much of a difference between the way a man is supposed to wear fragrance versus how women wear it, but here are some helpful tips specially for the guys. 

The handkerchief is a gentleman’s accessory that was considered indispensable back in the 19th century. It was heavily perfumed and kept in the breast pocket of every gentleman worth his salt. It prevented them from bad odors they came across in the streets and as they went about their day. Occasionally, it came in handy when they found a beautiful damsel in distress, to whom they could lend their sweet fragranced handkerchief. This trick is still relevant today as men still carry handkerchiefs in their suit pockets but you must not be in a suit to have one. In keeping with this tradition, Guerlain the prestigious French perfume brand created a male fragrance called ‘’Mouchoir de Monsieur’’ translated as a gentleman’s handkerchief.

While you focus on pulse points when spraying your perfume make sure you put your fragrance on parts of the body that are exposed to air. If you spray it and cover the part with clothes, chances are the scent will not be as effective as you want it to be. When your fragrance is exposed to air it spreads all around you as you move. So, for the best effect, let your fragrance breathe.

Spraying perfume all over your body won’t get you the desired effect if anything it will just help your precious fragrance finish faster. Here’s how to spray it the correct way.

Pulse points are those parts of the body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin. These points are warmer and emanate heat that helps your fragrance smell more. Pulse points diffuse the scent of your fragrance into the air every time you move. Your pulse points are your inner wrists, your neck between clavicles, behind the ears, on the inner elbows, and behind the knees. When you wear perfume on these spots, it’s scent will be emitted with your body’s heat.

When your skin is moisturized your perfume will last longer and be brighter. The best time to spray your fragrance is when you come out of a shower or bath; before you get dressed when your skin is moisturized and fresh. After you use your body lotion, spray your fragrance on the pulse points. If for some reason you can’t moisturize your skin, apply a bit of petroleum jelly on your pulse points before spraying your perfume for a stronger and lasting effect. 

Who wouldn't want to flip their hair as they walk by and release an air of sweet-scented fragrance? I bet we all do. Well, this is how you achieve that sexy, sweet aura with every stride.

Perfumes are packed with alcohol which is bad for your hair, so it’s not recommended to spray perfume directly on your hair. Instead, spray it on your hairbrush and then use it. Make sure your hair is freshly washed so that the scent of your hair products don't affect the scent of your fragrance. This way your hair is lightly scented without being damaged, you could also spray some of your favorite fragrance on your pillow, this will leave your hair smelling good when you wake up in the morning. Another possibility is to opt for a fragrance that is specifically designed for the hair or spray perfume on your head tie or scarf and let it mingle with your hair.

As you can’t spray your alcohol-based fragrance on your hair directly, spray it about 5 - 8 inches in front of you and walk into it. This way your entire body will be rewarded with the full scent of your perfume. This scented aura will follow you throughout the day everywhere you go and anyone who comes near you will be welcomed with the scent. The hair retains scents longer than the skin and the scent follows in your wake. Hair perfumes are also available, they’re safe to use on the hair and such hair fragrances could be gotten from many designers and niche perfume brands like  Chanel, Dior, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Narciso Rodriguez, and other brands.

The rules of wearing fragrances for women and for men are pretty much the same, you have to apply it to the chosen pulse points and not on clothes after your shower. Keep it light, don’t overspray, because when it comes to perfumes, less is more. Try not to rub the fragrance into your skin, instead let it dry on its own.

There are lots of perfumes out there that can last for days and even weeks on you without any effort, but as you may have guessed they’re not on the affordable side. If you happen to be like most people your fragrance is on the average side and you want to make the most of it, we hope these tips will help. It’s up to you to decide which ones best suit your needs and see how you can include them in your lifestyle, to make your fragrance last longer and create the desired effect.