How to get the most out of your fragrance

In a study by Tru Fragrance, it was uncovered that 79% of women who used fragrance owned between two and ten bottles, with 8% owning 11 or more. Men aren’t as enthusiastic collectors apparently; 51% said they owned two to four bottles, with only 24% having five or more. 

Does this mean we’re spritzing ourselves silly to use up our bottles before they go off? Or maybe they’re just gathering dust on bathroom cabinets because the reality is – again, according to Tru Fragrance – just over half of us are actually using our scents.

Approximately 59% of women and 54% of men reported using fragrance on a daily basis. So, if you’ve just treated yourself to something new, or you just need to use up an existing bottle, here are three top tips to get the most out your fine fragrance.

Store it right

Fragrance is extremely sensitive to environmental changes. “Perfume doesn’t like going from cold to hot,” says award-winning French-Armenian perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, when interviewed for vogue.com. This means a shift in temperature causes your scent to get old before it’s time. Such changes “set off unexpected chemical reactions within the natural ingredients, and therefore age the perfume faster,” explains Francis. 

Apply it right

If you’re still copying your mom’s habits of spraying scent on her wrists and rubbing them vigorously together, stop right now. It’s a huge industry faux pas because the friction created by rubbing “heats up the skin, which produces natural enzymes that change the course of the scent,” Francis says. It’s the top and middle notes that are most affected. “With a floral, for example, [heat] warms up everything, ultimately [causing it] to lose its crispness,” he continues.

Wear it right

Ever thought about spraying your perfume into your hair instead? It certainly wouldn’t be wasted. “As you sweat, the natural oils of the skin [can] destroy your perfume faster,” warns Francis. The solution? Lightly mist your favourite fragrance into hair – or even on a scarf. “Because they move with the air, it helps with the diffusion of the scent,” he says.

IMAGE CREDIT: shutterstock.com