Fragrance 411: Perfume & You
As you know, I'm a bit of a beauty junkie. Especially when it comes to perfume. I've purchased my fair share of fragrances and have picked up some great tips along the way that I am going to share with you today... Below, I have outlined the basics of what you need to know when it comes to perfume and you:
How do I pick the right scent for me?
Just because something smells fabulous on your BFF doesn't mean it will smell as delicious on you. That's the cold hard truth, ladies. The manner in which fragrance oils interact with our natural scent and body oils varies. We each have our own unique body chemistry and pH balance, which affect this interaction. When you go to pick a perfume, test it on your skin and allow it to soak in for 10 minutes or so before making a final decision. It's also a good idea to only test two at a time, or else your senses will be on overload. If you have no idea what perfume you want to try, tell the salesperson two scents you love, such as vanilla or jasmine, so they can help narrow your choices down. Finally, bring a friend to give you a second opinion.
How much is too much?
When I was in 5th grade, many of the boys in my class started wearing cologne. The boys would literally drench themselves in musk. Ms. Barker's room smelled pungent to say the least. Needless to say, I remember Ms. Barker finally telling the class, "Less is more." To this day, I couldn't agree more.
Where shall I spray?
It's really a matter of personal choice. However, pros would argue that the best place to apply perfume is on your pulse points. Pulse points are areas on our bodies where blood vessels are closer to the skin's surface. When blood vessels are near the skin's surface, they give off more heat. As heat emits from these points, fragrance is pumped outward as well. Pulse points include the inner wrist, the inside of the elbow, behind the ears and knees along with the base of the throat. I usually spritz a bit on each wrist. Then, I spray it twice about a foot in front of my body and immediately walk through it.
How do I make it last?
This is a matter of body chemistry. Generally speaking, perfume lasts anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. However this time limit differs based on your skin type. Fragrances are basically oils that are absorbed by our skin. People with lighter complexions typically have dryer skin, which causes a fragrance to soak in faster. On the other hand, scents last longer on those with darker skin tones and oilier skin. If you're looking for a longer lasting fragrance, pick something with a greater concentration so the oils will evaporate slower. Parfum has the most oil, but it's also the most expensive. Then there is eau de parfum and eau de toilette, both of which are great for everyday wear. The weakest is eau de cologne. Also, it's important to know that citrus-based fragrances fade faster than musky scents. So when it comes to making your perfume last, I suggest you shop wisely and pick something with an oil concentration that fits your skin's needs. Another factor that affects the intensity of your perfume is diet. If you consume a lot of fats and spicy or hot foods, fragrances will register more intensely. Interesting, right?
Where do you spray your perfume?
XO Lauren
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Photo: nestprettythings
Sources: Annie Fritz for About.com, YGo Makeup, Wikipedia, Artelier Perfumes
70 comments
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G'day from Australia! I usually spray a little perfume onto my wrists and also on my neck. For the last two years or so I have been using Chanel 'Chance - Eau Tendre', which I LOVE - and it lasts all day, which is an added bonus :) -
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I spray it on my wrists and walk through once when I spray it in the air.
My new favourite perfume is Miss Dior Le Parfum....an absolutely magical, intense scent! -
cga - OMG thank you. I just <3 that scent so much. By the time I needed to buy more the brand name had rubbed off of the sample. I was fairly positive it was Trish McEvoy, but no one carries Trish McEvoy up here so I couldn't find it to be sure. I thought I was completely SOL. -
Lauren--The Blackberry Vanilla Musk perfume is one of my favorites too! It's by Trish McEvoy and you can find it online at Blue Mercury, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus. I know a lot of these sites have international shipping now, I just don't know how much it would cost. Hope that helps!
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I usually apply my perfume behind my ears. I had one that was my favourite, it was called Blackberry Vanilla Musk. My aunt sent it to my sisters and I, along with a bunch of other samples, one year for christmas. I immediately fell in love with it but it's only sold in the United States. I can't seem to be able to find it anywhere here and she can't remember where she got it. Can anyone tell me where I can find it?
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love it ! very informative . I go for fresh scents , like , you just got out of the shower kind of scents ... :)
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I spray it on my wrist and neck :)
What is your favorite perfume Lauren? :)
Sarah, from Quebec, Canada
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I think it is always good not to put on too much perfume. Always a bit behind the ears and on my neck and et voila! :) Greetings from Germany :)
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IMPORTANT: Something very important to keep in mind when applying your perfume, try to spray it on a warm part of your body. I always spray it on my chest kind of in between my cleaveage and then behind my neck under my hair. Those are very warm parts of your body, and i heard once that it works so i have been doing it ever since and it has been working pretty well for me, so def giive it a try yourself :)
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I apply my perfume on the nack of the nexk, behind my ears ad to my wrist. now i´m using miss Dior Cherié - eau de parfum. it´s my favourite! I love the scent and it lasts longer than 8 hours even when i apply it in the mornings and i´m about to go to bed i can smell it.
i´d also recommend Envy me 2 - Gucci and ESCADA Signature this one broke 2 months after i´d bought it :(
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I apply my perfume to my wrists, back of the neck, behind my ears, and when I'm going out, the backs of my knees. And before I blowdry my hair, I'll spray it onto my hair just so the scent is "consistent." It works for me without being too much :)
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i loveeee perfume ! my favs are def. miss dior cherie, chanel chance, and chloe <3 and my bf just got yves saint laurent the parisienne so ive beeb using that one lately too.
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For casual...and beach I love J LO Jennifer Lopez "Miami Glow"..is smells like the beach! It really does...I wear a lot of Rose...and Orange Blossom oils, and perfumes..soaps.etc...and recently Feather by Serious Skin Care...all over....my wrists.....between my breasts....lower back...hair...under arms....!
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I spray my perfume on the back of my kneck right at my hair line. I spritz twice and that's it. I contantly get compliments on how good I smell. It's the perfect place because it isn't ovewhelming to anyone. My husband loves it because it's more intimate and not overpowering.
I get nausieted very easily by smell and spritzing on the back of my kneck alleviated my nausiea. I can even wear musky, heavy fragrances like Angle or CK Euphoria.
P.S. Don't spray and rub. You crush the fragrance and it goes away faster.
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I love perfumes. They define who we are because of the scent. I personally prefer Chance Eau Tendre, Flowerbomb and everything that is floral.:)
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Chanel Coco Madmoiselle :) on the back of my neck, behind my knees (is that wierd?!) on my wrists and on my hair brush!
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I prefer roll on perfume because when I travel my bottles always break! However when i do spray I spray on my forearm and dab(not rub) my other forearm on it. I also spray in the air and walk in it. When I use roll on I put it on my forearms also and roll on the sides of my neck -
I'm a bit of a perfume junkie, which makes sense because my mother is a fragrance vendor for brands such as Calvin Klein, Prada, and Vera Wang (among others). I usually get my bottles some time before it is released in stores, and I'm normally defined as "the one who, at the very least, always smells good" LOL. I usually spray it on my inner wrists and in the air above me so it can sprinkle down.
I prefer Calvin Klein Euphoria, and Sarah Jessica Parker's NYC. Those are my hubby's faves on me too =]
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I spray my perfume on my inner wrist and then rub it behind my ears.
Sometimes I'll spray a little bit on the inside of my elbows. And other times I'll spray it twice in front of me and immediately walk through it.
<3 only Chanel <3
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Lauren, i learned a great trick when choosing a perfume that fits your body chemistry! When you find a perfume you like, spray a little on the tip of your finger and touch it to your tongue. The perfume should taste soapy and clean. If it tastes bitter and unpleasent, then it wont smell good on you! Ive used this trick everytime i have picked out a perfume and it really works!
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