How to Properly Apply Perfume

Hanae Mori Butterfly- One of my faves!

Perhaps you've never put much thought into how to apply your favorite perfume.  I will admit, this seems like something that shouldn't take too much thought.  However, a random spritz here and there doesn't get the best bang for your buck.  Instead try these helpful tips to make your perfume shine all day long.

• Before applying perfume, moisturize your skin.  Applying lotion or other types of moisturizers to your skin before applying your perfume provides a base that helps perfume last longer than applying it to bare skin alone.
• Do not apply perfume to clothing.  While perfume can stain certain fabrics, this is not the main reason to avoid spraying your clothes.  Perfumes have various layers to them (top notes, middle notes, and base notes), and for each layer to fully develop, the fragrance needs to be applied directly to skin.  Spraying perfume on clothing will only allow the top notes to come through (the initial scent).
• Spray perfume strategically.  There are certain places on the body that allow your perfume to develop better than others.  Spray perfume onto the inside of your elbows, between the breasts, behind the ears, and behind the knees for the best development and staying power. You can spray your wrists, but often you will quickly lose the fragrance here due to washing your hands throughout the day.
• If you do spray your wrists, don't rub them together.  This will crush the molecules that make up the fragrance and remove the complexity underlying your perfume.
• Avoid reapplying perfume too soon.  If you reapply your perfume before the base notes fully develop, you are robbing your perfume (and yourself) of some of the deepest, most complex notes of the perfume.  Your reapplication will also not smell the same as the first application due to the reaction with the initial application.
• If using a splash bottle, do not use your fingers to apply perfume.  Instead, use the stopper to apply.  Oils from your skin can interact with the perfume in the bottle if you apply with your fingers, causing your perfume to breakdown prematurely.

So the next time you're about to apply that $100+ perfume, remember these tips to make your fragrance and your money last as long as possible!

Do you have any other tips?  Please leave them in a comment below!

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