I've been a little lazy in my taking pictures of my outfits department, so I decided to talk about something that I feel is sometimes dodged. Why? I don't really know. I love perfume. I never really got into it before because it bothered my allergies, but I have found ways to wear it without it bothering my allergies too much.
One day I was bored, so I looked up "how to apply perfume." There is so much that I didn't know about perfume!!
First topic to discuss, what is perfume? There are so many kinds to choose from!
First off, eau da parfume contains from 10-20% (typically 15%) of aromatic compounds – meaning they are longer lasting and a tad bit more expensive. These are the ones that can irritate your nose because it's more powerful.
Eau de toliette on the other hand contains 5-15% of aromatic compounds- meaning that it's less powerful than perfume.
Perfume extract or oil contains 15-40% of aromatic compounds- meaning that this is the most powerful and expensive kind of perfume. Only a few drops will last all day long.
Body spray is similar to deodorant in amount of aromatic compounds. Body spray is basically equal to cologne for men, so it depends on how expensive it is on how long it lasts.
Now, here's the applying part!
- Apply perfume from a distance of 5-6 inches and if you don't mind wasting your perfume, try spraying in the air then walking into it.
- The placement of perfume behind the ears and on the wrists is a myth that is not very effective. The smell becomes tart on those places
- Do not spray your clothes! The perfume is was made to interact with your skin, not with your clothing. But, spraying on the flanks of your body will help with this problem (especially if you wear a jacket) because the aroma will come and go as you move.
- Places to apply:
(Upper part) Throat, shoulders, collarbone, under the chin, jaw line, temples, inside elbows, and along the hairline!!, on the hands
(Lower part) Back of the knee, heel, navel, and ankle.
- Over-applying will only irritate your nose, so just remember that subtly is actually the element you want. An occasional whiff here and there is much than reeking of it.
- Re-applying perfume is not advised. What I didn't know is that your nose will become used to the smells so while everyone else can smell that you reek of perfume, you cannot.
- The trick of applying it on the cotton ball has been distorted because the cotton balls are absorbing the perfume instead of transferring it to your skin. If you still wish to use cotton balls, try soaking them and placing them in your bra. I know it sounds weird, but apparently it works. (I haven't tried it myself yet, but I might just!)
- Apply bottom to top. Heat rises.
Finding a perfume you like is not too much as difficult, it's just aggravating to try to guess what is good and what is not when they are stored in bottles, especially ones without a tester.
While Chanel No. 5 is the best there is, there are still some others that can reliable. So, here are some tips on choosing some perfumes!
- Three main keys in choosing perfumes: season, age, and event.
- SEASONS: Wear accordingly! I do this all the time. Choose a more fresh and fruity smell for summer, an amber or woody smell during the fall, an icy or dark smell for winter (Christmas: gingery or fruity smells are allowed then), and a flowery smell for spring.
- For age, remember that wearing Chanel No. 5 or Dior at age 15 or 16 is not advisable. However, some celebrity scents can be used at this age. For older women, Chanel No. 5 or Dior is advisable. My mom's favorite perfumes to wear are Fire And Ice by Revlon and Gloria Vanderbilt. Actually, I should say they're my dad's favorites since my mom never buys her own perfume. : )
- Wearing by event is mostly what a lot women do already. Dark and mysterious scents should not be worn during the day nor is it suggested to wear the seasonal smells at night while you're at prom or at a benefit dinner.
Here is a list of some of my favorites, to give you a head start : )
Night Scents: All of Britney Spears' scents, Celine Dion (Celine Dion and Pure Brilliance), Victoria's Secret (Very Sexy and Succulent) and Amor Amor by Cacharel
Everyday Scents: Charlotte Russe (my number one!!), Bath and Body Works (Tropical Passionfruit, Dark Kiss, Moonlight Path, Twilight Wood, Secret Wonderland, Sweet Pea, Midnight Pomegranate, Paris Amor, Japanese Cherry Blossom), Miss Manhattan by New York And Company, Malaia by Hollister, Aerie by American Eagle, and Victoria's Secret (Pink and Bombshell).
Now, hand sanitizer scents are a whole other topic (favorite is Dancing Waters), but I'll save that, I guess : /
If you're really intersted in perfumes and such, the best blog to follow is
She's a French lady who explains perfume in a whole new way! I especially love her blog on Gone With The Wind where she gives each of the characters a scent : )
"A women who doesn't wear perfume has no future."-
Coco Chanel
