Where Are the Best Places to Spray Perfume?.
Image by Freepic.diller
Most people spray perfume in the same two spots out of habit.
It works, but you’re probably getting less out of your fragrance than you could be. Where you apply perfume will ultimately affect how long it lasts, how it develops and how much other people notice it.
Keep reading to learn more about the best places to spray perfume for maximum longevity.
Why Perfume Placement Matters
Did you know that perfume needs heat to activate?
The warmer the skin, the more fragrance molecules disperse into the air around you. This is why spraying onto cold, dry skin on your forearm and expecting it to last all day rarely works as well as people hope.
For best results, spray perfume on your body at pulse points. These are areas where blood vessels run close to the skin’s surface, so they stay consistently warm throughout the day.
If you apply perfume there, the fragrance performs better and lasts longer than if sprayed randomly over your clothes.
Where Are the Best Pulse Points to Apply Perfume
Inner wrists
The most commonly used spot, the inner wrist, stays warm, is easy to apply, and, because you move your wrists around often, it puts the scent at a height where people catch it when it naturally wafts. One thing to avoid, though, is rubbing your wrists together after spraying. This might be something you have always done, but it crushes the top notes and shortens the fragrance’s overall lifespan. Just spray and leave it.
Base of the throat
One of the most effective spots on the body for fragrance. The neck generates a lot of heat and the scent rises naturally, which means people standing near you will catch it without you having to do anything. One spray here is usually enough.
Behind the ears
A classic application point that works particularly well for heavier or more complex fragrances. The skin behind the ears is warm and slightly oilier than elsewhere, which helps anchor the scent. Worth using if you want close-wearing intimacy over wide projection.
Inner elbows
This area is underused but effective for spraying perfume. The crook of the elbow is a warm, sheltered spot that holds fragrance well throughout the day. Particularly good in summer, when your arms are exposed, because the warmth of bare skin amplifies the scent as you move.
Behind the knees
This one surprises people, but it works so well – especially in summer. Heat rises, so applying fragrance low on the body means the scent travels upward throughout the day. If you’re wearing a skirt or shorts, adding a touch of perfume behind your knees is worth it for a little extra scent boost.
Chest and decolletage
The chest is a good spot for spraying scents if you want to project broadly. The chest radiates heat, allowing the fragrance to spread as you move. Worth applying here if you’re wearing an open neckline and want the scent to carry.
What About Spraying Perfume on Hair?
Hair holds fragrance for a long time and releases it gradually as you move, which makes it one of the better surfaces for application. The issue with spraying perfume on hair is that most perfumes contain alcohol, which dries hair out over time if applied directly.
The better approach is to spray once into the air in front of you and walk through the mist or spray lightly onto a hairbrush and run it through the ends of your hair, giving you the scent without moisture-stripping alcohol sitting directly on your strands.
If you want your hair to smell just as good as your body and clothes, then why not invest in a specially formulated hair mist or an alcohol-free perfume?
Spraying Perfume on Clothes
Fabric actually holds scent longer than skin does.
When spraying perfume on clothes, a light spray on your collar, the inside of a cuff or the hem of a scarf can keep a fragrance going for hours after it has faded from your skin, which is great if you’ll be somewhere warm and want the scent to last a full day.
Two things to be careful about are that some perfumes, particularly darker or resinous ones, can stain fabric. Test on a small area first if you’re wearing something you care about. Also, avoid spraying directly onto delicate fabrics like silk.
Places to Avoid Spraying Perfume
As useful as knowing where to apply is, knowing where not to is just as important.
- Directly onto dry or irritated skin. The alcohol in perfume can aggravate sensitive skin. Moisturise first or apply to clothing instead.
- Into your armpits. Body heat here is high, but sweat will interact with the fragrance and change how it smells. Deodorant and perfume are not the same thing.
- Directly onto jewellery. Perfume can corrode metal and damage the finish on pearls or porous stones over time. Apply to skin before putting on jewellery.
- Directly onto sunburned or broken skin. The alcohol content stings and can cause further irritation.
How Many Sprays of Perfume for Best Results
Two to four sprays cover most situations. Any more than that and you risk the people around you noticing your perfume before they notice you, clearing a room and making others feel uncomfortable. A useful reference point is that if you can still smell your own fragrance strongly an hour after applying, you’ve probably used enough. People close to you will notice it even when you’ve stopped noticing it yourself.
In summer, scale back by one spray compared to what you’d use in winter. Heat amplifies projection, so the same number of sprays that feels normal in January can be overpowering in July.
Spritzing Perfume on Pulse Points
If you currently spray your wrists and neck and leave it at that, adding the inner elbows and the backs of your knees will make a noticeable difference, particularly in warmer months.
And remember, moisturise first, don’t rub your wrists together and use two to four sprays, depending on the fragrance’s strength.