Perfume has been a part of human culture for centuries and perfume today has evolved into an art form, geared at allowing for individualistic expression of one’s styles and mood. At Scent Journer, we believe in the art of mindful fragrance application, where every spritz is a moment of self-care and sensory delight.
Using perfumes has become part of a daily ritual for some, and each person has their ways and techniques when it comes to applying perfume. Ultimately, the most important feature of a perfume is its scent, and ways to best preserve the longevity and intensity of that scent is an age-old discussion. Some common methods include spraying your perfume on your clothes, hair, and pulse points. However why these methods? What are pulse points? Do they work, and if so why? Is applying on clothes or hair better or should perfume be applied directly on the skin? In this article, we will go through each of these methods, whether they work, and how to best optimise your perfume sillage and application.
The Debate: Skin vs Clothes
The long-standing question is, is perfume best applied to one's clothes or directly onto the skin? Ultimately the choice is up to the user and how long they wish the scent to last, but let's run though each of their pros and cons.
Application on Clothes
Pros:
- Longer Sillage: Perfumes tend to last longer on clothing compared to skin as the fabric absorbs the perfume and holds onto the scent for longer, thus allowing the scent to be released gently over a longer period.
- Minimal irritation: Spraying perfume on your clothes keeps your skin clean, so those with sensitive or dry skin such as eczema or allergies will be less irritated while still allowing one to enjoy their favorite scents.
Cons:
- Damage to clothing: Spraying directly onto clothes may cause staining and damage the fabric as some perfume ingredients may be too harsh for delicate fabrics such as silk and satin.
- Altered or Clashing Scents: Spraying the clothes on your fragrance may clash with other fragrances such as laundry detergents, softeners, or scent boosters. This could result in the overall scent being different or becoming an unpleasant mix of fragrances that dont go well together.
How We Recommend Spraying Fragrances on Clothes
If you enjoy spraying fragrances on your clothes but want to avoid damaging your clothes or delicate fabrics, it is best to instead spray a perfume cloud and walk into it. This allows a more even and gentle dispersal of the perfume onto your clothes.
Application on Skin
Pros:
- Personal scent: Applying perfume to the skin allows the fragrance to interact with your body’s natural oils and skin pH. Thus, it can allow the scent to develop and become one that is uniquely yours.
- Higher intensity from Body Heat: Your basal body temperature will allow the scent to evaporate faster and thus be released more intensely, particularly when the temperature outside is hot or when you sweat.
Cons:
- Shorter longevity: while perfumes can smell more intense on one’s skin, it comes with the payoff that it doesnt last as long and thus you may find the need to reapply frequently as the scent wears off within a few hours.
- Skin Sensitivity: perfume contains many volatile ingredients to which some people may be sensitive or allergic to. Moreover, perfume contains alcohol which is very harsh and drying, thus this might be irritating to those with dry or sensitive skin conditions like eczema.
Applying Perfume on Pulse Points: Why and Where They Are?
Pulse points are the points in your body where the arterial blood vessel lies very close to the surface of the skin. At some of these points you may be able to feel your pulse, hence the name pulse points. Some common pulse points include the inner wrists, behind your ears, around your neck, and the inside of your elbows to name a few.
Pulse points are popular areas to apply your favorite perfume as the constant blood flow through the blood vessels so close to the skin’s surface naturally makes these points of your body warmer. The higher temperatures help to amplify and diffuse the fragrance and improve the fragrance’s overall sillage.
Which Pulse Points Should I Use? Key Pulse Points to Remember
Depending on which pulse point you use, it could determine your fragrance’s projection and longevity. The choice of pulse points could also be determined by how you like to wear your fragrance throughout the day.
For easy reapplication:
- Wrists: One of the most common pulse points, the wrists is an easily accessible spot that allows for you to conveniently reapply your fragrances throughout the day. However, the fragrance may not last long here as you may wash off the fragrance when you wash your hands.
For an intimate experience:
- Neck: Another readily accessible pulse point, the base, sides, and nape of the neck allows for easy reapplication while allowing the scent to be noticeable without being overpowering. These areas also allow for an intimate scent experience as only those who are in close proximity to you will smell the fragrance strongly.
- Behind the Ears: Similar to applying around the neck, applying perfume behind the ears allows others to appreciate the fragrance in close encounters, creating intimacy.
For sillage that follows and surrounds you:
- Inner elbows: This is a great choice when wearing sleeveless or short-sleeved tops, allowing you to get wafts of the fragrance when you move your arms. The fragrance will rise and envelope you as it evaporates, creating a sillage that those around you can appreciate.
- Back of the knees: A unique location to apply your fragrance, it is good for hot weather and you can leave a rising, strong sillage that follows and envelops you as you walk and move.
Application on Hair
An increasingly popular choice, applying perfume on the hair has become an added trick to increase the sillage and longevity of ones perfume.
Pros
- Long-lasting, gentle fragrance: Compared to application on the skin, applying one’s perfume to hair is another way to extend the longevity of the fragrance. This is due to hair’s porosity, allowing it to absorb the fragrance oils and slowly disperse them throughout the day for a gentle, long-lasting fragrance that is not overpowering.
- Minimal Irritation: Similar to the benefits of applying perfume on clothing, the hair is another way to minimize contact with your skin, making it the better alternative to reduce potential skin irritation.
Cons
- Damage to hair: Perfumes are largely made of fragrance oils and alcohol. The fragrance oils and alcohols, particularly the harsh alcohols, can be drying and damaging to the hair. This could result in dry, brittle, and damaged hair.
- Scalp irritation: Despite minimizing skin irritation, spraying perfume on your hair might still cause allergic reactions on your scalp, leading to itching, redness, or discomfort.
- Altered or Clashing Scents: Your perfumes may clash with other fragrances on your head such as your shampoo and conditioners. This could result in the overall scent being different or creating an unpleasant mix of fragrances.
So Should We Spray Perfume on Hair?
At the end of the day, less is more! While the occasional spritz on your hair is fine, we do not recommend applying your perfume on your hair too often and saving this for special occasions. If you do want to use perfume on your hair, we suggest spraying from a distance to ensure an even, thin dispersal of the perfume on your hair, thus preventing over-saturating your hair with alcohol and fragrances. We also recommend avoiding perfume near the scalp and keeping perfume application from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair.
Finally, if you simply want your hair to smell great with minimal damage to your hair, it is best to avoid your typical perfumes and switch to a hair mist. Hair mists are fragranced products specifically made for hair and thus contain less alcohol and typically incorporate some oils, hence they are overall better for your hair.
Conclusion
Whether to spray perfume on your clothes, hair, or directly on your skin depends on personal preference, skin sensitivity, and the desired longevity of the fragrance. Understanding each of the various factors at play and how the medium interacts with your fragrances can allow you to tailor and enhance your overall perfume experience to be a positive one. By following the tips provided and considering the pros and cons of each method, you can ensure that you make the most of your favorite scents and enjoy a lasting, delightful aroma.
Ultimately, the choice is yours! Experiment with different application techniques to discover what works best for you, and embrace the art of fragrance to express your unique personality and style.
Let each spritz of Scent Journer perfume be a moment of indulgence and mindfulness, knowing that your fragrance journey is guided by our dedication to quality, sustainability, and the celebration of individuality.
Let the Scent Journer bird inspire you to apply perfume with grace and intention, enriching your life's extraordinary moments with the timeless allure of our carefully crafted scents.
