Perfume Mistakes That Everyone (except Professionals) Makes

For your scent to sound right, live for a long time, and not turn into something completely unexpected in the bottle, you need to build the right relationship with it. And, first of all, you need to stop making a few mistakes that are obvious to professionals.

Don't rub - just spray

“It's almost an unconscious habit to splash on your wrists and then rub. And she's very bad, ─ says Françoise Donsch, Givenchy olfactologist. ─ Why? Friction heats the skin and stimulates the production of certain enzymes that alter the sound of the scent. Top and middle notes are distorted the most. In floral fragrances, things are even worse - there the warmth affects the whole composition, and the finely arranged chords lose their clarity. To keep the fragrance intact (and also to ensure its long-lasting sound), just put a few drops on your wrists and just let them soak."

Store correctly

“Perfumes are very sensitive to changes in the environment, so it is important to store them correctly,” says Linda Pilkington, a British perfumer and founder of Ormonde Jayne. ─ Perfumes do not like temperature fluctuations: sharp jumps give rise to unexpected chemical reactions inside natural ingredients, and as a result, perfumes deteriorate faster. For example, if you leave a citrus scent in a steam bath, you may notice over time that the composition seems to "taste bitter". The explanation is simple - high humidity has done its job. The best place to store the fragrance is in the box it came in originally and in a room with a temperature of about 22 degrees."

Choose less (it's better)

“No matter how great your love for the scent may be, it should not affect the size of the bottle,” warns perfumer François Demachy. - Perfume is best used quickly. Oxygen, the natural enemy of perfume compositions, does not sleep and gradually destroys fragile molecules. Of course, if you use your fragrance on a daily basis, then the large bottle is unlikely to go to waste. If an extensive collection allows you to be tormented by a choice every morning, then it is better to choose small vessels. For those who need more precise “shelf life”, I will tell you that the trouble-free life of an aromatic composition in a started bottle lasts about three months. Although everything is rather arbitrary and happens in different ways. In the event that you have no choice and only king sizes are presented in the perfumery department, it is better to pour some perfume into a more modest container, and then just replenish the stock."

Don't be afraid of "chemistry"

“People love the idea of everything natural, but that is not always possible,” says Christine Nagel, perfumer at Hermes. ─ For example, natural musk, which used to be "taken" from animals, is now prohibited. And artificial musk brings softness to the fragrance and enhances its trace. What's wrong with that? Other scents like peony, freesia, and lily of the valley cannot be obtained through natural extraction simply because they have no aroma. Modern chemical developments are tightly controlled and tested for safety, which gives us many opportunities to reproduce natural notes. Believe me, the blend of essential oils, natural and artificial ingredients provides the highest quality scent."

Mix, but do not shake

“If you want to prolong the longevity of your perfume, apply it to damp skin,” says Jo Malone London Style Director Debbie Wilde. - The best way to “lengthen” the scent is to use the perfume immediately after a shower and moisturizer. The layering of scents and textures creates something unique: the entire rite and final scent is entirely yours, utterly personal. If I want to pamper myself, I first add oil with lavender notes to the bath, then apply cream with basil and neroli to the body, and finally take a cologne with a dark pomegranate accord. And this is just one example, but there are many other options that everyone chooses and creates for themselves."