Guest Author - Robin Rounds Whittemore
Remember your first bottle of perfume? You felt like a lady, all grown up and ready for the world. It was a prized possession and you wanted to keep it forever and ever. Well, perhaps some of us don’t have the same memories; but here are a few tips for applying fragrance. There are also tips on storage to keep the fragrance inside as fresh as possible for as long as possible.
Don't apply fragrance directly from the bottle. Oil or dirt from your fingers or skin can enter the bottle and affect the fragrance. You are better off using an atomizer or a spray bottle. You could also apply fragrance to a cotton ball and then to your skin.
Wear scent on your pulse points and where your skin gets warmer. Places to apply fragrance include the back of your knee, the inside of your elbows, your cleavage, wrists, and neck. Also keep in mind that fragrance will rise, just like heat. If you want to appear taller, spray a little on your hair. To appear shorter, spray lower on your body.
Keep perfume off your clothing and jewelry. It can tarnish the jewelry depending on the kind of jewelry that you wear. Keep in mind, also, that perfume can stain certain fabrics, so it is best to apply perfume before dressing.
When shopping for a fragrance, try not to sample more than three fragrances at a time. When you are trying to distinguish between scents, your nose gets tired and can no longer tell the difference between scents. Try smelling the coffee beans that are on the fragrance counter in most department stores between samplings. The beans help to "refresh and cleanse your palate" and will allow you to try more on and that is why they are there. They want you to shop and try until you buy.
Spray bottles of fragrance usually keep their scent better as the scent is not exposed to air as are pour bottles like splashes. When you open a bottle and air gets to it, the scent can indeed change over time.
Protect your fragrance from heat and light to prolong the scent. The bottle may look pretty in the window, but the sunlight that comes in could damage the fragrance inside. It is best to store it in a drawer or other place out of the light. The best place would not be in the bathroom, where there is usually heat and humidity, but in the bedroom.
Placing perfume in the refrigerator, like some people do with candles, is not recommended. When you place perfume in excessive hot or cold environments, the mixture and notes could be affected.
