Perfume 101: How Much Perfume to Wear?

Some people don't know how to wear perfume in public. The most common mistake people make is wearing so much perfume to the point of causing sickness to others. Some perfumes and colognes can cause nausea, headaches, sneezing, sinusitis and just plain repulsion when wearing too much. Wearing too much perfume is considered extremely rude and a faux pass in many countries and cultures. Fortunately, there is a technique for wearing perfume the right way.

When shopping for a new perfume, keep in mind that a fragrance should complement the person who wears it. There are hundreds of perfumes in the market today. Forget the celebrity endorsement, the big fashion house name or gimmicks like pheromone infusions. Focus on finding a perfume that reflects your style. Start your search for a new perfume by deciding which scent appeals to you the most: floral, musk, spicy or fruity. If shopping at a department store, ask the sales person for samples or testers and try the perfumes by applying it to your skin until you find a scent that is right for you. Testing perfumes on your skin is really important when selecting a new fragrance. Perfumes can change their smell when mixed with the natural oils produced by your skin. The intensity and longevity of a perfume is based on the concentration, intensity and longevity of the aromatic compounds used. The concentration by percent/volume of perfume oil is as follows:

- Perfume extract: 15-40% aromatic compounds.

- Eau de Parfum, Parfum de Toilette: 10-20% aromatic compounds.

- Eau de Toilette: 5-15% aromatic compounds.

Perfumes can also change their scent if not stored properly. Keep your perfumes away from direct light and choose those perfumes with a spray instead of an applicator. Spray bottles are better at keeping oxygen away from your perfume.

How Much and When is Good

Let's assume you already bought your new perfume. Now let's talk about how much is enough and when to wear it. When applying perfume keep in mind that some perfumes are stronger than others. Usually couple of sprays is enough to be effective. Best places to apply perfume are on the wrists, behind the ears and neck. Some people even spray perfume up in the air and walk through the mist as the perfume falls down from the air. When wearing perfume, always remember that less is more.

Every woman should own at least two perfumes: one for day use and the other for evening use. Evening perfumes are usually stronger and oil based. Oil based perfumes are known as Eau de Parfum and last longer. Women should wear evening perfumes when going out to a club, bar, restaurant, sports event or any other place where there is a lot of people and socializing to do. For daytime use, we recommend light floral or fresh scents.

Just like there are places where is acceptable to wear perfumes, there are other places where is not acceptable to do so such as hospitals. Avoid wearing too much perfume around people with asthma or while in small spaces like in airplanes, trains or buses. The right perfume can be a great accessory to your outfit. Follow our advice and you will never get a complaint or a dirty look for wearing too much perfume.