How to Apply Perfume Like a Fragrance Expert

Fact checked by Anna HarrisReviewed by Julia A. Siegel, MD

Few things feel better than hearing "You smell amazing! What are you wearing?" A perfume you love can feel like the ultimate accessory, and it can be tempting to spritz away all day. But, according to the experts, there is a right and a wrong way to apply your fragrance. Indeed, there's something of an art to applying perfume, rooted in chemistry and based on tried and true techniques. We spoke to perfumers and fragrance experts to get all the best tips for applying perfume correctly, along with some things to avoid to preserve the integrity of your scent. Read on for what they told us.

Do: Apply Directly to the Skin

Your skin provides the perfect canvas for your favorite scent. "In order for a perfume to truly unravel itself in the most divine way, it needs a proper medium to anchor itself," says Matthew Milèo, a chemist, former in-house fragrance expert for Chanel, and founder of the luxe oud-based skincare line Milèo New York. "The lipophilic (oil-loving) properties of skin make it the perfect medium for the oils of perfume to attach to," he says. "The warmth of the skin starts the unraveling process, and the scent is free to fully express itself."

Byrdie Tip

If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, check with your dermatologist before applying perfume. Fragrance is a common allergen.

Do: Layer With Other Scented Products

For an even more powerful scent-to-skin adhesion, try layering perfume over body lotion or oil. "Fragrance binds to the oils in your skin, so applying it after your body lotion or oil creates a better surface for the scent molecules to bind to," explains Melina Polly, CEO and co-founder of Henry Rose.

Do: Spritz Post-Shower

Similarly to skincare, fragrance adheres to the skin best when there's some moisture involved. "Fragrance lasts longest when your skin is hydrated, making the best time to spritz right after your shower or bath," says Polly.

Don't: Apply Perfume Directly To Your Hair

Avoid using an eau de toilette in your hair, as an alcohol-based formula tends to dry and damage the strands. If you're set on spritzing your hair, be sure you're using a non-alcohol-based scent. "Since our Catbird perfumes are water-based, I love spritzing a bit in my hair," says Rony Vardi, founder and co-creative director of Catbird.

Do: Dab Your Pulse Points

"It's important to select the areas of the body that are naturally warm and moist, like the insides of the elbows, back of the knees, chest, and the sides of the neck," says Milèo. "These areas allow the perfume to be truly enjoyed. If not, the top notes tend to fly away too quickly, and you can be left with a heady scent or a scent that can smell stiff and lifeless."

Greta Fitz, the founder of the fragrance company Ascention, encourages people to use a gentle application technique. "Try dabbing your fragrance on pulse points," she says. "Your body heat will activate it throughout the day as a natural diffuser."

Don't: Rub Perfume Into the Skin

Resist the temptation to rub perfume into your skin. "Fragrance application can be delicate," says Carina Chaz, who founded the unisex fragrance scent line DedCool in 2016. "Fragrance should sit on the skin [to] mix with your natural oils. When wrists are rubbed together, top notes will fade and evaporate."

"When you rub your fragrance, you're then missing out on the overall experience since you're rubbing away, or drying out, a lot of the scent," adds Fitz.

Do: Walk Through a Fragrance Cloud (But There's a Catch)

Some users may prefer walking into a sprayed cloud before putting on their clothes to fully immerse themselves in the fragrance. This can be a romantic experience for the wearer and make a morning routine more enjoyable. However, you'll want to ensure the scent is nontoxic: "You never want to inhale fragrance as traditional fragrance is a pollutant," says Chaz. "If you want to walk into a fragrance cloud, make sure you're using a biodegradable fragrance."

Don't: Be Afraid to Layer Different Scents

Layering scents is an art unto itself. "We can layer with a complementary scent to refresh the scent without overpowering," says Fitz. "Single-note fragrances are the best for refreshing our olfactive pallet to our favorite fragrance, like a powdery musk."

Fitz recommends avoiding multiple layers of bold fragrances together, as it can be too much and cause headaches for you and those in your environment. "If you love big fragrances but want a new take on them, layer them with single-note woody or musky fragrances to wrap the fragrance with earthy undertones," she states. "I would stay away from anything strong fruity because fruits can be overpowering or volatile based on what they are layered with."

Do: Apply Perfume to Clothing

Lots of people love to apply fragrance to clothing. "During the winter, I like to mist my coat every once in a while to combat that winter mustiness," says Leigh Plessner, co-creative director of Catbird. If this sounds like you, just be mindful of the clothing's composition. "Rule of thumb: If you can wash the fabric, then spritz away," says Fitz, adding that you should avoid materials like silk, which can be easily stained by perfume oils. "Make sure you wave the fabric in the mist for even coverage."

Also, note that you might not experience the full accord of the perfume if you spritz clothing. Milèo says, "Because of the nature of the fabric, it only catches some parts of the perfume and not the entire accord — which is why fragrances can smell more powdery on clothes." So, feel free to mist clothing with your signature scent, with the full knowledge that it's a different olfactory experience than when you correctly apply perfume to your skin.

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