It only dawned on me yesterday that I am the most conservative type of person when it comes to perfume application. That was a bit of a shock! 🙂
As that is the label I would never apply to myself.
Anyway, my perfume applicating ways haven’t changed much in the recent days but I did evolve from applying it on the sides of my neck and sometimes doing a sweep and applying some on my decollete as well, to taking advantage of the fact that I have short hair and applying some on the back of my neck, thinking it would make for a nice sillage circle. 🙂
So that’s what I’m doing these days.
Which is what got me thinking – what are the places where you apply perfume? Do you have some more innovative ones? Do some work better than others?
The only time I have perfume somewhere else on my body is when I’m testing it. And that only applied to arms.
I really am a conservative perfume wearer it seems…
Tagged: I've been thinking, perfume, perfume thoughts
All I am - a redhead 
Usually I spray once on my decolletage and once on my wrist, then touch my wrists together.It does depend on the perfume though, some scetns need more than those two sprays, some are better when only dabbed. I consider myself a very middle of the road perfume applier, I guess… 🙂
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I know, my sprays vary from two to four (very rarely five if it’s a light cologne type).
OK, so there’s more of us going down the middle of perfume application road… 😉
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Like you Ines, I’m pretty rigid about where I apply perfume ever since reading that applying to the neck and chest area can lead to premature wrinkiling because of the drying effects of the alcohol. So it’s strictly the back of right wrist and either side at the base of the neck.
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Tara, honestly, I’m not really worried about those few drops of alcohol hitting my chest. I’d say the sun I get throughout the summer is worse for my neck and chest than the perfume. 🙂
But as I’m already dressed when putting on perfume that’s not really an issue, so on my neck it goes.
I noticed I usually leave my arms free of perfume, as you never know what perfume will need to be tested throughout the day (even though that doesn’t happen often). 😉
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OH DEAR!! I am clearly the over applier of the crew. Wrist and elbow both sides, chest and tummy. If it’s particularly soft or short lived then back of neck in hairline too.
For trying a new scent one big spritz onto my lower chest..
Jin’s started spraying his hair underneath and it works a treat with excellent added sillage now that it’s hit his shoulders. Walking behind him can be quite lovely.
Portia xx
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See?! I knew there was someone who could teach us about other places where you can apply perfume. 😀
I would apply some on my hair if I had enough of it to make it bouncy. It’s way too short for that – but that leaves the back of my neck as a good place for application.
From now on, I’ll be making people standing behind me happy. Or, if not, that’s only a sign of their bad perfume taste. 😉
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Like you, I’m a conservative applier, Ines. I spray it on the nape of my neck and the back of my wrists, and sometimes on the inside of my upper arms.
While most people like to apply to the pulse points on the inside wrists, perfume always evaporates too quickly when I wear it there. Plus, I have to twist up my hand to smell it when it’s on the inside wrist, which is too inconvenient. 😀
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See, I never use my arms for applying perfume (other than for testing). I really should start doing that.
I’m thinking the perfume on the wrists is meant more for the people who wave their hands around much – that way they spread the perfume cloud a bit more. 😉
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Decollete, back of my neck, wrists! Sometimes my stomach, but that’s usually during the hot summer, right after a shower..
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I knew there must be other places for applying perfume! 🙂 I just didn’t know which. Thank you for sharing – I will try this one out.
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My wrists and the bend of my arm are the most common places I apply. Occasionally I spray one side of my neck.
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So, you keep more to your arms then? Interesting. Even when wearing long sleeves?
Does it hold? (since Suzanne mentioned it evaporates quickly from her wrists)
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Well, when I wear long sleeve shirts, I apply to the chest instead of the crook of my arm. But I do generally spray my arms more.
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I must say from a woman’s perspective, I like the part of applying perfume to chest. 🙂
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😉
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When I apply a perfume for the office it’s usually decolletage or one side of the neck and the left wrist (not to transfer different scents on the wrist rest of the mouse pad). For the less formal occassions I apply much more liberally but nothing too extravagant: decolletage, stomach, wrists, sides and back of the neck.
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🙂 I see that back of the neck has a standing tradition, it’s just me who’s late.
How come you apply to just one side of the neck?
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It’s not a specific side (though I could have said it was the side which I donot use for thetelephone 😉 – but no), it’s just that I’m trying to limit the number of sprays for stronger perfumes.
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Ines, I’m checking back to say that you inspired me to try something new: I put a generous spritz on the small of my back earlier today. It felt sexy going on … and it must have lasted, because I worked out tonight and now my pilates mat smells really, really good. 🙂
You’ll have to give this a try if you want to break out of your conservatism. 😉
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Suzanne, your idea sounds very sexy! 😀 I like it a lot and will definitely try it out very soon.
My conservative days of perfume application are definitely behind me now. 😉
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I guess I must be pretty conservative too, then! I do sides of the neck, central decollete (sounds rather grand put like that…), then apply to one wrist and slap the other on top of it usually. I know you are not supposed to do that, but am hoping the thing about bruising aroma molecules is just an old wives’ tale. : – 0
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Yes, it does! 😀 Central decollete, I must find a way to start employing it.
I’d say molecules are a hardy little bunch that can’t get bruised so easily. Or at all. 😉
I think we should all experiment with Suzanne’s idea (us, the conservatives I mean) – I think that might do wonders for one’s own confidence (and possibly make one chuckle during the day too).
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Depends on the scent and occasion for me. Strong stuff usually gets a much lighter hand from me, say a spritz on a wrist and in the general region of my hair/ upper back/ neck. If it is a dabber, I go with each wrist, inside of elbows, décolletage, nape of neck. For dressing up I add a spray or dab to just below my navel and the backs of my knees. Those tiny testers require creative application sometimes too.
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I was wondering if someone will confess to applying on the backs of knees. 🙂
Liz, that is how I would like to be when it comes to applying perfume – so far I only graduated to my nape. 🙂
I’m waiting for a chance to try Suzanne’s idea. 😉
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I spray a lot, no shame, but one thing I almost always do is apply to the tops of my forearms, not the insides of the wrists, because hair gives scent something more to stick to, and it seems to waft up at me more. Try it!
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True, I never thought about the fact that scent would cling more to places where there is more hair. 🙂
Will do!
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Great question! Like Elisa, I also spray on the tops of my arms, but because I don’t want it to transfer onto my desk. That’s about all I do on the average day. When I’m going out, I don’t have a routine, but definitely apply more.
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Ok, so if I’m spraying arms for work, I should take that into account. I don’t think it would smell so great if the perfume accumulated on my desk. 😉
I will have to wait for warmer weather in order to try that though (can’t wait!).
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My “safe” location is my stomach, although I feel sort of weird spraying there. 🙂 But my shirt controls the release of the scent, so it seems like the location least likely to offend anyone.
My other preferred location is the back of my neck, but more reliably in the summer – in the winter, I’m more likely to wear things that don’t get washed every wearing (wool sweaters, coats, and so on), and back-of-neck perfume tends to rub off and carry a growing fog of scents from day to day.
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Ok, stomach and my lower back are the first two new locations I will be spraying perfume on. 🙂 Can’t wait actually, I just have to remember to do it before I put all the layers of clothes on me.
But warmer weather is just around the corner so then I’ll be able to try my arms as well.
I do love snow but I admit I’m longing for warmer days now.
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Katie Puckric recommended spraying your ankles or calf area so it would waft up and not overwhelm (especially in hot weather) . Hally Berry said in an interview that THE proper place to apply perfume is the thighs -as it wafts up with body heat and doesn’t transfer when you hug someone.Coco Chanel is reputed to have said to apply perfume wherever you wish to be kissed ..and something to the effect that a woman who didn’t wear perfume was ?(a bore/not going to be remembered /not influence anyone)-sorry I can’t recall the full saying.
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Aha! More places to try. 🙂
Thank you for the ideas – now I can’t wait for the warm weather to arrive so I can try all of them.
I can see the point in not transfering your perfume when hugging someone but I don’t really have to worry about that – I don’t hug that many people. 🙂
P.S. Whatever was the exact Coco phrasing, I agree with it. 🙂 I can’t help but think that people not wearing perfume make for rather bland personalities. 😉
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