fragrance

  You might be surprised to learn that there is actually a skill to dabbing perfume, and we have conjured up a list of the most common perfume application mistakes made every day so you can avoid them. If you want to get the most out of your fragrance then listen closely!

Less is more; when you are at a social event you will be competing with a number of different fragrances. You don’t want to choke one of your colleagues by drowning yourself in perfume – it’s not attractive, ladies. Applying a squirt of perfume using a cotton ball is another to ooze sophistication and retain colleagues nose hair. When applying scent to your wrist, rubbing them together can significantly alter the scent so avoid this when getting ready.

Have you ever heard “spray perfume in your hair and it’ll last all day!” I was told this too, I made the mistake of listening and spent years damaging my hair with alcohol and oils. Never spray the perfume into your hair, unless you’re anticipating catastrophic results.

The temperature can give you a good indication of how often you need to reapply your fragrance. It cooler climates you will need to reapply your perfume roughly every three hours or so, although, in warmer environments you can expect your scent to last a lot longer. You should be aware of the fact that as you age, your sense of smell may slowly begin to decline, so remember less is more.

Unfortunately, the day may come where your favourite perfume that you once loved isn’t the same anymore. Fragrances can change because of your hormones; also perfumes can age if not stored correctly, get the most out of your beauty investments by following our beauty blog on tips on storing your perfume.

The best time to apply your fragrance is when you immediately get out of the shower, your pores are open and your skin is warm. If using a body cream, opt for an unscented one to above two scent mingling. The oil in the cream will extend the wear of your perfume, so be aware!

When purchasing a new fragrance, I’m confident I can speak for women across the country, that we couldn’t care less about the celebrity face plastered across the front of the bottle. As long as the scent pleases our buttons, however, what if that smell was whiskey? American singer and songwriter, Madonna recently launched her first fragrance Madonna Truth or Dare, and is already planning for more perfume releases. Under development; as WWD reports, “it is due out ‘sometime next year.’ “

“She likes to wear cologne — don’t ask me why,” the star explained at the New York launch of her first perfume. “I love musk and amber and woody kind of fragrances on men. I love the smell of whiskey — we should make a men’s cologne that smells like whiskey. I can’t drink it, it’s too strong, but it smells amazing — a really good old whiskey.”

What are your thoughts on whiskey cologne? We want to know!

When mingling and busting out crazy moves on the dance floor, it’s not just your hair and make up that needs help staying put, but you need to ensure you know how to smell gorgeous all night long. Apply your perfume to warm areas of your body such as your wrist, the the nape of your neck, inner elbows and behind your knees and behind your ears. Depending on what class of perfume you are using, e.g. eau de toilette, eau de perfume (read our blog on understanding your perfumes to find out more..) then your scent should usually linger for 6 to 8 hours. If you have oily skin, you’ll be pleased to know that the moisture in your skin will soak up the scent, as a result your perfume will last longer. For those struggling with dry skin, try layering your fragrance with a matching body lotion for sweet smelling, hydrated skin.

How do I store my perfume? 

Presented on a shelf, neatly aligned along with exhausted fragrance bottles or hidden away in a draw along some perfumes you forgot you had? The perfect scent can give you an aura of sophistication and appeal. However, when stored in the wrong conditions the scent will send you from chic to reek. Look after your beauty investments by following these simple rules of storing your perfume correctly.

1. Store your fragrance in a cool, dark place and out of direct sunlight. (Having said that, don’t store your fragrances in the fridge.) If the smell changes, it’s time to buy a new fragrance.

2. Keep the cap to your fragrance on tightly and the bottle standing in an upright position.

3. Don’t carry your perfume around with you in your handbag. If you need to touch-up your perfume throughout the day, find a sample size or a small perfume bottle to transfer a dash of your fragrance in to. This way you will use it before it has a chance to go bad (which is likely considering the changing temperatures inside your bag).

Remember the three enemies of good perfume: sunlight, heat and air.

Plenty of us despise the thousand of advertisements we are bombarded with daily, a large majority I even just automatically blank now. However, these advertisements are as beautiful as the product itself. Featuring: Dakota Fanning for Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola!, Taylor Swift for Taylor Swift Wonderstruck, Elisa Sednaoui for Roberto Cavalli, Bar Refaeli for Especially Escada, Vlada Roslyakova for Aura by Swarovski, Keira Knightley for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.