Imagine finding a nice coat or the perfect pair of shoes and not knowing how to wear them properly. Finding a perfume or cologne that you love but not understanding how to wear it is just as bad. Standing out means knowing how to get the most out of the products you wear, especially fine fragrances from brands like Bond no 9, Givenchy, Gucci, and more. Here’s some food for thought when it comes to wearing your favorite scent.

What’s Your Note?

Almost half of the nation regularly wears cologne or perfume, so it’s critical to understand what’s in a fragrance. Your favorite products are made of three layers which feature different components that contribute to their particular aroma:

  • Top or head notes: These are the scent accords that make up a fragrance’s first impression. They usually meld into the next layer.
  • Middle or heart notes: These scent components usually provide the “main theme” of your perfume or cologne.
  • Base notes: These accords give your product its longest-lasting characteristics. On their own, they may be perceived as offensive, but they combine with the wearer’s body chemistry for a unique effect.

Knowing which scents work best with your body chemistry is key to finding a successful product.

Where Do You Apply?

Where you apply fragrance is key to its short-term and long-term performance. Parts of the body that are warmer due to increased blood flow retain scent the longest. These spots are known as pulse points. The thinness of the skin and the presence of blood vessels help retain your scent. Consider them strategically, especially for how others perceive what you’re wearing:

  • The neck: This is a great place to spray perfume or cologne, as you can smell what you’re wearing without overwhelming your senses. Applying to the throat area naturally helps make your head the star of the show. Spraying on the nape helps radiate a sillage or trail of scent as you walk by.
  • Behind the earlobes: This location is similar to the neck but also provides a great spot for the latter phase of your fragrance to be experienced. If you’re having a romantic evening, that special someone can experience the lovely dry-down phase up close.
  • The wrists: Greeting others with a handshake or embrace is pretty common in social and intimate settings. Adding scent to your wrists is a nice way to introduce the depth of your preferred product to others in a way that is appropriate for the occasion.

Is There Anything Else?

There are other things you can do to maximize your olfactory presentation. Fragrances with higher concentrations such as eau de parfum (EDP) sprays tend to perform better than eau de toilette (EDT) and eau de cologne products. Spray your scent on skin that is clean and hydrated for better longevity. Find your favorite fragrance and wear it well with these tips.