Knowing How Much Fragrance is Just Enough

What’s that Smell? Know How Much Fragrance is Just Enough

Oh what wicked fun it is to smell pretty and to feel that scent carry you away to a place in your mind where everyone you encounter is as enraptured by your scent as you. It would be so easy, while in that state of mind, to add just a bit more; to extend that imagined zone of your influence just a bit farther . . . just a bit more.

It is so easy to get carried away with your perfume and not realize it when the 'whisper' that was intended to suggest your presence, has turned into the bold pronouncement: “here I am . . . smell me.” That may seem to be a crass way to put it but it helps to make an important point: your scent is most effective when it emphasizes you, not when it advertises your perfume.

Fortunately it's easy to avoid such a miscommunication; here are a few tips:

Don't trust your nose! Just as it's hard to know exactly how your voice sounds to ears other than your own, it's equally hard to know how your scent comes across to noses other than yours. Experience shows that when your fragrance smells to you, just like you want it to smell to to others -- you are probably wearing too much. As a general rule: just a hint of scent to your nose will be just about right for others.

Never behind the ears! Just a dab or a very light spray on each wrist and on each side of your neck is sufficient. Never, ever apply perfume behind your ears; that may appear subtle and sophisticated in the movies but in real life perfume behind the ears will result in one of those bold pronouncements mentioned earlier.

Walking through a mist! Another way to apply an appropriately subtle fragrance is, before you dress, spray your perfume to create a mist in front of you, close your eyes, and then walk through the mist; one trip will be all you need.

Sometimes just skip it! There may be days or occasions when even a light application of your favorite perfume seems improper; on those occasions, just skip it! Almost every perfume has accompanying products: lotions, soaps, powder, etc.; settling for a judicious application of one of these products will leave you with just that hint of the scent that has become an essential part of you.

Alternatives! Another way to tone down your scent when subtlety seems like a good idea is to switch to a cologne or even an eau de toilette.

Cologne is your next step down on the scent scale. Somewhat less potent than perfume, cologne can be applied like a perfume, that is, either dabbed on or lightly sprayed in the very same ways in in the very same places perfume is applied. Even cologne can be (but of course should never be) over applied but its effect is somewhat less obvious except to the scent sensitive. Cologne, when well applied, can provide an appropriately compelling scent for an entire day.

Eau de Toilette is a very diluted form of fragrance and preferred by many because it allows the user the freedom to apply it more liberally with less chance of overdoing it. eau de toilette is almost always sprayed on, rather than dabbed on as are perfumes and some colognes, and many women prefer that convenience. There is also an economy factor; you'll find that eau de toilette comes in larger sizes for much less cost than perfumes or colognes.

Olfactory malefactors! You've probably heard or read about complaints from people who have spent uncomfortable (and even nauseous) periods of time, in enclosed spaces, with people (men as well as women) who have doused themselves with their favorite scent. The complaints are completely justified. There are many people, more than you would think, who who just have sensitive noses and are intolerant when it comes to being exposed to other people's scents. There are also many people who actually have severe physical reactions to overpowering colognes or perfumes; reactions that can be dangerous to their health. It would be good to remember these people on your next elevator, airplane, train or taxi ride -- not that you'll ever be accused of being an olfactory malefactor.

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