John N
Perfume myths have been floating around for quite some time. Sometimes they are just silly ideas that people believe, and sometimes they even seem to make sense. But rest assured, we are here to debunk the most common myths about perfume that you may have heard of.
- Myth: Women need to wear perfume every day
This is one of the most common myths regarding perfume. There is no need to wear it every day unless you want to. Fragrances are not for everyone, but you can use them when and how you want to if you do like them. You know what feels good and works on your body, so don’t let other people tell you how often you should use perfume.
- Myth: Perfume is only for women
This one seems pretty self-explanatory, but many men still believe perfume is not a masculine thing. However, men have been wearing perfumes for centuries! They used dyes with natural scents like pine and rosemary in ancient Egypt, and cologne started gaining popularity in the 17th century in Europe. The idea that men can’t wear fragrances is a very modern notion founded on the fact that it was considered feminine at one time.
- Myth: The higher the price tag, the better the quality.
This isn’t always true. It would be great if it were, wouldn’t it? But sometimes, a fragrance will come out with a lot of hype or be associated with an expensive brand name or celebrity endorser. Those factors alone can jack up the price without being reflected in the actual quality of the product itself. Don’t buy into the hype—or at least, don’t pay extra for it! Look up reviews online (try Fragrantica) before buying a perfume you’re unfamiliar with; even if you can’t decide what scent to get based on reviews alone, it might help steer you away from overpriced duds.
- Myth: The only difference between “perfume” and “eau de toilette” is strength.
There’s some truth to this one—the main difference between perfumes and Eaux de toilette is that perfumes have a higher concentration of essential oils, so they’re more expensive. However, there are also differences in price due to the types of oils used and the materials that make each type of fragrance. For instance, a rose-based eau de toilette may contain fewer rose oil molecules than a lower-priced rose perfume—but it could also include different alcohols or chemicals that affect its smell and longevity.
- Myth: The more robust the perfume, the better it smells.
The strength of a scent doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with how well you like it on you. Many perfumes are so strong that they can give you a headache if you spray them too close to your face. If a fragrance is too strong for you, add just a tiny drop to your skin and let it dissolve before applying more. Be sure to check out the “Eau de perfume” category—this concentration is best for longevity but will be less overpowering than “parfum” or “extrait.” A good rule of thumb is to start small and then add more as needed; this way, you’ll avoid overwhelming yourself (and everyone around you).
- Myth: The best time to apply perfume is right after a shower.
This one isn’t necessarily wrong, but it’s not ideal either. While it might seem like the best time to put on your perfume would be when your pores are wide open in the steamy aftermath of a shower, that’s not quite the case. The best time to put on your perfume is when your body temperature is at its highest—so in the morning after you’ve dried off with a warm towel or right before you go out for the evening (so maybe not right after a shower). At these times, your pores will be more open and receptive to fragrances and help diffuse the scent throughout your body for longer.
- Myth: Natural essential oil perfumes are better for your skin than synthetic perfumes.
Like anything else, this depends on the brand and the formulation. More natural ingredients may be used in their fragrance formulas than synthetic ones, but this isn’t always the case with specific brands. It’s also important to note that even “natural” ingredients might not be as natural as they seem—many times, they’ve gone through chemical processing or other types of the refining process.
- Myth: A scent should smell the same on everyone.
While it’s true that people do have different reactions to fragrances, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find perfumes that suit your preferences. Like food, some people are more sensitive to certain compounds and less susceptible to others. This sensitivity varies from person to person and can even change in the same person over time (e.g., if you’re pregnant). So don’t be discouraged! If you don’t like something at first, try it again later.
- Myth: You should always test a perfume on your wrist.
Your wrists are not a good place to test a fragrance. It’s often too warm there and won’t give you an accurate representation of how the smell will last. Instead, spray onto your chest, which is closer to the nose, or on your stomach (if you’re wearing loose clothing), which will give you a better idea of how it smells several hours later.
- Myth: Layering different fragrances creates a scent that’s unique to me.
False! In reality, perfume houses layering fragrances primarily to create a particular effect, like making an accord (a fragrance note) more potent than it naturally. Fragrance layering, or using more than one perfume at once, won’t make your scent “unique” since you’ll still be using someone else’s idea of what a good scent should smell. If you want a genuinely custom fragrance, consider creating your own from scratch.
- Myth: Perfumes should be worn according to the season.
The truth is that perfumes can be worn any time of year. If you enjoy your favorite scent, there’s no reason not to wear it in the summer or winter. However, you may want to adjust how much fragrance you wear depending on the season and the weather. For example, if it’s scorching outside, you’ll probably feel more comfortable wearing less perfume.
- Myth: New clothes need to be washed before they’re worn because they’re treated with chemicals that can cause allergic reactions.
This is nothing but a myth! Most new clothing comes straight from the factory without ever being treated with anything other than water during its production process. If any chemicals were used during certain stages of production, they’d have been long gone by the time your new outfit reached your closet. This means that you don’t have to worry about any allergic reactions and you can wear your new clothes right away!
- Myth: Natural perfume can help you lose weight.
The idea that sniffing certain aromas could help you burn more calories has been around for years—but studies have shown that there’s no scientific evidence to support this claim.
- Myth: Perfumes Don’t Expire
Everyone has a perfume their mother used, or a forgotten fragrance sitting in the bathroom for years, thinking perfumes don’t have an expiration date. While there is not an expiration date printed on the bottle, perfumes do expire. Because perfumes are sensitive to light, humidity, and heat, over the years, they can be compromised. The life of your fragrance will depend on how well you store it.
- Storing Your Perfume in the Fridge Will Make It Stronger
Countless sources are suggesting you should store your perfume in the fridge. The promise is that the fridge is a dark, cold, and humidity-free place to store your perfume. While those are three things you want to look for in your perfume storage location, the fridge is an icy place for perfumes. While you need your perfume to be in a fresh atmosphere, the refrigerator might cool the fragrance too much. As you take it out, the temperature shock can damage the fragrance.
- Air Spraying Is the Best Way to Apply Perfume
Those that oppose applying perfume at pulse points prefer to try the air spraying method. Basically, you spray the fragrance in the air and walk through to get the right amount of fragrance. First of all, you are wasting tons of products with this method. Then, your skin will not truly be in direct contact, and you can’t control what areas of your skin have been sprayed with the perfume.
In conclusion, the perfume industry is a vast landscape filled with beautiful scents. It’s also not without a few myths and misconceptions. Familiarizing yourself with the truth about these topics can help you make the most of your perfume, whether you’re shopping for a new bottle or about to hit the fragrance counter.
