8 Useful Perfume Facts You Should Know 

While putting together an outfit speaks volumes not only of your sense of style but also of the type of person you are, your choice of perfume is a more personal and subtle expression of yourself. There's no surprise then as to why perfumes have survived and gained in popularity from its beginnings in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Although perfumes are immensely popular, there's a surprising amount of information we aren't  privy to. So without further ado, here are 9 facts you should know when buying and/or using perfume: 

1. Apply or spritz perfume on pulse points to maximise smell. These areas - such as inner wrists, inner elbows, behind earlobes, the base of your neck, behind the knees, and ankles - radiate heat, which in turn helps enhance the fragrance. 

2. When trying out perfume, be mindful of the perfume's top notes and base notes and make sure you love them. The initial smell that emanates from the perfume bottle are the top notes, and they wear off very quickly. The base notes are what fragrances remain after about 20 minutes of application. 

3. Perfume diffuses pretty well when applied on skin that has been moisturized. Besides, skin that is hydrated will hold fragrance for longer. 

4. Many spritz perfume on their hair because the hairs natural oils and well as any product used will help enhance the fragrance. Nevertheless, do so sparingly because many perfumes contain alcohol which will dry out your hair if used frequently. 

5. Rubbing wrists together after spritzing perfume is a no-no because the friction caused by the act increases the interaction of the fragrance with your skin's natural oils. This in turn distorts the scent. 

6. Don't buy a perfume based on how it smells on someone else. Perfumes mix with the skin's chemistry and factors like sweat, your diet and the environment  can alter how it smells on you. So always try perfumes on your skin before buying. 

7. Different scents can alter your mood. Lavender, rose and patchouli help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation; jasmine, hyacinth and vanilla produce a positive mood; and citrus centred perfumes will awaken your senses when you're tired. 

8. There's no such thing as men's or women's fragrance other than the packaging. So if there's a fragrance for “men” that you fancy, there's absolutely no reason you shouldn't buy it. 

By Rihaab Mowlana