What are perfume oils?
Perfume oils (aka oil-based fragrances) are usually marketed an all-natural type of perfume. They’re usually alcohol-free and they contain an absolute minimum amount (sometimes none at all) of synthetic fragrances.
The oils are themselves extracted from raw, fragrant materials. These materials are the same ones that give alcohol-based perfumes their distinctive aromas. However, because of its oil base (rather than alcohol) and because of how it’s applied, you’ll find that the scent behaves quite differently.
Perfume oils are less overpowering than alcohol-based scents. They also last longer and they are hypoallergenic (a relief for scent lovers with extremely sensitive skin).
Now for the bad news: The oil can leave stains on your clothes, and some people don’t like the feel of oil on their skin. Also, they are costlier to produce, so (no surprise) they will cost you more than alcohol-based perfumes, but you might find the extra cost more than worthwhile.
What is the proper way to wear perfume oils?
We can’t wear perfume oils in the same way that we wear alcohol-based perfumes. But it’s really not that complicated. Here are the keys to wearing perfume oil confidently:
Apply directly onto your skin – Oils can damage and leave stains on your clothes, so keep it away from your fabrics by applying it directly onto your skin. Use the application dabber or rollerball that comes with the bottle, and the oil some time to dry before you slip on your outfit.
Focus on the pulse points – Perfume oils perform at their peak when they are warm. Use your body heat (particularly at your pulse points on the neck and the wrists) to fire up the perfume oil and kick its diffusion into high gear. Other great spots to apply it are in the crook of your elbows or your knees, in your cleavage, or behind the ears.
Use spray bottles or atomizers – Using the applicator will give you a small but concentrated dose of your perfume oil (and you’ll be able to target exactly where you want the smell to be strongest), but you can also use atomizers with perfume oils. Find an empty atomizer, clean it out, and then pour in your perfume oil and use it as you normally would. Remember to follow the rules above: spray it on your skin (not your clothes) and focus on the pulse points.
Layer your fragrance – Perfume oils are generally subtler-smelling stuff than alcohol-based perfumes. If you want a bolder overall scent, you’ll need to maximize your perfume oil with fragrance layering. Use similar scented products like lotions, powders, body washes, and hair/body mists. Be careful: not all great scents smell great when mixed.
Create a scented drawer – Just because you can’t apply perfume directly onto your clothes doesn’t mean you can’t use perfume oil to make your clothes smell as great as your perfumed body. Dab a little perfume oil onto a cloth packet or a cotton pad, let it dry, and then put it in your drawer underneath your clothes. Your clothes will smell subtly fantastic all day.
Apply early – For maximum effect, apply your perfume oil well before you have to leave. A good rule of thumb is 30 minutes or so. This will give the perfume oil more than enough time to mix with your skins natural oils and your body’s natural heat. Give this chemistry a little time to work its magic before you head out.
It really only takes a few applications of perfume oil to get entirely used to using it. It’s a key component in the fragrance lover’s arsenal, and, having tried it once, you might soon find it essential.