The Best Place To Apply Perfume & Other Perfume Myths You Need To Know

By Paul Lumley

The Best Place To Apply Perfume & Other Perfume Myths You Need To Know

You’ve probably never considered how much you know about perfume, but it’s likely you could answer this - where is the best place to apply perfume?

Most of our knowledge of perfume comes from family or friends. You might assume the best place to apply perfume is your neck, but is there any truth to this? Also, do you really know what your perfume is made of? Is perfume only for women? Let’s look into some of the most common perfume myths and separate the fact from the fiction.

Myth 1: The best place to apply perfume is on the neck or wrist

The most famous of all the perfume myths, this has been perpetuated for decades by adverts, films and TV.

There are different theories on where this tradition came from, but the one you’ve likely heard about relates to “pulse points”. The idea is that the body creates extra heat at your pulse points, which intensifies the scent. However, there isn’t any scientific evidence to back this up. There’s no sign that the skin is any warmer at pulse points than anywhere else on the body. In fact, you may be better off spraying perfume onto your chest if you’re looking to make use of body temperature in this way.

The best place to apply perfume may not even be skin at all. The scent will last longer when sprayed on materials like hair or clothes. If you’re not keen on the idea of covering your clothes in perfume, you could spray a light scarf and use this to carry the scent. 

Myth verdict: False

Myth 2: Perfume never expires

Some people have a collection of a few different perfumes. Most of which are made up of gifts from friends and family that have sat around gathering dust for years. But you may need to clear out some of your stash, as the surprising truth is that perfume does actually expire.

There is no hard and fast rule as to how long it takes. It depends on different factors, like room temperature or whether it’s opened or not.

Generally, you should start checking for changes in the perfume if it’s at least 2 years old. You may not even mind if it’s expired - common signs are changes in scent and colour, but if these don’t bother you then there’s no need to worry much about the age.

Myth verdict: False

Myth 3: To apply perfume you should “spray, then walk away”

This myth is slightly more complicated, and the short answer is “it depends”.

Some people are sensitive to strong scents or don’t want their perfume to be too noticeable. If you are one of those people then the "spray and walk" approach might be the perfect application method for you.

Here's how it works. You spray the perfume into the air in front of you, then walk through the air. This allows the perfume to settle all over you without concentrating in any one area, so the effect is more subtle. If you’re a firm believer that the best place to apply perfume is to a specific part of your body, then this method won’t be right for you. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, so try both methods and see which one works best for you.

If you prefer a little spritz to the wrists, you also might be applying wrong. Most people's instinct is to rub their wrists together. But that actually makes the perfume less effective. Instead, you should lightly dab wrists.

Myth verdict: It depends 

Myth 4: All perfumes are vegan

You might be wondering, why wouldn’t perfume be vegan? It’s not something you would associate with animal products.

Unfortunately, there are some surprising non-vegan ingredients that may be hiding in your perfume. Things like castoreum and musk are actually animal by-products.

You probably won't recognise these as animal products from the label, which is why it’s important to find a brand that is 100% vegan.

Shay and Blue are proud to be vegan and natural. Every ingredient is sustainably sourced and we use real fruits, flowers, and spices in every bottle.

There’s also the issue of animal testing. Historically, perfumes were tested on animals, and unfortunately, this is still practised today. Animals such as rabbits have perfume put on their skin and even in their eyes and mouth to test for irritation.

Brands are not required to disclose this on their product labels, so it's easy to accidentally buy an animal-tested product without realising.

This is another area where Shay and Blue excels - they are 100% cruelty-free and PETA  certified. This means you can browse their range of fragrances without having to waste time reading and deciphering product labels and ingredients.

Myth verdict: False

Myth 5: Perfume is for women, cologne is for men

The terms “cologne” and “perfume” are often used to determine whether a fragrance is suitable for men or women. But those aren’t the correct meanings of the words at all - they refer to the concentration of fragrance oil.

Eau de cologne is the weakest at around 3%, while eau de parfum has up to 20%. The only reason they're gendered? Marketing.

Perfume advertising is delicate and feminine, while colognes are shown as masculine and strong.

There’s no reason for a fragrance to be gendered. People should be comfortable to choose whatever scent is right for them.

All fragrances from Shay and Blue are unisex for this reason. From sweet florals to earthy, woody tones, the range at Shay and Blue has something for everyone regardless of who they are.

Myth verdict: False

So how many of these myths did you believe before? Have you changed your opinion on the best place to apply perfume? Are you going to stop rubbing your wrists together? If not, that’s fine too! People should be free to make their own decisions, as long as they're based on accurate information.

Hopefully, after learning a bit more about these myths, you’ll feel confident enough to go and explore the world of perfume on your own terms.

Shop Shay and Blue's range of vegan, cruelty-free perfume here.

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