MSN > Women > Fashion & Beauty

Fragrance Etiquette

Congratulations on your new perfect scent; certainly you have made the right choice after learning all about fragrances during the past few weeks. However, you might still be missing on last piece of the puzzle. If you remember what it has been like for you to be stoned by a stranger’s scent while going through the grocery store and how much you hated it, I am sure you wouldn’t want to leave that effect on anyone. So stay with us to learn all about first-rate set of rules to wearing your fragrance.

A Suitable Scent Must Be 

The rule of thumb for perfume etiquette is to initially select a perfume that suits your age and character. There are perfumes that are suited especially for more mature women rather than teenage girls and vice versa. So if you don’t pick the corresponding option to yourself, you are making a huge mistake as you sure won’t enjoy it nor will it be accepted. An ideal perfume is one that leaves your exclusive stamp on people’s minds and one that will always remind them of only you. So girls stop sharing your mother perfume and get your own.

Mind the Time of Day 

It is also very inappropriate if are heading to work with a very strong loud scent in the morning. You will have just invaded everybody’s private smelling vicinity, pierced ever nostril and left no room for anyone to think about admiring your perfume. So it’s always good manners to use a simpler energetic perfume for the morning and may be a little sophisticated one for the night. 

What’s The Occasion

One of the common pitfalls that a lady should avoid if she truly wants to leave an impression is using the same scent for every occasion not matter what it was. A cocktail party, a meeting with one or two people, a day at the office, a corporate event; these occasions demand a little sophistication. So go with a subtle scent that does not jerk an unsuspecting nostril out of its peaceful reverie. But if you want to make a splash at a wedding, a party or on a night of clubbing, go in for something stronger, but nothing too loud, unless this image is what you really want to project!

Do Not Over Do It 

The worst perfume etiquette offender is to wear too much cologne especially if you intend to spend your day in a closed meeting room or if you plan a workout in a steaming aerobic studio as in such cases the overpowering smell of you will offend each and everyone around you as you’ve just caused them to be uncomfortable. To escape falling into this ditch, first only apply a minimal amount. You can always add more through the day if it wears off, but if you over do it you will be too overpowering in scent the whole day. 

Perfume Parameters 

Think of it this way, you want your fragrance to please you most of all, or those who get closest to you. Once it goes beyond your half meter personal space, perhaps you put on a bit more than you should. Not to unintentionally overdo applying your favorite perfume, keep in mind while spraying that you may not be able to smell it since your nose had gotten used to the fragrance but that doesn’t mean that its not there. So remember less is always more. 

Re-Apply Per Condition 

Of course you all know that to keep an all day alluring scent, you do have to reapply through the day. This rule is tricky though because you might be wearing too strong of a scent that hardly wears out. In such case, constant re-application might be not be in your favor and in fact it can turn into a perfume disaster because you might end up irritating everybody around you with your intense scent. 

Workout- Splash Not 

If you know that you are heading to your aerobics class in three or fours hours, there is definitely no need to reapply or apply your perfume at this point even it was the lightest of scents. Workout intensifies your cologne as the body’s temperature rises and your vapors start diffusing into the air which can get choky to everyone around in such non-aerated space. Some people swear by some energizing perfumes made especially for the workout but do you guarantee that everyone in your class will like it?

Never In Public 

It is extremely bad manners to apply perfume in public. You should always apply in a restroom but it’s preferable to do it in your own private space like at home or in your car. This way you won't offend anyone's allergies or atmosphere.

Now we can proudly tell you that you had just graduated with masters on selecting, purchasing and wearing the right fragrance. Whiff it, breath it, read it and enjoy it only on …… MSN Arabia.