How often should we use perfume?

Do we have to perfume ourselves once or several times a day? In the morning or in the evening? It all depends on the concentration of your fragrance. Sylvaine Delacourte tells you more about the best way to perfume yourself.

Perfume yourself with Cologne

The cologne can be used after you shower; either in the morning just once a day or in the evening as well. The original cologne is very refreshing and a fairly neutral product. Its use therefore does not prevent the complementary application of another perfume, such as an eau de toilette or an eau de parfum. 

There are two types of Cologne. On the one hand, you have 99% natural fragrances that have a reduced tenacity and are consisted almost entirely of top notes.

On the other hand, there are products called "Cologne", which are actually fake ones, because if they are long-lasting, it is because they are not made of only natural products. They are also differentiated by heart and base notes. These will not be neutral and it will be more difficult to combine and layer them with other fragrances. 

Perfume yourself with fresh water

The fresh water is in the same spirit of Cologne and has a better tenacity. Indeed, this type of fragrance is sometimes supported by heart notes, and is made up of both natural and synthetic materials. Fresh water often has chypre base notes (see Chypre family).

Fresh water is made with a variable concentration, between 8% and 15%. Being very rich in fairly volatile notes, such as green, citrus and aromatic notes, it rarely lasts all day and must be sprayed several times a day.

Fresh water should be sprayed widely, in aura, all around the person.

Fresh water is a long-lasting fresh fragrance, the hedione molecule isolated from jasmine, made this performance possible.

The first fresh water was a real revolution in perfumery, it was Eau sauvage by Dior. All perfumers, following the trend, launched their own fresh waters: Eau de Guerlain, Eau de Lancôme, Eau de Rochas.

Recently, many perfume brands have launched fragrances made from 100% natural raw materials. A 100% natural fragrance will have less tenacity, so you can apply it several times a day.

Perfume yourself with eau de toilette 

Made with a concentrate that varies from 6 to 20%, the eau de toilette normally lasts only a few hours and needs to be perfumed several times a day.

It is an extroverted product, its smell is perceived more by people around than by the person who wears it. Eau de toilette can be frustrating, despite the wake, it doesn’t last very long. There is no absolute rule, however, and it all depends on the orchestration of the fragrance, the talent of the perfumer and the raw materials used.

Some recent eaux de toilette can diffuse for a long time and last almost all day. For example, fruity or gourmand fragrances, gourmand notes like caramel, whose synthetic note called "veltol" prolongs the diffusion of the fragrance. This style of scent or perfume will hold perfectly well. It will be enough to perfume yourself once a day.

Moreover, some eau de toilette can diffuse for a long time and last almost all day. For example, a gourmand note like caramel, thanks to the synthetic veltol note, will  extend the diffusion of the fragrance,and it will last perfectly well. In this case, you only need to spray perfume once a day. On the other hand, a citrus-based eau de toilette will only last two or three hours, requiring two or three applications during the day.

Perfume yourself with eau de parfum

Also called "spirit of perfume" or "toilet perfume", eau de parfum is made up of a concentrate that varies between 15% and 30%.

It is a product that offers both a great tenacity and a beautiful trail. Its lasting power is generally excellent. The eau de parfum is therefore a very good compromise, even if, here again, the quality of its trail depends above all on its orchestration, the perfumer and the notes used. For example, a fragrance based on oud wood will offer a very large diffusion, and a daily application will be more than enough. A fragrance of this style can even last a few days on clothes. On the other hand, a floral eau de parfum, orchestrated with light, airy flowers, will surely need a few touch-ups at the end of the day.

Perfume yourself with perfume extract

Perfume extract is the noblest product in perfumery. It is also the richest and most concentrated fragrance (from 20% to 40% of concentration). 

You should apply this perfume only once a day, preferably in the morning, to the pulsating areas of the skin, at the base of the neck, at the crook of your elbows, wrists and navel. The perfume extract is particularly intimate, and its scent is perceived both by the person who wears it and by those around.

After applying the extract to the skin, you can use eau de toilette or eau de parfum to perfect the scent. In this case, a simple touch-up with a spray of the second fragrance in the evening will be enough. The perfume extract, intimate, and the eau de parfum, rather extroverted, are very complementary. However, perfume extract, which is quite expensive, tends to disappear from the shelves of perfume stores.

Where exactly to spray the perfume extract? Where you want to be kissed!

Brands are free to call their creations eau de toilette, eau de parfum or extract. There is no legislation controlling the names.

The best way to perfume yourself

Before wearing perfume, it is important to remember that if you really like your perfume, you may not be able to perceive its scent after a while. It will be the people around you who will notice you smell great.

If you no longer smell your perfume, it actually means that your skin has adapted to the fragrance. You may then feel a certain olfactory fatigue. As a result, you may want to re-perfume yourself several times a day, which means that you have assimilated your perfume well and that it is part of you. Even if this is a good sign, make sure you don't have a heavy hand, to not disturb those around you with a heavy scent.

Sylvaine Delacourte fragrances

Discover Sylvaine Delacourte's brand with her Orange Blossom, Musks and Vanilla Collections. You can try them thanks to the Discovery Boxes (5 Eaux de Parfum x 2 ml) and rediscover these raw materials as you have never smelled them before.