When I was a little girl, I had a locked drawer in my bedroom which contained my most prized possessions: around 15 tiny bottles of fragrance samples which my dad had given me from his work as a salesman in the beauty industry. Uh, yeah, so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, right?
Every so often, I’d unlock the drawer, sit on the floor amongst my precious bottles, and then smell each one. I must have been the only kid who knew the olfactory differences between Chloe’s eponymous scent and Cacharel’s iconic Anais Anais.
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Flash forward two decades or so, and I was using my childhood knowledge in my newest job as a fragrance spritzer. Yeah, I was one of those girls who harassed people in department stores, wielding an expensive glass bottle and offering to spray them with scent. I relished the training I received for this job. Here’s what I learnt.
Rule 1. Spray it in a “slashing” motion.
Imagine this: you find a fragrance you love, and then you hold the spray nozzle right up to your arm and then squirt! You’ve sprayed a circle of wet fragrance on your skin, and it’s now dripping everywhere. This is how not to do it. This botched application is especially irritating if a fragrance consultant has done it to you. It’s just messy and unprofessional.
This is how a professional fragrance flogger sprays a fragrance – it’s an art, and admittedly, quite theatrical. We use a “slashing” motion. Think of it as a dance move! Okay, follow along with me.
Who needs yoga when you can just spray yourself with fragrance all day? Check out the latest makeup trend: strobing. (Post continues after gallery.)
The Glow's freshest perfumes.
Estee Lauder Modern Muse
http://www.theglow.com.au/glow-guide/estee-lauder-modern-muse-eau-de-parfum/
Miss Dior, $216
Bold and elegant, expect top notes of Italian mandarin mixed with Egyptian Jasmine and rose.
Balenciaga Rosabotanica $125
Based on a spicy rose, this is a fresh scent in a gorgeous bottle.
Giorgio Armani Si, $85
For a woody scent this is surprisingly light with airy florals and musky blonde wood ensuring longevity.
Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamon $185
An aromatic perfume with a deliciously warm spicy base.
Kenzo Flower, $87
A powdery floral scent that is long lasting and clean and fresh.
Roses by Chloe, from $80
Woody and floral notes combine to create a very feminine fragrance.
Burberry Brit Rhythm, $132
A musky base note is lifted with a heart of lavender, pink peppercorn and blackberry leaves.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, $120
A perfect summer fragrance, Daisy Dream is light, fresh and fruity. http://www.theglow.com.au/glow-guide/marc-jacobs-daisy-dream/
DKNY be delicious, from $30
If they're a fan of fruity scents, you've met your match - a mix of apple, pear blossom and mango nectar.
Rule 2. Never rub your wrists or arms together, after sampling a fragrance.
http://cdn.theglow.com.au/app/uploads/2015/06/too-much-perfume.gif Also, don't spray it in someone's face.
You may have seen your mum do this: spray a fragrance onto her wrist, and then rub it vigorously with the opposite wrist. Sorry to be a nerd, but this is not the correct way to sample a fragrance.
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The scent becomes “bruised” if you rub it. This means that all of the different notes in the scent become muddled up, and don’t smell as fresh or good any more. If you want the fragrance on both of your arms, just spray it on both of them. Don’t rub it! Just say no.
Rule 3. Aim higher than your wrist.
http://cdn.theglow.com.au/app/uploads/2015/06/nicki-minaj-perfume.gif No, Nicki Minaj! That's not where to spray it!
Speaking of spraying fragrance on your wrists, why not try aiming a little higher on your arm instead? Yes, wrists are sexy (don’t ask me why, but they just are), but the problem with spritzing fragrance on your wrists is that it can interact with your accessories and disrupt the true nature of the scent.
For example, the fragrance will rub against your watch and bangles, which will then alter the scent. This is why I always spray fragrance in the hollows of my elbows instead.
Rule 4. It’s called a fragrance, not a perfume.
A fragrance flogger will never, ever utter the word “perfume”. We only say fragrance, which is a more elegant and descriptive word. Honestly, though, I personally don’t care what you call it, as long as you love it. Call it a Backstreet Boys philosophy, if you will: your fragrance bottle should sing, “as long as you love me”.
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Rule 5. Before splurging on a fragrance, wear it for one day.
http://cdn.theglow.com.au/app/uploads/2015/06/anchorman-perfume.jpg You wouldn't want to smell like Sex Panther from "Anchorman", would you?
Fragrances change as you wear them, as the different scents mingle with your body heat and natural oils. Also, fragrances tend to “mellow” or wear down as the day goes on, often leaving behind a “base note” – that is, one strong scent that the fragrance may be based around.
Related: 12 easy beauty tricks that will save you money (and time).
Vanilla is an example of a base note. Before buying a fragrance, I always wear it for a day first, because I like to experience the full range of smells. You may find that the fragrance you almost impulse-bought actually gives you a headache. In this instance, it pays to be cautious.
Rule 6. Live for the moment and spray your fragrance now, because it can go “off”.
This is something that Baby Carla really needed to know. Baby Carla kept those tiny fragrance samples in her drawer for years and didn’t wear them. Even though she took them out to smell them, and pretended to enjoy it, deep down she knew that the fragrances were beginning to stink.
This is because fragrances go “off”. They may not have an official expiry date, but the scent can become bad after a period of time – I’ll say after a few years. (Post continues after gallery.)
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Image via instagram/jessicabiel
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