Daily Times

There are common misconceptions and errors when it comes to wearing fragrance.

We’re not talking about grown men spraying themselves with Lynx, or the blokes down the pub smelling like an airport Boots. There are some more scientific misunderstandings too.

Probably the most important is that fragrance shouldn’t be stored in the bathroom. Perfume expert Dr Marlen Harrison explains that “heat and moisture can cause scent oils to break down”. It spoils the smell, and can alter the product entirely.

So if you’re spending your hard-earned cash on perfume and aftershave, your bedroom is a better place to store it.

One other important thing to note when it comes to the world of flowery scents is that ‘Cologne’ and ‘perfume’ aren’t gendered.

While most differentiate the male and female products as ‘aftershave’ for men and ‘perfume’ for women, perfume is actually a measure of strength. It’s all down to how much oil is used in a fragrance.

Simply put, eau de Cologne is generally the weakest, with around 3 percent concentration of fragrance oil. Eau de toilette has around 10 percent, while eau de parfum has between 15 and 20 percent. Straight perfume has around 25 percent concentration.

Obviously, the higher the figure, the more expensive the product. That said, parfum will last you much longer, as you only need a dab or two to give you smell. It lasts longer on the skin, too.