How to Wear Natural Perfume on Clothes

There are a few reasons why you would want to wear your perfume on clothes:

• your skin is too sensitive even to natural blends

• you want your perfume to last longer

• the perfume you want to use is in fact not a body scent (more on that below)

• if it is hot outside and you cannot avoid sun exposure (even though all natural perfume blends are checked by professional chemists in the EU for allergens and those which cause sensitivity, it is always wise NOT to use botanical perfume on hot summer days and expose your skin to the sun)

• you simply prefer fabric to skin

The most common spots on clothes for your favourite perfume:

• chest/bosom area

• scarf

• collar

The hidden areas, methods and tips you can use to make your perfume last even longer or if the fabric is too delicate and light in colour:

• the inside of your clothes, the inner seam, in particular if there is a double fabric layer, use the one closer to your skin;

• the inside part of your sleeves (especially if you have to work on a laptop or your wrists touch the desk too often during the day as an alternative to wrist pulse points);

• lingerie (the fragrance will mingle with your skin scent but will still last longer since the area is not exposed to air so much);

• night clothes/lingerie (if you like applying perfume as an evening ritual, for sexual preludes or aromatherapy);

• fabric accessories (jewellery, hair, neck, hand and other accessories made of fabric, including handkerchiefs, gloves, brooches, etc.);

• clothing labels (perfect if the piece you are wearing is too delicate for perfumes, especially because botanical fragrances have deep colours);

• clothing elements such as belts, ribbons, embroidery, appliqués, buttons and beads made of natural materials which would absorb and hold the perfume better;

• use your closet/drawer to scent a few pieces: simply apply perfume or blend of a few on fabric/thick paper/cotton ball and leave it for a few hours, the closer it is to your clothes, the quicker it will be absorbed and more intense the scent will be;

• use a piece of thick paper/fabric and put it in your pocket, reapply if the scent fades away, use top front pockets or a combination of a few;

• in autumn and winter, yarn pieces are especially perfect to hold your favourite scent, go for natural ones (wool, cotton, bamboo, viscose, etc.);

• as you layer clothes in cold weather, layer your perfume (s) on different pieces, the outer layer will protect the perfume from evaporation;

• if applied on fabric/yarn accessories, fold them to protect the scent when you are not wearing them.

You can use botanical ambiance scents such as RedBird and Parfum d’Esthetique as body perfume but applied on clothes, in that way it will stay close to you. Experiment with the amount to find the right way of application, ambiance perfume may be too concentrated so apply a little bit. Mix and match different perfumes, layer them to create your personal blends.

Botanical perfume used on clothes lasts up to a few days considering the cost and preciousness of natural scents, so in some cases this may be the best way of application if you want your flacon to last longer. On the other hand, nothing can beat the scent of your skin and the perfume you are wearing when mixed into one signature fragrance. If in doubt, always experiment first on less delicate material and clothing pieces.