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Having hydrated skin makes a big difference, too.
Perfume is personal, which is likely why the modern fragrance space is such a viral one. A search for "perfume" on TikTok elicits upwards of 200 million views, and Givaudan's head of global marketing Arnaud Guggenbuhl shares that social media drives an estimated 13 percent of fragrance purchases in the United States. "It's accessible and fun for young people," he says of the easy luxury. The shared goal of fragrance fans is for their chosen perfume to waft well and last all day. Fortunately for all of us, there’s a simple hack here: it’s all about pulse points.
According to Spate’s 2024 Predicted Beauty Trends Report, searches for “long-lasting” as related to perfume have seen a significant jump as of late, should you need extra evidence of our shared desire for scent endurance. Think of your pulse points as perfume hot spots, committed to putting a spotlight on your well-selected scent. “Pulse points emit heat, so they enhance the fragrance and its longevity,” says Givaudan senior perfumer Caroline Sabas. These are the warmest areas of your body and include spots synonymous with fragrance like the wrists and the neck, and less expected ones like the inside of the elbows and backs of the knees.
Meet the expert
- Arnaud Guggenbuhl is the head of global marketing at fragrance manufacturer Givaudan.
- Caroline Sabas is a senior perfumer at Givaudan.
- Chriselle Lim is the founder of fragrance brand Phlur.
Pulse points elevate the experiential aspects of perfume in more ways than one, boosting a scent’s strength and your daily regimen. “A scent can enhance the experience of your daily beauty routine,” says Sabas. “To me, spraying perfume is an experience—it's the final touch that will make you feel more special and complete.”
Here are the five need-to-know pulse points to upgrade personalized perfume application.
Wrists
The wrists are perhaps the most common place to apply perfume and offer the perfect vehicle to distribute your scent to other essential pulse points. Use your wrists to create any fragrance blends before touching to your neck, hair, and beyond. Expert tip? "Avoid rubbing your wrists together!" advises Phlur founder Chriselle Lim. "This can break down the top notes of the perfume and affect the way the scent develops on your skin."
Behind the Ears
Delivering a dose of perfume to the area directly behind the ears is both effective and ritualistic in feel. A spritz here ensures your perfume will wind up in your hair, contributing to its range and longevity while guaranteeing an all-day diffusion.
Dabbing fragrance here also means that a quick hug, or any time spent near loved ones, will come with even more of your personality.
Neck
If you're eager to emulate the experts, make like Sabas and start with the neck. "Personally, I love spraying [perfume] on each side of my neck," she says. "Then I touch the fragrance with both wrists and finish by passing my wrists through my hair." Add two more touches behind the ears, and you've got the fragrance trifecta!
Inside the Elbows
Consider the inside of your elbows the big sister point to the more natural-feeling wrist spritz. Should you be donning an ensemble with sleeves, the elbow area can help spread your scent around, the better to linger within the fibers of your clothes and lend to your aforementioned sillage.
Behind the Knees
Fragrance need not be relegated to traditional areas—your entire body can be a vehicle to help disseminate your scent. Commit to your bit by applying fragrance behind the knees. Your every movement—from standing to walking to dancing—is now accessorized by your signature scent.
Perfume Application Tips
Along with prioritizing pulse points, some easy shifts in your spritz routine can help ensure the longevity you're after.
To begin, ensure you're applying perfume to well-tended (a.k.a. hydrated) skin. “Fragrance doesn't last as long on dry skin, so make sure your skin is well moisturized,” says Sabas, adding that you can apply the accompanying body lotion, mist, or oil to extend the life of the scent. Lim is also a fan of this approach. “I like to layer fragrance to make it last longer and I’ll do that by either layering with a matching fragrance or with complementary scented products like body washes, lotions, or oils from the same perfume line,” she says.
Next, make sure the fragrance gets tangled up in your mane. “Spraying perfume lightly on hair and clothes is another very helpful way to make a scent linger,” says Sabas. “It provides a sillage, or fragrance trail, that people will notice as you enter or leave a room.” Make sure to spritz your perfume a few inches away from the skin, the better to achieve even application—and to avoid any unnecessary stains on your clothing.
Lastly, recommends a less-is-more approach, particularly as applied to pulse points. “Perfume tends to intensify as it warms up on your skin, so it's always better to start with a small amount and then add more if needed,” she says. Most of all, though, your perfume process should be your own. "I'd suggest experimenting, have fun with it, and find your own way to apply," says Sabas.