11 Dec Why are you wearing so much perfume???

By Rhonda Massad

We all know her. The lady that has taken that signature scent too far. You can smell her ten feet away. Her perfume is left on your clothes once she has kissed you hello and the only way to let her go is to take a shower.

Is it possible that you do not realize you are over doing it while the rest of the world groans as you walk by? Is it possible you simply can’t smell the pungent odor that was intended to be a delicate tease to the senses?

Wearing perfume can be a wonderful way to express yourself, but too much can turn people off. While many people love to distinguish themselves with perfume, it can actually be harmful to others, causing migraines or allergic reactions that can impair breathing.

As a child, I remember my great Aunty Lucy wearing Shalimar by Guerlain.

Shalimar was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1925, as a tribute to the legendary love story between Emperor SHAHJAHAN and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The scent is named after ‘The Gardens of Shalimar’ dedicated to the Emperor’s late wife after giving birth to his 14 children. The garden outside her tomb was his favorite place to meditate.

What I want to understand is how women leave the house with the whole garden sprayed on their bodies and nobody in their family stops them, EVER.

According to How Things Work, fragrance works by getting into the pores of your skin and reacting with your body’s chemistry to make the scent last. Perfume is also the strongest of all of the fragrance products. Compared to eau de parfum, eau de toilette, cologne and body splash, perfume has the highest concentration and strength of aromatic oils. Perfume is designed to be long lasting, so you don’t need to apply much to have a large effect.

Get into the habit of not wearing too much perfume in the first place and knowing where to apply it. Instead of putting it directly onto your skin, spray one blast upwards in the air in front of you and walk through the mist it creates. Choose a couple of places, such as your chest and neck and when applying, hold the bottle a good 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) away from your body when you spray. If you’re wearing a heavier scent, try applying it just to the lower part of your body, like a quick spritz behind the knees. The scent won’t rise as quickly and be as irritating to others. You’ll find the proper balance soon enough, and your scent will draw people closer rather than repel them.

As women, we need to take a step back and spray a little less. In the case of perfume, less is more. Those of us with allergies end up doing military maneuvers to avoid sitting next to the woman that never fails to arrive to ruin the party.