Perfume oils are having quite the moment, spreading from indie scent makers to big names like Tom Ford. It makes sense, given the current popularity of face oils and hair oils, but it’s not just a trend; perfume oils do have advantages to the more mainstream alcohol-based perfumes. They last longer, since alcohol evaporates from the bottle faster. This is a great thing for those of us who have a large collection of scents and hold onto things longer. You don’t waste as much during application either, since (according to perfume guru Chandler Burr), one loses about 50% of a spray of traditional perfume into the air.
Oil-based scents are much less drying to skin and hair than traditional alcohol-based perfumes. As alcohol evaporates to spread the fragrance of a traditional perfume, it takes with it your skin's natural oils, leaving your skin drier. Perfume oils are actually moisturizing, making them less irritating and more suitable for people with dry skin,
People are wearing fragrance differently, too, and perfume oil fits a more modern style of personal scent. Gone are the clouds of fragrance that announced one's entrance and lingered long after one's exit. Perfume oils tend to wear closer to the skin, which is bad if you want people to smell you across the room -- or the street -- but great if you are wearing them to the office or other environments where you want to enjoy your fragrance without offending others.
With the advent of mass-market fragrances, if you are searching for a unique, personal scent, indie and niche perfume oils are the way to go. There's a whole world beyond the department store perfume counter, made up of perfumes inspired by literature, fandoms, and much more. Not only is it fun to explore, but you if you want a true signature scent, you can find one.
A couple of tips about application, if you’re new to perfume oils, or perfume in general… Dab, don’t rub when applying your perfume. Rubbing the oil into your skin breaks down the more volatile top notes, such as citrus. If you have problems with the scent being absorbed too quickly, moisturize before you apply; a quick slick of petroleum jelly or a waxy, unscented lip balm can also help the fragrance adhere. Layering with a scented lotion in the same fragrance will also strengthen the effect of your perfume. As to where you should apply perfume oil to your body? Where you want to be kissed -- just as Coco Chanel so famously said.
