Sometimes people become too religious about ethereal and optional created boundaries, theories, traditions, perfection and correctness, in all aspects of life. All of these are not a bad thing, I believe we all have some of that. The challenge comes when we dare to impose those things to others, instead of sharing our ways and let people decide if they want to try our way, if they stick to their ways because works for them. Perfumery isn’t the exception.
Isn’t perfumery an art? Isn’t the art abstract?
Yes, the artist is the only one who knows exactly what he ment or wanted to imprint in his work, the rest of the humanity can just interpret that work based on their knowledge, experience, nuance, perspective, preferences, needs, etc.
So, the same rule as in language applies here, “the use establishes the correctness.” What is correct to many, could be considered incorrect to others. But the main purpose of language is communication, and if everyone speaks the same language, the message will be understood using correct or incorrect words.
Moral, do your thing, be happy, respect others, and let them be as well. Everyone will learn from their own mistakes and grow, nobody learns from other people’s experiences.
All that said, I want to bring to discussion one of the simplest things we do as fragrance enthusiasts, where to apply your fragrance.
When I started to use fragrances (my dad’s colognes when I was very young) I always had to apply them on my clothing because they always burned my skin. I had no choice until very late on my adulthood. Now I use the on skin and clothing.
We all now that a fragrance only develops on skin due to temperature, chemistry, chemical reactions, compounds, etc. However, IMO when I apply them on skin and clothing, I experience best of the 2 worlds, the development on the skin, and the fresh eternal opening at the same time. While the fragrance on skin fades away, I still smell amazing until I finish my day without having to reapply.
Let me know how you prefer to apply your fragrance and why, we all have our own rituals.