Why do we stop smelling our own perfume? It could be biology or these mistakes

Even your nose can get tired  

The phenomenon known as "olfactory fatigue" or "nasal blindness" is probably behind it all. Let's explain. After some time, we get used to certain fragrances and odours, and stop paying attention to them. And for good reason: it doesn't overload our nervous system, and we can still smell what's important (like food burning on the stove). With your perfume, it's similar to when you visit your friends, and you can smell the odour of their pets, but as the evening wears on, you barely notice it.  

Sounds, logical, right? Maybe you've just pardoned all your perfumes, but still... Isn't there a way to enjoy them a bit more? Yes, there is. And not just one! 

Changing of the guard 

If you wear the same perfume over and over again, your brain will slowly start to consider it as your body's natural fragrance, evaluate it as safe, and you will notice it less and less. The solution is clear: change your perfume. That's why it's a good idea to have a (small) perfume collection at home, from which you can choose a different fragrance for work, another for the evening and another for travelling, so that your nose doesn't have a chance to get too used to them.  

Practice time 

Did you know that even a nose can be trained? And it's worth it, because with a little "work" you will be more sensitive to fragrances and learn to recognize them better. The simplest technique is to start consciously noticing the fragrances that pass by your nose every day. Inhale the aroma of your morning coffee, focus on the spices you use when cooking, and outside, take in the fresh air or the fragrance of the flowers and plants that you pass.  

In the next step, get different essential oils, and try to identify their fragrances with your eyes closed. Observe what effect each one of them has on you. Then you can mix them together and guess their individual ingredients. You will discover that playing perfume designer is great fun! 

A stronger calibre 

Maybe you think your perfume wears off too quickly because... It's just its nature. When it comes to how long perfumes last, concentration is the key. Just to give you an idea –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eau de Cologne lasts for about 2 hours, a popular Eau de Toilette for 4–⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7 hours. If you want more, go for an Eau de Parfum or even a perfume extract which has a considerably higher content of fragrant ingredients, so they smell more intensively and for longer.   

Rules of application 

Some myths have managed to sink really deep into our minds, so many of us keep making the same mistakes when applying perfume. So even though you've probably heard what the correct procedure should be, let's review the rules. Perfume develops best when applied to clean, hydrated skin - ideally after a shower, when your pores are open. 

Leave out the hair and clothes, and apply the fragrance to your pulse points instead, which means the wrists (don't rub them together!), neck, behind your ears and even in the elbow pits. The fragrance also settles well if you spray it into the air and walk through the perfume mist. 

More is more  

Do you love perfume gift sets which contain not only the fragrance itself, but also a body lotion or shower gel? Not only do they look lovely, they are also sup-practical. They enable you to layer more products with the same fragrance, meaning that the fragrant cloud around you will be more intensive and last longer.  

So now you know how to get the most out of a fragrant bottle! Now we're off to train our noses and find new perfumes for the collection, are you coming along?