How much perfume should you wear?

Perfume: it’s such a personal thing.

A fragrance that makes one person swoon may make another wrinkle up their nose in disgust. And while everyone wants to smell nice, you don’t want to be that person who swans around in a pungent, overpowering cloud.

Which begs the question: How much ‘eau’ should you actually wear? Here’s what the experts say...

Where on the body is it best to apply perfume?

“To pulse points including wrists, knees, inside elbows, the nape of the neck and even above the hip bones, all places which are naturally warmer and heat intensifies scent,” says Cathy Newman, customer director at The Perfume Shop.

“The wrist area is particularly effective, as it allows you to smell the fragrance through the day,” recommends Rafael Trujillo, P&G perfume designer.

“Another idea is to give a spritz of perfume to your dry hair so, as your hair moves throughout the day, you add scent to your surroundings.”

How many spritzes of perfume should you apply?

“This can depend on the type of fragrance,” says Rafael. “With heavier, such as gourmand fragrances which consist of synthetic edible notes like vanilla or honey, one spritz may be enough – apply too much and you may end up smelling like a candy shop!”

Cathy agrees: “Body temperature affects the intensity of the perfume – the warmer the body, the more intense the scent. Some perfumes contain notes which are naturally longer-lasting, such patchouli, tuberose and coffee.”

How can you make a fragrance last longer?

“The best thing to do is layer. Using the body wash and lotion of the perfume will help intensify the scent,” Cathy says.

“Fabric has the ability to hold a scent longer than our skin, and this should be the foundation layer in your scent regime. Ensure it compliments your other fragrances, then even when they fade, you’ll still be enveloped in your favourite scents.”

“And storage. Keep them in a cool, dark place and out of direct sunlight.”

Fragrances that won’t fade:

Tuberose: Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum, £94.50 for 80ml, The Perfume Shop.

Patchouli: Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Moonlight Patchouli Eau de Parfum, £113.40 for 75ml, Escentual.

Coffee: YSL Black Opium Eau de Parfum, £71 for 50ml, The Perfume Shop.