ALT-APPLICATION SCENTS

Still spritzing fragrance on to your wrists and décolletage? God, you’re so basic. The next generation of scents offer up plenty of new ways to get whiffy

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Good in theory, not necessarily in application. Which brings us nicely on to the subject of perfume. Turns out using an atomiser to douse your pulse points isn’t the only way to scent yourself. ‘Women are looking for more mindful ways to apply perfume to enhance the experience and, arguably more importantly, to make it last longer,’ says Emily Soulsby, fragrance and beauty buyer at Liberty. ‘Smell is the most primal of the senses so, compared with the visual appeal of make-up, your feelings about the scent you wear are far more emotional,’ says perfumer Roja Dove.

WH tests out the slew of new-application perfumes – atomisers need not apply.

BEST FOR: TRAVEL

CHANEL CHANCE THREE MOODS SCENTED GEL TRIO £60

Tested by: Victoria Rudland,

Chief Sub Editor

They say: Three iconic fragrances have been transformed into shimmering gels to softly illuminate the skin as it scents. Apply the lightweight gel to the décolletage and the insides of the wrists for touch-ups on the go.

Victoria says: Throwing the pots into my case pre-holiday meant I didn’t need to worry about smashing bottles and heavily scented smalls. The non-sticky velvety texture cools hot holiday skin on application and catches the light in the evening. I had to reapply it as often as my lipstick, but when it’s so enjoyable and fits so neatly in a clutch, who cares?

BEST FOR: WORK

JO MALONE STAR MAGNOLIA HAIR MIST £38

Tested by: Florence Mitchell, Editorial Assistant/junior Writer

They say: A floral hair mist loaded with nourishing and conditioning ingredients to give your hair a healthy shine and scent.

Wear it alone or layer with a cologne to ramp up your scent for evening.

Florence says: Sometimes I find perfume too heavy for work. But this is so delicate it gave my hair the sort of light fragrance you would expect to emanate from Kate Middleton if she gave her barnet a swish. Gorgeously fresh and floral – and the bottle was pretty enough to garner comments from colleagues between touch-ups every four hours.