Summer has set in, bringing with it a gentle sunny warmth that warms our skin. During the summer period the perfumes lighten up and leave behind us the scent of holidays that we expect all year round. However, wearing perfume in the summer can be a real headache: you want to wear it and enjoy your favorite scents, but you often fear the worst, preferring to wear nothing at all. Moldy perfume, stains on the skin, an odour that becomes disturbing… To keep perfume a pleasure, here are our 5 tips for using your perfume in summer and adapting your ritual when the thermometer gets carried away.
With heat, the perfume evaporates differently and the base notes, which are the most tenacious, remain longer on the skin. The scents can then become too strong and cause headaches.
Some tips
1- With parsimony you will perfume yourself
The first advice to adopt for wearing perfume in summer is to use perfume sparingly. As you may know, heat tends to spread odours more widely. This is why our grandmothers put citrus peelings on the fireplace or placed a vanilla pod in the still hot oven to perfume the house. But when it comes to fragrance, overheating is never a good idea. With heat, the perfume evaporates differently and the base notes, which are the most tenacious, remain longer on the skin. The scents can then become too strong and cause headaches. Depending on your habits, do not hesitate to slightly reduce your daily "doses". Nevertheless, you will see that the wake you love so much will not disappear.
2- New gestures that you will adopt When the heat arrives, perspiration and sunburn go hand in hand… Two summer consequences little appreciated by the perfume. The best ally of perfume in summer remains impeccable hygiene, so remember to perfume yourself directly after the shower. We are inspired by the technique used by Brazilians to stay fresh and fragrant despite the humidity: we "splash" our perfume on the still damp body after washing. To make summer scents rhyme with happiness, it is also important to wear perfume in a cool and airy room. To do this, do not hesitate to leave the bathroom and do not immediately get into your car parked in the sun. In summer, you can also change your daily ritual. For this, perfume yourself delicately. Slip into a fragrant "cloud" you've created by spraying a few drops into the air. You can also use new areas to spray your perfume: the back of the earlobe, the top of the neck or your ankles. Be careful, however, not to get too close to the skin so that the perfume droplets are better distributed. And to avoid any contact with the skin, you can perfume your clothes (be careful with silk, it can stain), your hair (spray the perfume directly on your hairbrush to distribute the perfume evenly) or even slip a cloth impregnated in your handbag. Light and fresh sillage guaranteed!
3- The sun you will avoid
Sun and perfume do not form a very harmonious couple. Stains, irritations, burns… But beware of received ideas! The appearance of such spots is rare today and can be explained in several ways according to dermatologists:
Perfume dermatitis: brown spots form on the skin. They were caused by the presence of a component of bergamot essence: bergapten, a natural compound present in many perfumes but also a photosensitizing substance. Since 1996, the dosages of bergaptens have been strictly limited by the European Cosmetic Directive. The gasoline used has therefore evolved and is no longer phototoxic.
Allergy: certain ingredients can sometimes cause redness or irritation but also pigmentation under the effect of the sun, on dark skin.
Irritation: some perfumes can become irritating when exposed to too much sun due to the alcohol content in particular. This can then cause irritation which may be accompanied by pigmentation.
In the first heat, the shelves of perfumeries unroll an infinite offer of light waters, colognes and summer versions of the great classics. Moreover, the sales consultants strongly suggest going fresh. But what are these recommendations based on, if not the laws of marketing? Because rest assured, there is no ministry of good taste to decree that your perfume becomes has-been when the mercury rises: if you are faithful to a wake and it does not bother you with the heat, you you have no reason to change it. Just be careful to stay moderate so as not to invade your surroundings.
4- Towards new perfumes you will go
When summer comes, our scented desires change. Want freshness and lightness? Opt for an invigorating and citrus scent that gives pride of place to citrus fruits (mandarin, lemon, grapefruit). If you have a sea nose, set off to conquer the open sea with an ïōdé perfume. And when the heat is unbearable, opt for a second skin effect with musk. Its enveloping sweetness matches the freshness of melon and watermelon. It's the perfect cocktail to enjoy an unexpected fruity freshness!
5- Of your precious bottles, you will take great care
Putting on perfume in summer starts with taking care of the bottles. Don't forget that perfume is fragile and does not tolerate light, humidity and more generally temperature variations. So that your perfume follows you all summer and pleasantly perfumes your holidays, do not forget to apply these few gestures. So, keep your precious bottle in its original packaging and keep it in a dry and cool place. Carry it the same way: in its case, without exposing it to light. This way you can take it anywhere and still enjoy the scent you love so much.
Since our creation, Eco.French.Lab has worked with world-renowned perfumers and carefully checks all our compositions, which scrupulously respect health standards. No customer has complained of any allergy, but everyone's skin is different. So to avoid any risk, if you are prone to allergies or particularly sensitive, avoid wearing perfume on your skin when you plan to refine your tan. Instead, spray your clothes or style your hair with a scented brush! And above all, never buy perfume outside the “classic” distribution network. The components of counterfeit perfumes are not controlled, and the risks of allergies, photosensitisation and irritation are therefore much greater.
AND YOU ?
We are curious to know your rituals and tips for enjoying your perfumes even when the thermometer climbs. How do you like to perfume yourself in summer and what fragrance do you like right now?
Anne-Marie Spencer
Eco.French.Lab
Architect of scented collections