Can I ask a stupid question about perfume?

[HippyKayYay]

I haven't worn perfume for years, in part because I can get a bit 'sick' of the smell and find them cloying after a while. But also cos I stopped when I was breastfeeding kids (10 years ago now!) and never started again.

However, I've just found one I really like and am tempted to buy. But one of my past issues with perfume is the smell getting 'stuck' in clothes you wear next to the skin where the scent is applied and then becoming either stale or just lingering past the point you want it to (e.g. if you want to wear a different scent on another day). I know one solution is to wash the clothes, but I'm thinking about things you don't/ can't wash after every wear (e.g. cashmere/wool sweaters, coats, scarves).

Is there a solution I'm not thinking of? Or am I just being an oddball in finding this a problem?!?

There's no solution its just how it is...

Perhaps you could try using the body lotion instead of the fragrance. It won’t be exactly the same but it won’t evaporate either. If you wait until it’s sunk into your skin it shouldn’t transfer to your clothes and the scent should be more intimate. Also, as for the “travel” of scent, the higher the alcohol content, the further outside your body it goes (and the less it lasts.) So a Cologne or Eau de Toilette will have the widest aura of scent and carry into your clothes, but evaporate fastest, followed by an Eau de Parfum. They linger closer to your body and last longer. A true Parfum is super concentrated, (and expensive) comes in a tiny dropper bottle and you dab on a wee bit, and that will probably last you eons. (All fragrance will last longer if applied over a very thin application of Vaseline, btw, and it should also help with the super spreading of scent.)

Application makes a difference. Put your fragrance on before your clothes and wait for it to settle. Mist into the air and walk into it. Don't squirt it on to pulse points once you are dressed or you will get it on your clothes.

I was going to say the same as above. Spritz while you are dressing, and give it a moment to settle into skin.

Airing / sunshine a few hours on the line or in front of a window ( slightly open) can work wonders

Oh! I love smelling the remnants of my perfumes on my clothes - gloves, collars, etc.

Can't say it ever crossed my mind that there might be a clash of smells if I wore something different (I have 3 fave 'fumes).

They are all quite light, floral fragrances though.

Thank you! I've learnt more about perfume from your post than I have in my 48 years alive

Also thank you. I had no idea about this!

Thanks all. Great tips here on perfume application (about which I had no idea) and different types. I definitely want perfume and not body lotion (which they anyway don't do), but also because I find heavily scented body lotions 'too much'.