How do you apply extrait de parfum?
Extrait de parfum is the richest concentration, and it asks for a lighter hand. Where to apply it, how much to start with, and what to avoid.
How do you apply extrait de parfum? With a lighter hand than you would use for an eau de toilette. Start with one spray on clean skin, choose a warm spot such as the inside of the wrist or the side of the neck, do not rub, and wait before you decide whether to add more. Extrait is the richest concentration, so a little goes a long way, and most mistakes come from using the same number of sprays as for a lighter version.
Why extrait asks for less
An extrait holds more perfume oil than an eau de parfum or an eau de toilette, as EDT, EDP or extrait explains. In practice it often feels fuller and rounder and sits closer to the skin, with the base more present. That does not mean it is louder in every case: some extraits are quiet and intimate. It means that the first spray already carries a lot, and a second or third is easier to add than to take back.
Where to put it
Warm places help a perfume open and last. The inside of the wrists, the sides of the neck, the crook of the elbow and behind the ears are the classic spots. The chest under a shirt is another, because the warmth rises through the fabric. For testing, use the forearm, one perfume per arm. For everyday wear, one spray on the neck and one on a wrist is a good pair to start with. Avoid hair, where the alcohol can dry it, and avoid skin that is freshly shaved or irritated.
How much
Start with one spray, wait for it to dry and settle, and then see how it feels at the distance of a handshake. If you can only smell it when you bring your wrist to your nose, a second spray is fine. If the people around you could smell it from far away, you have used enough. There is no number that fits every perfume, because strength differs between formulas, and how a perfume behaves on you is personal. Our article on how many sprays of perfume you should wear gives a way to find your own level.
Four extraits to practise on
Mykonos Nautilus is an Extrait de Parfum recorded with pear, bergamot, ginger and mandarin orange on top, pear, orange blossom and jasmine in the heart and amber, musk, vanilla, guaiac wood and ambroxan in the base, tagged strong and for summer. It is a good example of a rich perfume with a fresh opening, where a single spray is plenty.
Mykonos Conquer, also an Extrait de Parfum, is recorded with bergamot, ginger and cardamom on top, orris and orange blossom in the heart and patchouli, musk, modern amber and vanilla in the base, tagged for autumn and winter. Bujairami Ya Habibi has cinnamon, mandarin, saffron and bergamot on top, incense, rose and jasmine in the heart and oud, amber, sandalwood, vanilla and musk in the base.
Argos Neptune's Trident is an Extrait de Parfum recorded with bergamot, mandarin orange, lavender and cardamom on top, geranium, green tea, orange blossom and jasmine sambac in the heart and vetiver, musk, labdanum, ambergris, iris and sandalwood in the base, tagged for spring and summer. A strong tag on a spring perfume shows that richness does not decide the season.
What to avoid
Do not rub your wrists together after spraying. It speeds up the evaporation of the top notes and can make the opening seem flatter than it is. Do not spray from so close that the skin gets wet, and do not apply over a scented lotion unless it is made to pair with the perfume. Skip sprays in a small, closed room, and be sparing before a meeting or a flight. If you are unsure, try the perfume at home first; how to test perfume on your skin gives the routine.
Where to go next
Browse the extrait samples or the strong samples to try the style. A small vial is the sensible way to find out whether a rich perfume suits you, and which sample size helps you pick. For the practical side of using a vial, see how to use a perfume sample vial, and the FAQ answers ordering questions.
FAQ
How many sprays of extrait should I start with?
One. Wait until it has settled on the skin, then decide if you want a second. A rich perfume often needs less than you expect.
Can I spray extrait on clothes?
You can, but it may mark light or delicate fabrics, and the effect on fabric says little about your skin. Skin is the better place to judge it.
Should I rub the perfume in?
No. Rubbing can change how the top opens, and it is not needed. Let it dry on its own.
