I missed the last week’s SQ post: I was traveling for work, and it messed up my blog-related activities. But I’m glad to be back: I missed you all!
Saturday Question #206:
Do You Wear Perfumes on a Plane?
I was surprised to confirm that we haven’t done this question yet.
Do you have a routine for such trips? Any special perfumes or methods?
Bonus questions: When was the last time you were on a plane? What airline was it? How was your experience?
My Answer
My business trip (and the most recent flight) was to Las Vegas. One would think that it’s a good destination for such a trip, but I was at a conference where the company I work for was an organizer, and it was held off-off-strip (one of the resorts on the outskirt of the city), so this time I didn’t see Las Vegas much. But I got to wear several perfumes I brought with me without risking to suffocate anyone: those large open spaces were just asking for a hajusuuri-style application (but I settled for about four sprays at a time).
As for the plane, for many years my go-to perfume was Voyage d’Hermes dabbed from a mini bottle. It was our shared perfume with my vSO that fit perfectly to the idea of a travel perfume. And then I got tired of the scent, and Diptyque Volutes decanted in a roller-boll small bottle took its place as our shared travel perfume. But since this time I was traveling alone, I decided to go with something different – and chose Hermessence Musc Pallida (from a small decant bottle gifted by a generous friend). Applied to wrists, it was soft and pleasant, and I’m sure it didn’t bother anyone (on my short flight to Las Vegas there was an empty seat between me and another passenger, and on the return flight I got an upgrade, which also allowed an extra space – not that this perfume required such a precaution).
My flights both ways were on United Airlines. Boeing. Luckily – completely uneventful.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Hey Undina and crew,
Your selections are so glam. Understated and super classy.
Yes, I wear perfume on planes. Usually fairly low key but sometimes those Duty Free spritzes have surprising heft and I end up smelling far heavier than expected.
We tend to travel with Korean Air because we are Morning Calm. That means we get extra baggage and book in/boarding priority. As we always travel Cattle Class it does make a difference to our overall experience. We also really like the food served, metal cutlery, toilets are always clean and the staff are fabulous.
Portia xx
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Food and metal cutlery? On an economy flight? I’m impressed.
I usually skip spraying anything unknown in a Duty Free – mostly for myself, not even for fellow-passengers.
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Yeah, it was a very nice surprise the first time I flew with Korean Air. Now everything else seems a lot less nice.
Fair call but I can’t help myself Undina, zero self control when it comes to finding new perfumes. Jin also likes a sneaky spritz and can end up quite fragrant. Fortunately he always sits in the aisle so only I am really affected. Yes, I’m the middle seat sitter
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I do wear scents on a plane, but nothing too hectic in consideration of those around me. Of course, if I was able to fly business class, I might go large. Ha! Ha!
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I don’t think that business class makes that much of a difference when it comes to sillage: the space is still quite confined.
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It’s been a while since I’ve been on a plane, but I generally do not. I do so simply as a consideration to others, since it’s such a confined space. There are many people out there very sensitive to perfumes.
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I do not believe in sensitivity to other people’s perfumes, but I realize how annoying it might be to have to sit for hours next to someone who wears perfume you despise, and that’s why I wear just a tiny amount, dabbed. But on more than one occasion I had to apply my perfume again to cover some unpleasant (and not perfume-related) smell.
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That’s a really cool airplane photo! I always wear perfume on planes because I need something to bury my nose in if some other unpleasant smell turns up. I try to wear something that stays close, though. Atelier Materi Cacao Porcelana has done well on flights in the winter.
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Thank you! I was proud of the photo – but nobody seemed to think it was anything special. So, I appreciate you noticing it!
I also use perfume from time to time to escape unpleasant smells on the plane (luckily, I didn’t need it this time).
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I normally wear a light scent, such as something from the Le Jardin- lineup by Hèrmes (I have miniature bottles), some other scent with citrus; or iris perfume lightly sprayed. I would think twice about testing anything on skin in tax free.
For the last 10 years I have been in need of the PRM Assistance at all larger airports and in 2018 travelled for the first time bringing a manual active wheelchair in addition to crutches. After that, I always think twice about booking anything other than SAS inland in Norway, because the other companies just aren’t equally disability friendly (setting stricter rules for when you can travel without a companion and so on). So I am more worried about getting assistance in time, if they will try to insist on me leaving my wheelchair at check in, not bringing it to me upon arrival and so on, than the seating in the plane. Luckily they are way more careful here when handling mobility aids than in the USA!
My last few flights have been three times between Oslo and Tromsø last year, with delays. Also, having to use stairs rather than step-free boarding, because they were constructing a new terminal, with the old one not able to handle increased traffic. Now that should be way better for everyone.
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I wear something light that stays close to the skin like Chanel No. 19, Hermes Jardin Sur le Nil or Laboratorio Ollfativo Decouvert. I agree that sometimes one needs to wear perfume to ward against other unpleasant odors on the place. But it’s important not to wear anything heavy. I recall one flight I was on where a young man got on the plane surrounded by a giant cloud of patchouli. That scent took over every air space in the plane. It was suffocating! I think he must have been wearing a pure patchouli oil, which, worn in open air, might have been fine, but in the plane, it was overwhelming.
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Yes, I always wear perfume. I try to keep it moderate, but then lose the run of myself in Duty Free, where I’ve had a few horror stories that have required a follow-up with soap and water.
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Yay, Diptyque Volutes!
If I happen to be wearing perfume on the day I fly somewhere, then I wear it on the plane – I don’t give it any thought at all. Plus I might well have tried something on at the duty free – in the past as many as 10 things!
My last flight was escaping from France’s lockdown – one of the most stressful days of my life.
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I’m another who will test in Duty Free. I may have tested L’Elephant Jungle in Duty Free on one occasion! DH wasn’t happy.
My last flight was to Gran Canaria in December 2021 with Jet2. I don’t remember any problems.
Fingers crossed I’ll be on a plane again in 4 weeks time. Duty Free, sunshine, sushi, sashimi & a 70’s style steak house. Friday lunch at the harbour cafe. Even better SUNSHINE!
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