I negotiated with myself for a while whether it’s an appropriate question for a perfume blog visited only by “hardcore” perfumistas. But my curiosity won.
Saturday Question #280:
Do You Wear Perfumes Every Day?
Let’s not count special circumstances, such as being sick, visiting someone at a hospital or being stranded on a desert island. But in your regular life, do you still apply perfumes every day?
My Answer
For at least a couple of decades, I wore perfume daily, sometimes changing scents more than once during the day. Had I asked myself this question 2–3 years ago, the answer would have been an emphatic yes – I couldn’t even imagine staying scentless. These days, though… sometimes I go several days in a row without wearing or even testing anything. I don’t fully understand why. I still like perfume in general; I still love at least twenty (but probably more) scents in my collection. And when I do put them on, I enjoy smelling them on me. But more often than not, I experience choice paralysis when it comes to deciding what to wear.
I’ve tried using a predefined list of perfumes for a week or a month, and I know that works. But then I’d miss creating the next list – and end up back where I started.
It wouldn’t be a problem if I simply didn’t want to wear perfume anymore. But I do! And I feel bad when I can’t get organized enough to enjoy all the beautiful scents I’ve accumulated. Each day I skip wearing one feels like a missed opportunity, and it upsets me.
I think I need to reorganize my collection. Sometimes, even when I know exactly what I want to wear, I can’t find it quickly before my workday starts. Maybe I just need to go back to my old habit of choosing a perfume at night, while falling asleep – the way some women plan their outfits for the next day.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Yes, always. Life lacks something important without perfume.
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Almost every day I spritz at least one fragrance Undina. Mostly two, or even three. My skin eats scent fairly quickly and a cologne/EdT can be gone in an hour.
Sometimes when I’m completely overwhelmed with a buzzing brain and too much on the To Do List I’ll get quite a way through the day before the spritz but it’s incredibly rare for me to go a full day without.
Portia xx
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I wear it almost every day. Around here people are too sensitive, so I have to be a bit careful. I try to wear something that is beautiful and appropriate for the occasion. So Fri I had the Quality Audit for work, and I knew it might a bit stressful plus the room was housing four of us. I come a discreet amount of Chanel eau de cologne. Today is lunch at a friend’s (CDN Thansgiving) So I might do Eau d’hadrian EDT. I also use Cologne Imperial, and Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat for all occasions-they evaporate so quickly. I love them, they give me the lift I need, and probably won’t annoy anyone else.
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I do, and usually only one a day. On days when the mornings are so busy that I forget, I might put on something lighter by the time I remember, knowing I don’t have the full day left to enjoy something long lasting. Better something than nothing!
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A few months ago I would say every single day. Lately, I have more days where I don’t manage a shower until late afternoon and often forget. Which is crazy since I’m working at home and can spray as wildly as I please now. But I rarely sample or acquire anything new these days either. I do put on perfume whenever I go out, though!
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Ok weird, I commented and it pulled some weird random profile as I was on my computer instead of my phone.
A few months ago I would say every single day. Lately, I have more days where I don’t manage a shower until late afternoon and often forget. Which is crazy since I’m working at home and can spray as wildly as I please now. But I rarely sample or acquire anything new these days either. I do put on perfume whenever I go out, though!
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What a good question. I would want to wear perfume every day, but sometimes I am too stressed, or under the weather to enjoy it or not experience it as an irritant on top of an irritated me.
That doesn’t happen often though, and on the rest of the days I sense what I need for a few minutes (uplifting, calming, beautiful, cooling, warming etc) or I look at my collection (I can see every bottle) and see if something jumps at me. There are also periods that I keep wearing the same perfume, mostly if it is new. There are 2 perfumes that I have been wearing weeks on end, in the beginning of my perfumista days Heure Exquise, and recently Eshal. When I am in a hurry, or keep dithering, I wear an ‘always’ fitting perfume, mostly no 19 in any form, or Purple Reign (april aromatics) or Mito.
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Hamamelis, I think I share your thoughts-when I am stressed or irritated I sometimes go fragrance free. I use La Roche body products in the shower and they have no added fragrance. Goutal is my favourite fragrance house. Your choice of HE is a beautiful one-that sandalwood note is incredible. I remember smelling it for the first time in my 20’s-and I recoiled from it, same as I did from Mitsuko. I needed time to develop my sense of smell. My always fitting perfume is Eau d’hadrian EDT:)
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It’s so interesting to read everyone’s responses. When I’m stressed and anxious I need perfume more and I overspray on those days.
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When I worked I wore perfume daily. A cologne or light, citrus EDT when working clinically, but none clinical days were when more interesting scents came out. Nothing too heavy or spicy though.
When I retired & got Mr Jarvis Cockapoo I didn’t wear scent, so he learnt my personal scent as his comfort scent.
When DH had his first treatment, I wore just a single fragrance. I will never wear it again.
Now I may go days without being scented. It depends on pain levels, what I’m doing, who I’m seeing etc.
Like you, there are times my collection provides too much choice & I can’t make a decision.
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Oh yes I do. These days I often spritz one of my mum’s scents- they are a bit heavy though for these warm spring days. Of my own, my Lutens are my favourite, especially Chergui.
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Very occasionally, I take a break from wearing fragrances and tell myself I’ll appreciate them more by doing so. Sounds like you’re missing out, dear Undina, so planning the night before could be a good thing for you.
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Every single day, life just wouldn’t be the same without something wafting around me.
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