Perfume could be smelling 'flat' due to the autumn change, says expert

As the temperature changes and the cold weather arrives, many perfume wearers are noticing something strange: the rich, woody, and warm perfumes they loved a few weeks ago suddenly smell weak or "flat." After noticing this change in smell, perfume wearers may find themselves having to overspray to achieve the same effect that came with just a couple of sprays a few weeks ago.

However, this isn't a problem with the perfume itself but rather with the autumn air itself. Hetan Soni, a fragrance expert at Perfume Essence, has explained that colder weather actively works against your fragrance molecules. She says: "Scent is simply a chemical molecule travelling through the air and into your nose.

"When the air is cold and dry, scent molecules travel much slower and less far than they do in warm, humid air.

"In autumn, your perfume's reach is drastically shortened, making the scent feel 'tight' or subdued. You haven't gone nose-blind; your perfume just can't physically project past your clothes and into the room."

Instead of applying more perfume, which can be rather expensive depending on your choice of fragrance, the expert advises changing where you spray to trap body heat, which acts as a portable diffuser for the scent molecules.

The underclothing hot spot trick

Typically, you would spray your perfume on exposed pulse points (wrists, neck); however, in autumn, this fails quickly as the skin cools.

Instead, during these colder months, you should spray onto areas covered by clothing that naturally generate and trap body heat, such as the small of the back, the chest/décolletage, or the inner elbow crease.

"Spraying under your clothes, especially onto a thin layer of fabric, creates a micro-climate," explains Soni.

"When the trapped air warms, it gently lifts and diffuses the scent upwards throughout the day, giving you a consistent, strong projection that lasts much longer than when sprayed onto a cold wrist."

Don't forget the ends of your clothes

Scent molecules travel fastest on fibres that move, meaning you should never forget to spray the ends of your clothes when applying perfume.

Simply spritz your favourite fragrance lightly onto the ends of your scarf or the hem of your jumper or coat before heading out.

Soni finishes: "Wool and fabric fibres hold onto fragrance beautifully. As you move throughout the day, the scent is gently released into the air around you, effectively extending the perfume's longevity without needing to reapply directly to your skin."