25 April 2023 , 14:45
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A new perfume can make you feel brand new, giving you confidence and a boost for the day, especially if you're changing it up to match the seasonal shift for summer's floral and fresh scents.
Perfume is a deeply personal choice, with people often wearing a signature fragrance for years - but choosing that perfect match can be difficult.
Many of us head to the high street and spray away potential perfumes, often using the paper testers to take the scent with us and see how it warms.
However, it turns out we've all been using the little test strips totally wrong.
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You'll look like an expert thanks to Emma (stock image) (Getty Images/EyeEm)TikTok user @perfumerism, real name Emma, is a beauty specialist and she shared with her followers how we've actually all been using the paper test strips incorrectly.
Emma said: "I'm sorry to break this to you but you've been spraying your perfume on the wrong side of the test. I'm gonna tell you how you can look like an expert next time you spray perfume."
The perfume expert then demonstrates by spritzing the smaller side of the test strip, instead of the larger side which is commonly used.
The paper test strips are actually called mouillettes, which means dip in French and also refers to the bread soldiers you dip into a hard boiled egg.
Perfume mouillettes can come in all shapes and sizes but are usually a thin strip of paper with a point or smaller end at one side.
"You're supposed to spray the thin side" said Emma, "You generally hold the thicker side and spray the thinner side."
She explained: "A smaller piece of paper catches less perfume, therefore the perfume will develop more quickly. More surface area absorbs more alcohol and takes longer to develop.
"That's why we test perfume on this because you can spray the thin side and it develops by the time you bring it to your nose."
The way a perfume develops is almost more important than the initial smell as that reveals the undertones that come to the surface as it warms - which is the true scent.
Perfumes also develop differently on different people, which is why your friend's favourite fragrance might smell horrible on you but lovely on them. Knowing which notes suit you is important when choosing and may not be uncovered until it sits for a moment.
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Emma added when a store gives you a larger square card, it's so the scent lasts longer and you can take it home with you.
Her comments were flooded with people saying they had been using it all wrong. One user said: "I’m so embarrassed for myself right now."
"You just blew my mind omg!!!" said another, while a third added: "Not me struggling writing the names of the fragrance on the thin side."
Others were already aware, with employees from Jo Malone and Ulta sharing how they discovered this trick.
One person joked: "Nah I'm always gonna spray the bigger side & stuff it in my purse so it smells amazing every time I open it."
Emma replied: "Yes exactly!! When you know the rules you can break them. I do this every now and then too."