The Best Place To Apply Perfume & Other Perfume Myths You Need To Know

Myth 2: Perfume never expires

Some people have a collection of a few different perfumes. Most of which are made up of gifts from friends and family that have sat around gathering dust for years. But you may need to clear out some of your stash, as the surprising truth is that perfume does actually expire.

There is no hard and fast rule as to how long it takes. It depends on different factors, like room temperature or whether it’s opened or not.

Generally, you should start checking for changes in the perfume if it’s at least 2 years old. You may not even mind if it’s expired - common signs are changes in scent and colour, but if these don’t bother you then there’s no need to worry much about the age.

Myth verdict: False

Myth 3: To apply perfume you should “spray, then walk away”

This myth is slightly more complicated, and the short answer is “it depends”.

Some people are sensitive to strong scents or don’t want their perfume to be too noticeable. If you are one of those people then the "spray and walk" approach might be the perfect application method for you.

Here's how it works. You spray the perfume into the air in front of you, then walk through the air. This allows the perfume to settle all over you without concentrating in any one area, so the effect is more subtle. If you’re a firm believer that the best place to apply perfume is to a specific part of your body, then this method won’t be right for you. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, so try both methods and see which one works best for you.

If you prefer a little spritz to the wrists, you also might be applying wrong. Most people's instinct is to rub their wrists together. But that actually makes the perfume less effective. Instead, you should lightly dab wrists.

Myth verdict: It depends 

Myth 4: All perfumes are vegan

You might be wondering, why wouldn’t perfume be vegan? It’s not something you would associate with animal products.

Unfortunately, there are some surprising non-vegan ingredients that may be hiding in your perfume. Things like castoreum and musk are actually animal by-products.

You probably won't recognise these as animal products from the label, which is why it’s important to find a brand that is 100% vegan.

Shay and Blue are proud to be vegan and natural. Every ingredient is sustainably sourced and we use real fruits, flowers, and spices in every bottle.

There’s also the issue of animal testing. Historically, perfumes were tested on animals, and unfortunately, this is still practised today. Animals such as rabbits have perfume put on their skin and even in their eyes and mouth to test for irritation.

Brands are not required to disclose this on their product labels, so it's easy to accidentally buy an animal-tested product without realising.

This is another area where Shay and Blue excels - they are 100% cruelty-free and PETA  certified. This means you can browse their range of fragrances without having to waste time reading and deciphering product labels and ingredients.

Myth verdict: False