Amber perfume for cold weather: how to wear it

Amber is a good perfume for cold weather. Cold air slows how fast a scent spreads, so a rich, sweet amber stays close to you and feels warm instead of heavy.

How to wear it

• Apply under layers. Chest, inner elbow or wrists, beneath a jumper or coat. Warmth from your body brings the scent up slowly.
• Use one or two sprays. Or one dab of oil per wrist.
• Apply before you go out. Give it ten minutes indoors to settle.
• Moisturise first. Cold weather dries skin, and dry skin lets scent fade.

Rule: in the cold, apply under layers and let your body do the work.

Pairings

Amber with musk is soft and easy. Amber with oud is deep and best for long evenings. For the order of oil and spray, see layering Arabian perfumes.

One exception

A very warm room, such as a crowded indoor event, brings amber out fast. Use less if you will be inside most of the night. For more on the scent itself, read what amber smells like.

A worked example

A cold evening, a coat and a short walk to dinner. Apply one spray to the chest under a jumper, ten minutes before you leave. In the cold air, the scent stays near the collar. Indoors, as you warm up, it lifts softly. One spray did the job, and the people at the table get a pleasant hint, not a cloud.

Common mistake

Using extra because the cold seems to eat the scent. It is not gone. It is held close. If you add more, you may find the dinner table is full of amber. Wait and check after an hour.

A hint of caution: keep sprays away from candles and burners, and wash off any oil that makes your skin itch.