• Of course! That's an excellent question with a
surprisingly passionate divide in the fragrance
community. Let's dive into the science and art behind
this common habit.

• Here is a blog-type article crafted from your question.
• Perfume Etiquette: To Rub or Not to Rub Your Wrists?

You’ve just found the perfect scent. You spritz it proudly onto your wrist,
and then—almost without thinking—you bring your wrists together for a quick
rub. It’s a ritual as automatic as capping the bottle. But then you hear a
whisper from a fragrance connoisseur: “You shouldn’t do that!”
Suddenly, you’re left wondering: Have you been degrading your expensive
perfume all this time? Let's settle the debate once and for all.

• The Short Answer: It's Better Not To Rub.
While a gentle press is perfectly fine, the vigorous rubbing motion—what
perfumers and enthusiasts call "bruising" the fragrance—is generally
discouraged. Here’s why.

• The Science Behind the "No-Rub" Rule:
Think of your freshly sprayed wrist as a delicate, multi-layered artwork.
Perfume is a complex blend of top, middle, and base notes designed to unfold
over time. When you apply it, the alcohol and volatile top notes are meant to
evaporate naturally, creating the scent's first impression.
Rubbing your wrists together interferes with this process in two key ways:
It Crushes the Top Notes: The friction generates heat. This heat accelerates
the evaporation of the most delicate top notes (like citrus, light fruits, and fresh herbs). Instead of enjoying a bright, sparkling opening, you might skip right to the middle notes, missing a crucial part of the fragrance's journey.

It Muddies the Composition:
That friction doesn't just create heat; it also
forces the scent molecules to blend in a way the perfumer didn't intend.
Imagine smudging wet watercolours together—the individual, beautiful colours
become a murky brown. Similarly, rubbing can mash the fragrance's delicate
structure, making it smell less complex and potentially even altering its
intended character.

So, What Should You Do?
Don't worry, the alternative is simple and far more graceful.

The Gold Standard Technique: Gently Press:
After spraying, simply bring your wrists together and press them gently
without rubbing. Then, gently press your wrists against other pulse points,
like the sides of your neck or behind your ears.
This technique helps transfer the scent without the damaging effects of
friction. It allows the perfume to settle into your skin naturally, dry down
at its own pace, and reveal its true story from start to finish.
But Wait... There's Another Side to the Story

Let’s be real: many of us have been rubbing our wrists for years and still
love how our perfume smells. So, how bad can it really be?
The Perfumer's Perspective: For a master perfumer who has spent years
perfecting a scent, any alteration is a sin. They create a fragrance to be
experienced as a precise, evolving narrative. Rubbing is like fast-forwarding
through the first act of a movie
.
The Everyday Perspective: For the average person, the difference might be
subtle. If you're using a simple, linear fragrance or an Eau de Toilette that
you reapply often, you may not notice a dramatic change. The habit is so
ingrained that the ritual itself might be part of the pleasure for you.

• The Verdict: To Rub or Not to Rub?
So, here’s the final takeaway:
For the Fragrance Aficionado: Never rub. Treat your perfume like a fine wine.
Let it breathe, evolve, and showcase its full range of notes on your skin.
Gently pressing is your best friend.
• For the Casual Wearer: Try not to rub. Break the habit if you can,
especially with your more expensive or complex Eau de Parfum and Par-fum
concentrations. You might be surprised by how much more you enjoy the
scent's natural development.
• The Bottom Line: If you accidentally rub your wrists one morning, don't
panic! Your perfume will still smell beautiful. But for the purest,
most authentic, and longest-lasting experience, a gentle press is the
way to go.