Key takeaways:
- Blot (don’t rub) with a dry tissue, then wipe skin with a damp cloth and a little unscented soap to lift what’s sitting on the surface.
- Cut the scent with something neutral. Apply unscented lotion or a drop of body oil over the area, or dab a bit of micellar water/rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad.
- Step outside, avoid adding more fragrance, and if it’s on clothes, change or mist fabric lightly with water and let it dry.
Everyone knows there’s nothing quite as sweet as finding a new signature scent... but just like with your favorite chocolate cake or that song you can’t get out of your head, it’s easy to overdo it.
Thankfully, if you do spray too much perfume, there are a few simple ways to fix it.
What To Do If You Sprayed Too Much Perfume
If you got a little heavy-handed with your favorite scent, don’t sweat it. Here’s what to do.
Wash the Area
The easiest way to get rid of an overpowering perfume smell is to wash the area that you sprayed. Make sure to scrub the area gently with soap and warm water to dilute the smell and rinse the fragrance off your skin. If you sprayed your scent directly on clothes, change your clothes and wash the ones you sprayed.
Use Rubbing Alcohol or Hand Sanitizer on Skin
If washing the area doesn’t work, try using some rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer on your skin where you applied the fragrance. This is a more powerful way to dilute the fragrance molecules in the perfume.
Try a Fragrance-Free Lotion On Top
One option that’s gentler on your skin is to apply a fragrance-free lotion on top of the places where you sprayed the scent. This may help lift the perfume and make the scent fade faster.
Air Out Affected Clothes
Make sure to air out the clothes that you’ve oversprayed. If possible, hang them on an outdoor clothesline or in a well-ventilated area to fully eliminate the perfume's smell.
How Much Perfume Is the Right Amount?
Knowing how much perfume to spray takes a little experimentation, because each perfume has a different percentage of fragrance oil and interacts in a unique way with your skin chemistry. As a rule of thumb, though, one dab of parfum in the right spot is usually enough since they contain a high concentration of fragrance oil. You’ll likely need two to three sprays of an eau de parfum and three to four sprays of an eau de toilette.
Tame the Scent
If you spray too much of your favorite scent, you can easily tone the fragrance down. By washing the area, applying rubbing alcohol or lotion, and airing out the affected clothes, you’ll get back to the fragrance you love.
FAQs
What happens if you spray too much perfume?
Spraying too much perfume can create an overpowering smell for you and others near you. In some cases, it might cause a headache or trigger allergies. That said, there are several ways to dilute the scent if you spray on too much.
What is the 3 1 1 rule for perfume?
The 311 rule for perfume refers to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guideline for how many liquids, gels, creams, and so on you can bring in carry-on luggage. Each container you bring must be 3.4 ounces or smaller, and they all must fit into one clear, quart-sized plastic bag. Each passenger is permitted one of these bags.
Sources: