How to wear perfume in the Cyprus heat

A long Cypriot summer changes how a perfume behaves. Heat tends to make a fragrance feel stronger and fade sooner, so the rules of a cold city do not always apply.

What tends to work

Citrus, green and light floral scents, clean musks and watery compositions usually feel easy in strong heat. Heavy amber, vanilla and oud can feel dense at midday, but they often come into their own after sunset.

Concentration is not the same as strength

As a rough guide, eau de toilette contains about 5 to 15 percent perfume oil and eau de parfum about 15 to 20 percent, though houses differ. A lighter concentration can be more comfortable in summer, and the composition matters as much as the number on the label.

Spray less, and choose where

Two or three sprays are often enough in hot weather. Try clothes as well as skin if the fabric allows it, and test a new perfume on a small area first before wearing it in the sun.

Keep it out of the sun

Light and heat age perfume. Keep bottles and atomisers in a cool, dark cupboard rather than a bathroom shelf or a car, which in Cyprus can become very hot.

Try it in real conditions

A perfume that charms you in an air-conditioned shop can behave differently outdoors in August. A small decant lets you wear it through a real day before you buy a full bottle.