The 9 biggest misconceptions everyone has about cologne and perfume

If a fragrance is nonlinear, it probably means it's of better quality.

Depending on what kind of scent you're going for, greater strength might be better for you. In fact, the same scent at two different concentrations may even smell completely different.

A stronger fragrance will naturally smell more powerful, however, and require less at application.

Let it sit on the skin and absorb on its own.

Eau de cologne is one of the weakest, with around 3% concentration of fragrance oil. Eau de toilette has around 10%, while eau de parfum has between 15% and 20%. Straight perfume has around 25% concentration.

Apply to naturally warmer body areas like your neck and chest, as this will allow the scent to dissipate evenly throughout the day. Cardinal rule: Don't overdo it.

It's actually impossible to tell by sniffing a piece of paper how a fragrance will smell when mixed on your skin. Additionally, a fragrance can and will smell slightly differently on different people's skin.

While fragrance never "goes bad," it will start to smell differently than the perfumer intended.