What Elizabeth Olsen Wears Instead Of Traditional Perfume
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One of the best parts of going out and having fun is getting ready. There's just a certain delight that comes with planning outfits, choosing what makeup look to go with, and even spraying on perfume right before heading out the door. But while perfume marks an essential end to an outfit, some people may find it a bit sensitizing or triggering for their allergies. According to Healthline, traditional or spray-on perfume can trigger allergies or sensitivities like mild headaches, an itchy rash, or nausea. These fragrance sensitivities are a problem Elizabeth Olsen knows all too well.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Elizabeth Olsen shared why traditional perfumes are not her go-to. "I'm not one for perfumes; they often give me [a] headache," she told the magazine. But that does not mean Olsen goes fragrance-free. Instead, she shared her love for solid perfumes, with her top choice in the solid perfume category being the Diptyque Paris Philosykos Solid Perfume.
Philosykos, which retails for $70 at the time of writing, is an alcohol-free scented balm that promises a maximal scent with none of the irritation you might get with traditional perfumes. But apart from being an excellent buy for sensitive noses, Diptyque's Philosykos offers an incredible scent profile to its wearer, and it all stems from the Greek fig tree.
What's so special about Diptyque's Philosykos Solid Perfume?
Solid perfume? It does sound odd, but don't dismiss it yet. Unlike traditional perfumes, which are liquid and in pressurized spray-on packaging, solid perfumes are available in a balm-like consistency in tubes, palettes, and even pen-like packaging for easy application. For Elizabeth Olsen, Diptyque's Philosykos is the only scent she uses, and for good reason.
Inspired by the Greek summer sun at Mount Pelion, Philosykos is a scented balm filled with notes of black pepper and the fig tree. The perfume's individual notes come from various parts of the fig tree: The fresh notes mimic the greenness of the leaves, the woody notes are in tune with the sap and bark, and the milky contrast comes from the sweetness of the fruit. In addition to its warm and creamy greenness, Philosykos is eco-friendly with refills that retail at $55 at the time of writing
Like Olsen, reviewers and ardent users of the perfume are sharing their adoration for the fragrance and its sun-inspired summer feel. One reviewer on SpaceNK shared: "I love this tiny perfume, it feels like a little ornament that I love to look at on my bedside table. It is on the small side but I think a little goes a long way as the scent is easily rubbed on the skin and lingers ..." However, a few other reviewers have expressed their disappointment with Philosykos, highlighting issues with its sillage, longevity, and how it "applies like a thin veil of scent."
How to use Philosykos Solid Perfume
When it comes to traditional perfumes, one viral perfume hack advises to only spray perfume on moisturized skin. This helps the notes in your fragrance have a base to stick to and radiate from, improving sillage and longevity. Solid perfumes, however, contain emollient waxes that are both moisturizing and alcohol-free, allowing them to last much longer and not be as sensitizing as spray-on perfumes, so you don't need to apply moisturizer first.
To get the full creamy scent bubble of the Philosykos fig-scented solid perfume, Diptyque recommends applying with your fingertips to the most important places to spray perfume: on your pulse points. Don't miss your wrists, the inside of your elbows, your décolletage, and right behind your ears. And if you prefer something else to the fig scent profile, Diptyque actually offers a range of solid perfumes, including Orphéon, which features cedar, jasmine, and tonka bean notes. Traditional perfume might have the clout but trust that solid perfumes are on their way to even more acceptance and use.