When I was younger, my mom taught me to put my Bath & Body Works body spray (that matched my holiday candle, of course) on my wrists, behind my ears, and one big spray on my chest. As I’ve grown older (and my perfume collection, better), I still mainly keep to this formula: a spritz on each wrist, behind each ear, on the back of the neck, and a final spray across my chest. Applying perfume is muscle memory — I don’t know why I’m putting perfume there, I just know that it’s what I’ve been taught. But now, thanks to a viral TikTok trend, I’m getting introduced to a new place to apply my perfume — and the reason is spicy as hell.
If your FYP is full of people spraying perfume on their ankles, with no explanation, you’re not alone. The #ankleperfume has 2.3 million views, and is full of users telling you to spray your scent on your ankles, but not really telling you why. It didn’t take me until the third video I saw to do the math, so if you knew automatically: get your head outta the gutter. And that’s coming from someone who writes about sex for a living.
If you still don’t get it, I don’t blame you. The trend is intentionally vague and is supposed to be a cheeky nod to the reasoning behind spraying perfume on your ankles. So, if you’re still itching to know the reason, here it is: it’s to keep things smelling fresh in the bedroom.
Let’s break that down, now. Picture this: no matter how you go there, you’re in the bedroom with your sexual partner. After being on the same page with your birth control method, the two of you are ready to get down and dirty. As you begin to get in the motion of things, your ankles may find themselves off of the ground and onto your partner’s shoulders, next to their head, or right above your head. (If you’re flexible, obvi.) By putting perfume on your ankles, your partner will continue to smell your signature scent — even if they’re further from your neck and wrists and closer to your… pleasure points.
However, there’s also another reason why putting perfume on your ankles is a must. Not only is it bound to keep your spicy time smelling fantastic, but it also helps leave a scent trail as you move about your night. Since your ankles are constantly in motion (walking, dancing, etc.), the scent will continue to project from head to toe. Not only will the top half of your body smell divine, but everything will. I’m sold, TBH.
As always, remember that wearing a fragrance is something that should be done for you and you only. So, apply it where you want! If you’re wanting to surprise your bedroom partner(s) with a sweet-smelling surprise, consider putting a spritz onto your ankles before your next romp. But if you just want to smell good for you — as you should — might as well do it from head to toe.