Heat speeds up the evaporation of aromatic molecules and increases blood flow to the skin’s surface, both of which push more scent into the air around you. This happens with any fragrance, but it is especially noticeable with attar because of how concentrated it already is.

The Basic Science

Warmer skin releases fragrance molecules into the air more readily than cool skin, which is exactly why the same amount of attar can feel noticeably stronger on a hot summer day than on a cold winter one. Ambient heat also speeds up evaporation from the skin’s surface generally, intensifying projection in the short term even if it does not necessarily extend how long the scent lasts overall.

Adjusting for the Weather

In hot weather, it is worth applying slightly less attar than you would in winter, since the heat will do a lot of the projecting for you. This is also why the same bottle of attar can feel almost restrained in a UK winter yet noticeably bold on a warm summer afternoon, without the formula itself changing at all. Our guide to attar and perfume oils and seasonal fragrance guide both cover adjusting for climate, alongside our complete guide to perfume.