A. Put another way, I think the question is: how many sprays can you get from 1 ml of perfume?
The Bottom Line: About 0.07–0.15 ml per Spray, or Roughly 7–14 Sprays per 1 ml
The amount dispensed by one spray varies with the atomizer or bottle. If one spray is approximately 0.07–0.15 ml, 1 ml gives approximately 7–14 sprays. If one spray is 0.10 ml, 1 ml gives ten sprays. When estimating uses from the volume of a decant or sample, take around ten sprays as a central guideline, allowing for variation with the nozzle.
| Volume per Spray | Approximate Sprays per 1 ml |
|---|---|
| 0.07 ml | About 14 sprays |
| 0.10 ml | 10 sprays |
| 0.13 ml | About 8 sprays |
| 0.15 ml | About 7 sprays |
The calculation is “1 ml of perfume ÷ volume per spray (ml).”
The first thing to know is that this varies with factors such as bottle size, spray quality, and whether the perfume is a spray or a parfum-style bottle from which liquid is applied directly. For example, even the same perfume can dispense different amounts from a sample, a 30 ml bottle, and a 100 ml bottle. Incidentally, according to Musashino Works, “smaller perfumes and fragrances, such as Japanese-made atomizers, often come with sprays or dispensers that deliver 0.07 ml.” Perfumes from overseas, on the other hand, apparently dispense “an average of 0.13–0.15 ml.”
The number of sprays per milliliter seems to be discussed from time to time overseas as well, so I will summarize several articles. Personally, though, I wonder whether using a reasonably expensive perfume without thinking about such things is part of the luxury. Let us put that debate aside.
Spray Bottles
Calculated from typical spray volumes, around 7–14 sprays per 1 ml is one guideline. For 100 ml, a simple calculation gives approximately 670–1,430 sprays, but the actual number varies greatly with the amount the bottle dispenses.
That works out to approximately 0.07–0.15 ml per spray. If you know the spray volume, you can estimate the number of uses with “bottle volume ÷ volume per spray.”
For how many sprays to apply, also see how to wear perfume properly (in Japanese).
Parfum-Style Bottles
How many applications can you get from an old-fashioned, non-spray drop-style parfum? The basic method is to cover the opening with a finger, turn the bottle upside down to wet the finger, and then apply the finger to an area near a pulse, known as a pulse point, to smooth on the perfume.
Note: I think simply tilting the bottle is more likely to make a lot pour out, so be careful.
I do not think people generally use it this way, but if you use a dropper and apply one drop at a time, there seem to be roughly 20–40 drops in 1 ml. I therefore imagine you might get nearly twice as many uses as with a spray bottle.
When assessing the scent of a small sample, also see how to test perfume on a blotter and on skin (in Japanese).
