Can Pentecostals Wear Perfume
Personal holiness is one of the most important aspects of the Pentecostal faith, and most denominations have clothing guidelines they follow. The clothes we wear signal our faith to the outside, and a modest appearance is the one Pentecostals aim for. However, what about perfume?
The vast majority of Pentecostal churches don’t mention anything about wearing perfume in their clothing guidelines. Also, there isn’t anything in the Bible that would restrict the use of perfume. It is ultimately down to personal preference and whether you think that wearing perfume goes against your faith or not.
It’s possible that some individual Pentecostal churches don’t allow saints to wear perfume, so always make sure to talk about it with your local Pentecostal pastor. If you’re interested in learning more about the dress code and what perfume would be the best, this article is just for you.
In this article..
Why Can Pentecostals Wear Perfume
The strict Pentecostal dress code comes from their interpretation of the Bible, which has many verses on dressing modestly. Here’s the table showing general Pentecostal clothing guidelines for both men and women:
| Women | Men |
| Long Hair | Short Hair |
| Modest Clothing – Long Dresses/Skirts | Full-Length Pants |
| No Jewelry | No Jewelry |
| No Make-Up | No Make-Up |
The exact dress code varies from denomination to denomination, but most of them don’t say anything about wearing perfume. It’s because there aren’t any verses in the Bible condemning or warning about wearing perfume.
However, even if you can wear perfume, you should remain aware of modesty and personal holiness. That’s why it’s better to choose a really light perfume instead of a heavy one and use it very sparingly.
Finally, we also suggest talking about it with your fellow churchgoers to see what they’re thinking about it. Maybe your church community is against the idea of wearing perfume because it can be seen as immodest.
Best Perfume To Wear To Church
If you’ve decided that you want to wear perfume and are sure that it’s allowed in your local church, then it’s time to choose which one you’re going to wear. There are countless options on the market, so it’s always difficult to find the right one.
If you’re going to wear it to church, try choosing a light scent that isn’t likely to distract others. We recommend choosing perfumes with low projection, and sillage, meaning it stays close to your skin and doesn’t last long in the area that you’ve left.
Such perfumes are pretty much as modest as you can go, but there are still many options to choose from. To give you some help, here are 2 fragrances for women and 2 for men that aren’t offensive and should be suitable for attending church:
This floral-aquatic perfume created by master perfumer Oliver Cresp was launched in 1996. It offers a fresh and bright scent without being too overwhelmed or offensive.
L’eau Par has base notes of cedar, white musk, and vanilla, middle notes of water lily, pepper, white peach, violet, amaryllis, and rose, and finally top notes of reed, mint, green lilac, mandarin orange, and pink pepper.
You can buy a 100ml (3.3 Fl. Oz.) bottle for around $42.
Glossier is a relatively new company in the beauty and personal care industry, but it has already proven to offer quality cosmetics, and this fragrance is not an exception. “You” was designed to be as light as possible, hence the name.
It has a top note of pink pepper that compliments middle notes of ambrette seeds and ambrox which are grounded in base notes of white florals. Such a scent profile makes you the star of the show and makes this fragrance suitable for everyone.
You can get a 50ml (1.7 Fl. Oz.) bottle for about $90.
Bvlgari launched this perfume in 2014 to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the company. “Man in Black” is based on a 2010 perfume by Bvlgari that has become one of their best-selling scents.
The 2014 version was designed by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, who carefully crafted this Amber Floral fragrance by combining base notes of tonka bean, guaiac wood, and benzoin with middle notes of leather, iris, and tuberose and finished it off with top notes of spices, rum, and tobacco.
It results in an elegant yet not overwhelming perfume for men that can be worn to church.
You can get a 5ml (0.17 Fl. Oz.) tester for about $25 or a 100ml bottle (3.4 Fl. Oz.) for about $84.
If you’re a man looking for something more refreshing, this fragrance created by a group of perfumers including Anne Flipo, Pierre Wargnye, Dominique Ropion, and Juliette Karagueuzoglou is the one you should look into.
It was a woody floral musk scent resulting from base notes of tonka bean, cedar, and Tahitian vetiver, that are enhanced by middle notes of spices, violet leaf, white pepper, and basil. However, the first scents reaching other people will be top notes of ginger, bergamot, and lemon.
You can get a 100ml bottle (3.4 Fl. Oz.) bottle for about $99.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
(Q): Can Catholics Wear Perfume?
(A): Yes, Catholics and followers of most other Christian denominations can wear perfume. Fragrances are mentioned in the Bible dozens of times, and Saint Caspar, one of the Three Wise Men, brought frankincense as a gift to baby Jesus, symbolizing his divinity.
(Q): How to Properly Wear Perfume?
(A): First of all, decide where you’re going to apply it. Most people apply perfume on so-called “pulse points”, including the neck, on the wrists, and behind the ears. Then, make sure that the area you’re applying the perfume on is clean. Finally, spray perfume from a distance of 4-6 inches (10-15cm), and don’t overdo it. A single spray is often enough.
Final Words
Most Pentecostals value modesty and focus on personal holiness. It includes dressing in an appropriate manner that doesn’t expose more skin than is necessary. However, wearing perfume shouldn’t be a problem, especially if you’re choosing a light scent and using it sparingly.
