I usually stick mine in so about a half an inch of it has scent on it, I don't think it takes much. I usually break it out when I'm about 100 yards from the stand and dip it one more times about half way. Make sure to drag it so that if a buck has his nose to it he will turn broadside, instead of coming straight at you. I didn't think it mattered in my younger days and just left it at the bottom of my tree and guess where the buck went? Right to the bottom of my tree and then he looked straight up at me. Luckily he was only a little guy so I wasn't kicking myself too much. That's how we learn. I have come to really like the Buck Bomb aerosol spray, I don't need a drag I just spray a little bit on leave and branches as I walk along and it works awesome.