You spray your favourite perfume before you leave the house, and by lunchtime it seems to have disappeared. It’s one of the most common frustrations with fragrance, and happily, it’s one of the easiest to fix. A few small changes to how you apply and store it can make perfume last longer, often well into the evening.
Why your perfume fades
Before we get into the tips, it helps to understand why a fragrance might not last on you, because the reason often points to the fix.
The concentration plays a big part. As I explained in my post on eau de parfum vs eau de toilette, a higher concentration of perfume oils usually means a longer-lasting scent. So if longevity matters to you, an eau de parfum or extrait is a good place to start.
The notes matter too. Fresh, citrus fragrances are built from light top notes that evaporate quickly, whereas woods, amber, vanilla and musk are heavier and stay with you for hours. If you love fresh scents but want them to last, look for one with a woody or musky base underneath the citrus.
Then there’s your skin. Dry skin tends to let fragrance fade faster, which I covered in why perfume smells different on everyone. And sometimes, the perfume hasn’t gone anywhere at all. Your nose has simply got used to it.
The good news is that your skin is the easiest of these to work with.
How to make perfume last longer on your skin
Fragrance clings to hydrated skin for longer, so the best place to start is with an unscented body lotion or oil before you spray. If your perfume comes with a matching body lotion, even better, because it adds another layer of the same scent.
Timing helps too. Spraying just after a shower, once you’ve moisturised, means your skin is warm and ready to hold on to the fragrance.
Once you’ve sprayed, try not to rub your wrists together. The friction can dull the brighter top notes, so let the perfume dry on its own.
Where you spray makes just as much difference.
Where to spray it
Pulse points are the classic places to apply perfume, because the warmth there helps the scent to lift. Try your wrists, the sides of your neck, your inner elbows and the backs of your knees. The nape of your neck is another lovely spot, as it leaves a soft trail as you move.
Then there’s your hair, which is one of my favourite tips. Hair holds on to scent beautifully, and every time you move your head, you’ll catch a little of your fragrance. However, most perfumes contain alcohol, which can dry out your hair. So instead of spraying directly onto it, spray your hairbrush and brush it through, or spray into the air and walk through the mist. Some brands also make hair mists, which are designed to be gentler.
Clothes are another option. Fabric holds fragrance for much longer than skin, and a scarf can carry a scent for days. Just test a small hidden spot first, as some perfumes can mark delicate fabrics.
Once you’ve found what works for you, the last step is looking after the bottle itself.
Keeping your perfume at its best
Heat, light and humidity are what break a fragrance down. So as pretty as a bottle looks on a sunny windowsill or a bathroom shelf, these are the worst places to keep it. The bathroom is especially tricky, because the steam and changing temperatures can affect the fragrance over time.
Instead, keep your perfume somewhere cool and dark, like a drawer, a cupboard or its original box, and always put the cap back on. Once it’s open, a bottle of perfume will usually last around two years, and often much longer when it’s stored well. If it starts to smell sharp or sour, or the colour has changed noticeably, it may have turned.
If you’d like a refresh later in the day, a travel-size atomiser is perfect for your bag. Before you reach for it, though, remember that you might simply be used to the scent. If someone compliments your perfume in the afternoon, you don’t need another spray.
With a little care, the perfume you put on in the morning can still be with you at the end of the day. Next, I’ll help you find your signature scent, bringing together everything we’ve covered in this series.
The short edit
The essentials:
Moisturise before you spray, apply to warm pulse points, and store your perfume somewhere cool and dark.
Ask yourself:
Where do I keep my perfume, and is it getting too much heat or light?
Worth knowing:
Your hair holds fragrance beautifully. Spray your hairbrush instead of your hair, so the alcohol doesn’t dry it out.
