Make Your Perfume Scent Last All Day

There are several ways to make your perfume smell last longer. Firstly, the type of perfume you choose matters; fragrances with carefully selected, high-quality ingredients tend to be more potent and last longer on the skin. Perfumes with higher concentrations, such as Eau de Parfum, also tend to last longer. In addition, certain fragrance notes are stronger than others; fresh, citrus, and floral notes often fade quicker than strong woody, spicy, and musky notes. Another important factor is where you spray the perfume. Fragrance interacts best with the warmth of your skin, so always apply it to bare skin, focusing on the pulse points of the body, such as the nape of the neck, wrists, ears, inside of elbows, and backs of knees. You can also spray your perfume on your clothes and hair to make the scent last longer. Lastly, it is important to prepare your skin before applying perfume. Hydrated skin helps the fragrance last longer, so consider using an unscented moisturiser or scented body lotion that matches your perfume.

How to get perfume smell to last longer

Store your perfume in a cool, dark place

Keeping your perfume in a cool, dark place is one of the most important ways to make it last longer. Fluctuating temperatures, heat, light, and humidity can all cause fragrances to break down, altering their chemical makeup and affecting their quality and intensity.

It is best to avoid storing perfume in the bathroom, as this is a steamy, humid environment. Instead, keep it in a cool drawer, away from direct sunlight. A vanity drawer is another good option, or even the refrigerator, for maximum longevity.

Storing your perfume in fancy, separate bottles may look sophisticated, but it will expose the fragrance to air, which will shorten its lifespan.

Moisturise your skin before applying perfume

Moisturising your skin before applying perfume can help the scent last longer. This is because fragrances tend to cling to emollients, so keeping your skin well-moisturised provides a sticky base for the scent.

It is recommended to moisturise with an oil-based or unscented lotion or cream, as scented moisturisers may clash with your perfume. However, some sources suggest that layering your perfume on top of a matching lotion can enhance the scent. If you want to make the most of your perfume, you can add the remaining scent to some unscented moisturiser to create a lotion that smells like your perfume.

It is best to moisturise before you apply your perfume, as applying lotion immediately after spraying perfume may reduce its longevity.

To further enhance the scent of your perfume, you should apply it to your pulse points, which are the warmest parts of your body. These include your wrists, elbows, neck, and the back of your knees.

Apply perfume to your pulse points

To get the most out of your perfume, it's important to apply it to your pulse points. These are the areas on your body where you can feel your arterial pulse, and they include your wrists, the nape of your neck, the insides of your elbows, and the back of your knees. These areas are some of the warmest parts of your body, and applying your fragrance here will help to intensify its scent and boost its longevity.

When applying perfume to your pulse points, hold the bottle about 15 centimetres away from your skin to ensure an even dispersal of the scent. Avoid rubbing your wrists together after application, as this can break down the chemicals in the perfume and cause the top notes to fade faster. Instead, gently dab the fragrance onto your skin if you can't spray it. You can also apply a small amount of Vaseline or an unscented moisturiser to your pulse points before spraying your perfume. This will act as a moisturising lock, helping the scent to last even longer.

In addition to your wrists, neck, elbows, and knees, other pulse points include your chest, ankles, and calves. These areas are also warmer due to the proximity of blood vessels to the skin's surface, making them ideal for amplifying your perfume's aroma. Applying perfume to these pulse points will ensure that your fragrance lingers throughout the day.

It's also important to consider the type of perfume you're using. Higher concentrations, such as eau de parfums, tend to last longer than eau de toilettes and colognes due to their higher content of essential oils. Additionally, fragrances with woodsy base notes or musk scents tend to stick around longer than lighter scents like citrus or jasmine. Choosing a perfume with the right concentration and scent profile can make a significant difference in how long it lasts on your pulse points.

Spritz perfume on your hairbrush

A great way to make your perfume last longer is to spritz it on your hairbrush and then brush your hair. This method is a good alternative to spraying perfume directly onto your hair, which can damage your hair due to the alcohol content in most perfumes.

• Spray your hairbrush with your perfume a couple of times.
• Wave the brush in the air for a few seconds to allow the alcohol to evaporate.
• Run the brush through your hair until the scent is fully and evenly distributed.

These three simple steps will lock in the fragrance, and you will not need to worry about reapplying your perfume throughout the day.

It is important to note that some perfumes are formulated to be directly applied to the hair and will not cause damage.

Choose a perfume with woody base notes

Woody base notes are a popular choice for perfumes because they create a foundation and depth, making the fragrance feel richer and more solid. Woody notes are also long-lasting, which is why they are often the last notes standing at the end of the day.

Woody base notes are heavier molecules, which is why they stick around for longer and give your perfume that “lasting power”. Some common woody base notes include sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, and vetiver. These notes are usually priced low enough to be included in perfumes over $20/100ml, although natural sandalwood is very expensive, so what is often referred to as "sandalwood" in perfumes is actually synthetic.

If you want your perfume to last longer, choosing one with woody base notes is a good idea. However, bear in mind that some people find woody notes overpowering, especially when paired with fruity or floral notes. Woody notes are also commonly used in men's fragrances, so if you are looking for a feminine scent, it might be best to choose a perfume with lighter, fresher top and middle notes, and perhaps a woody base note to add depth and longevity.

To make your perfume last even longer, it's important to store it correctly. Keep it somewhere cool and dark, as light and humidity will alter the scent. You can also try applying an unscented moisturiser to the spots you're going to spritz, as fragrances stick to moisturised skin for longer.

Frequently asked questions