Lance Carson
Making your cologne last longer is a simple process that involves a few crucial steps. Firstly, it is important to apply cologne right after a shower when your pores are open, allowing the fragrance to seep into your skin and last longer. Moisturizing your skin before applying cologne is also essential, as hydrated skin absorbs and retains the scent better. When applying, target your body's pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, elbows, and knees, as the warmth from these areas helps the scent remain strong. Additionally, avoid rubbing the cologne into your skin, as this can break down the fragrance, causing it to fade faster. To further extend the longevity of your cologne, you can layer it with other scented products like body wash or lotion, ensuring they have complementary or matching scents. Finally, for optimal storage, keep your cologne in a cool, dry, and dark place, as extreme temperatures and direct sunlight can alter the ingredients and affect its potency and longevity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Apply cologne | After a shower, on pulse points, behind ears, on hair, on clothing, on the top of ears, on the back of the neck, on the inside of elbows, behind knees, on wrists, on calves, on ankles |
| Prepare skin | Moisturise, apply petroleum jelly |
| Layer fragrances | Use matching scented products, e.g. body wash, deodorant, body cream |
| Storage | Keep in a cool, dark, dry place, away from sunlight, fluctuating temperatures and humidity |
| Reapply | Use travel-sized bottles, spray on cotton swabs or balls, put in a plastic bag |
What You'll Learn
Apply cologne after a shower
Applying cologne after a shower is a great way to make your cologne stick longer. Here's how to do it:
Open Your Pores
The steam from a warm shower helps open your pores, allowing your skin to absorb the cologne more effectively. This will make the scent linger throughout the day, and you won't have to reapply as often. It is the perfect time to lock in that aroma.
Moisturise Your Skin
Hydrated skin is more likely to absorb and retain the cologne. Apply a body lotion or cream all over your body, especially the areas where you plan to spray the cologne. If you don't want to alter the scent of your cologne, choose an unscented moisturiser. Oily skin also tends to hold onto fragrances better.
Apply Petroleum Jelly
If you want the fragrance to last all day, you can apply petroleum jelly to your pulse points before spraying the cologne. The petroleum jelly acts as a barrier, preventing your body's natural oils from breaking down the fragrance, making it last longer. However, be sure to rub it in until your skin doesn't feel greasy, as petroleum jelly can stain clothing.
Layer Your Fragrance
Using other products with the same or complementary scents can help your cologne last longer. Many brands offer matching soaps, body washes, deodorants, and body creams. Layering these products will strengthen the fragrance and make it more enduring.
Spray Your Pulse Points
Pulse points are the warmest spots on your body, and applying cologne to these areas will help keep the scent strong. Spray behind your ears, the base of your throat, the inside of your elbows, your wrists, and behind your knees. You can also apply cologne to your stomach and the back of your neck. Avoid rubbing your wrists together after applying cologne, as this can break down the scent.
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Moisturise your skin first
A great way to make your cologne last longer is to moisturise your skin before applying it. Hydrated skin is more likely to absorb your cologne, so it's a good idea to apply a body lotion or cream all over your body beforehand. Pay particular attention to the areas where you plan to spritz the cologne, such as your wrists, neck, and behind your ears.
If you don't want to alter the scent of your cologne, be sure to choose an unscented moisturiser. You can also opt for a matching moisturiser or lotion that complements your cologne. However, ensure that the scent of your moisturiser does not overpower your cologne.
Because hydrated skin holds onto fragrance better than dry skin, people with oily skin usually don't need to reapply their cologne as often.
Tips for Moisturising Your Skin Before Applying Cologne:
- Apply petroleum jelly to your pulse points before spritzing on your cologne. This will create a barrier between your skin and the cologne, preventing complete absorption and making the fragrance last longer.
- If you're using a spray-on moisturiser, hold the bottle three to six inches away from your skin and spritz yourself about two times per area if your cologne is of regular intensity.
- Avoid using a moisturiser with a strong scent that might compete with or overpower your cologne.
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Layer your cologne with other scented products
Layering cologne with other scented products is a great way to make the scent last longer. This technique, known as fragrance layering, involves wearing several scented products at once to create a unique, long-lasting fragrance. Here are some tips to help you layer your cologne effectively:
- Choose complementary or contrasting scents: You can either choose fragrances that complement each other or go for contrasting scents to create a unique blend. For example, you can pair earthy notes like patchouli with sandalwood or combine spice and vanilla.
- Start with a base layer: Begin with a scented body wash or lotion to enhance the layers that follow. This can include fragranced lotions, body oils, or body butter.
- Prep your skin: Moisturized skin holds onto fragrances better, so apply a moisturizing lotion or cream to your skin before layering scented products. This helps create a canvas for the scents to cling to and ensures that the cologne doesn't alter the natural pH of your skin.
- Layer the strongest scent first: When layering multiple fragrances, apply the strongest cologne first and then top it up with lighter scents. This ensures that the lighter notes aren't overpowered.
- Apply to pulse points: Pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, inside of elbows, and behind the knees, are the warmest spots on the body, helping the scent to develop and linger. Spraying cologne on these areas will increase its longevity.
- Avoid rubbing: Resist the urge to rub your wrists together after applying cologne, as this can break down the fragrance, causing it to disappear faster.
- Experiment and have fun: There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to fragrance layering. Feel free to experiment with different combinations and discover new scents that suit your mood and personality.
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Spritz your pulse points
Spritzing your pulse points is one of the most effective ways to make your cologne last longer. Pulse points are areas of your body where blood flows close to the skin, generating the most heat. Since higher temperatures better retain and diffuse fragrance, you only need to spritz a small amount on a couple of these points. This means you'll ultimately use less cologne, and your favourite scent will last longer.
So, where are your pulse points, exactly? They include your wrists, the base of your throat, the crease of your neck, inside your elbows, and behind your knees. These are the warmest spots on your body, which will help keep the scent strong.
- Hold the bottle three to six inches away from your skin.
- Be careful not to overspray—two to four sprays are usually enough.
- Avoid rubbing your wrists together after applying cologne, as this can break down the fragrance and cause it to wear off faster.
- If your legs are exposed, spritzing the back of your knees can help waft your fragrance around your lower half. Applying the cologne right after moisturising your legs post-shower can also help trap the scent.
- Spritzing your wrists can help trap the scent and allow you to smell it all day.
- If the tops of your ears are a bit oily, spray a little cologne there, too. Oil helps trap fragrance, keeping the scent around your head for hours.
- Spritzing the base of your throat can ensure your fragrance gracefully wafts toward your face throughout the day.
- If you're wearing a dress or an outfit with sleeves, spritzing the inside of your elbows can help spread your scent around, allowing it to linger within the fibres of your clothes.
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Don't rub your skin after applying
Rubbing your wrists together after applying cologne is a common practice, but it's not a good idea if you want the scent to last. This is because the friction can break down the molecules of the scent, causing it to disappear faster.
Rubbing the cologne into your skin can also cause it to be absorbed more quickly, and it may even distort the scent. Instead, you should simply let the cologne dry on your skin without rubbing it in. This will allow the fragrance to develop naturally and help it to last longer.
Another reason not to rub your skin after applying cologne is that it can bruise the scent, causing it to break down faster. This is the opposite of what you're trying to achieve when you want your cologne to last longer.
If you want to transfer the scent to your other wrist, gently dab it onto the skin instead of rubbing. This will help to preserve the complex notes of the fragrance, allowing it to develop naturally and last longer.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to make your cologne last longer. Firstly, apply it right after a shower, as the steam from the warm water will open your pores, allowing your skin to absorb the fragrance more readily. Secondly, moisturize your skin before applying cologne, as hydrated skin is more likely to soak up the scent. Thirdly, target your body's pulse points when applying cologne, as these are the warmest spots on your body, helping to keep the scent strong.
Pulse points are areas on your body where veins and arteries are closer to the surface of the skin, keeping them warmer than the rest of the body. These include your wrists, neck, lower jaw, forearms, inside of your elbows, and behind your knees.
To make your cologne last longer, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid storing it in the bathroom, as the fluctuating temperatures and humidity can cause the fragrance to break down and lose its strength. Instead, keep it in its original packaging in a drawer or closet.
