There’s nothing more frustrating than spritzing on your favorite fragrance in the morning only for it to disappear by lunchtime. A beautiful perfume deserves to stay with you all day! I recently bought some bottles from a perfume shop, which smell so well but I would like them to be present a little more. So let me share with you some simple tricks I use to make my scent last longer without constantly reapplying.
Here are some tried-and-true tips to keep your perfume lingering beautifully:
1. Moisturize Before Spraying
Perfume clings better to hydrated skin. Applying an unscented lotion, body oil, or even petroleum jelly to your pulse points before spraying can “lock in” the fragrance. Oily and moisturized skin helps perfume molecules last longer.
2. Spray on Pulse Points
Pulse points are warmer areas of your body where blood vessels are closer to the skin. The heat naturally diffuses fragrance throughout the day. Focus on your wrists, behind the ears, at the base of your throat, inside your elbows, and behind your knees. Did you know?
3. Don’t Rub Your Wrists Together
It’s a common habit and I keep seeing women rubbing their wrists but this actually breaks down perfume molecules, making the scent fade faster. Instead, just spray and let it dry naturally.
4. Layer Your Fragrance
Many brands offer shower gels, lotions, or body mists in the same scent. Layering with these products builds a stronger foundation, making the fragrance last much longer.
5. Spritz on Clothes and Hair (with Caution)
Fabric holds scent longer than skin. Have you noticed smelling a perfume on a blouse you wore a couple of days ago? Sometimes it smells even better on my clothes and I can’t tell which perfume it was! So, lightly spray your clothes, scarf, or coat from a distance. Just be careful with delicate fabrics like silk. For hair, mist a hairbrush with perfume before running it through your hair—this avoids alcohol damage while giving a gentle, lasting scent.
6. Choose the Right Concentration
Perfumes come in different strengths: Eau de Cologne (lightest), Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, and Parfum (the strongest). A higher concentration naturally lasts longer, so consider investing in Eau de Parfum or Parfum if longevity is your goal.
7. Store Your Perfume Properly
Heat, light, and humidity can break down a fragrance faster. Keep your bottles in a cool, dark place (not the bathroom!) to preserve the scent’s quality and strength. I store my bottles in carton boxes and I rarely remove their packaging.
8. Apply Right After Showering
Your skin absorbs perfume better when it’s warm and slightly damp. Spraying after a shower (before getting dressed) helps lock in the fragrance for longer wear. My only problem is that I have to run to the closet where I keep them right after the shower, as I only keep my body mists in the bathroom.
9. Use Fragrance-Free Products
Mixing perfumes with heavily scented lotions, deodorants, or hair products can cause the scent to fade or change. Stick to fragrance-free products if you want your perfume to shine.
Final Tip: Perfume interacts uniquely with everyone’s skin chemistry, so test different techniques to find what works best for you. With a few tweaks to your routine, you’ll enjoy your signature scent from morning to night.