We spend a pretty penny on our perfumes, so it's a real bummer if the scent evaporates by breakfast. While some fragrance formulations don't last as long as othersāthink a splashy EDT/body spray versus a more concentrated EDPāthere are ways to ensure your scent lingers longer. We reached out to a couple of fragrance pros for some tips on how to do it.
We Tested Over 100 Perfumes, and These Were the Best for Everyday Wear
01. Spritz Onto Skin After Showering
Take advantage of your just-out-of-the-shower skin, which is primed and ready to hold onto scents.
"After a shower, your clean pores will open in the steam, making it the perfect time to apply your perfume," says Vince Spinnato, a celebrity fragrance developer, "certified nose," and CEO of TurnKey Beauty Ltd. "However, don't apply the perfume while your skin is still wet as it will only rub off when you dry yourself."
02. Moisturize Before Applying
Before applying (or reapplying) your fragrance, moisturize your skin with your favourite oil-based lotion or cream. Unscented formulations are ideal, but if you want to mix and match your scents then feel free to use a fragranced moisturizer.
"Dry skin will not hold on to your fragrance as long as moisturized skin will, so moisturize, moisturize, moisturize," says Cordelia Smith, fragrance expert and founder of Formulary 55. "Fragrances will 'stick' to moisturized skin longer, and you will smell the scent throughout the day."
For best results, shower, pat dry, then moisturize before spritzing.
03. Aim for Pulse Points
For even longer staying power, spray your fragrance onto pulse points. These areas include your wrists, the nape of your neck, behind your knees, behind your ear, and inside your elbows. "These areas react with the natural fluctuations in your body temperature and in turn emit your scent throughout the day.
Ā
04. Spritz Hair
If you've ever accidentally sprayed perfume in your hair, you might have noticed that the scent lingers far longer than it does on your skin. Though you don't want to totally douse your hair with fragrance. A light misting of perfume on hair strands can prolong the scent without overpowering.
05. Avoid Rubbing Your Wrists Together
Though it's a common habit, rubbing wrists after applying perfume can degrade the scent's quality and profile. Let it settle naturally and see the perfume do itās magic.
Ā
06.Ā Replace Old Perfume
Have you ever noticed that "old scent" smell when spritzing a vintage bottle of perfume? That definitely wasn't the original scent; the perfume is well past its prime.
Expired perfume can develop an unpleasant smell. If it looks or smells different, it's time to discard it. That said, there are some ways you can prolong your fragrance's shelf life. "Although your perfume collection makes a lovely #shelfie in your bathroom, this is really the last place you want to store your fragrances," says Smith. Light and humidity will alter the scents of your perfumes. Store fragrances in a cool, dark place to preserve their freshness.