How to make your perfume last all day

You apply it in the morning, and by noon the scent is gone. Many people blame the fragrance, but more often it comes down to the skin and the way it is applied. Longevity does not depend only on what you buy, but also on how you handle it.

Dry skin cannot hold a fragrance

Fragrance molecules cling to the oils in the skin. If the skin is dry, there is nothing to hold them and they evaporate faster. That is why people with oilier skin almost always report longer wear.

The solution is simple. Apply perfume right after showering, on skin that is still slightly damp, and use a neutral body lotion without a strong scent of its own beforehand. If you have no lotion to hand, a thin layer of unscented cream on the application points is enough.

Where to apply and where not

Apply to warm spots where the veins run just beneath the skin. These are the wrists, the inside of the elbows, the neck below the ears and the backs of the knees. The warmth slowly lifts the scent throughout the day.

We advise against two things. The first is rubbing your wrists together, the most widespread habit and at the same time the most harmful. Friction breaks up the top notes and forces the fragrance to develop too quickly. The second is the face and areas exposed to the sun, as some ingredients can irritate the skin in combination with UV rays.

Apply to hair and clothes too

Hair holds fragrance longer than skin because it does not absorb it. Do not apply it directly, as alcohol dries the hair; instead, lightly spray your brush and then comb your hair.

The same goes for scarves, coats and jackets. Natural fibres such as wool and cotton hold fragrance for several days. With light-coloured and delicate fabrics, test on a hidden spot first.

Where to keep the bottle

Perfume’s greatest enemies are light and changes in temperature. The bathroom is therefore the worst place, as heat and humidity alternate there every day. Keep the bottle in a cupboard, in the dark, at room temperature. That way it keeps its composition for years, not just months.

Smaller amounts, bought more often

Perfume changes over time, so it is better to have a smaller bottle that you use up than a large one that sits for three years. This is also one of the advantages of decanted fragrances: you take as much as you will really use in a few months and then replace it with a freshly decanted one.

If you have a question about a specific fragrance or about which one would suit your skin, write to us. We are happy to advise.