Scent Secrets: Tips for All Day Wear

Getting your perfume to last all day isn't necessarily about dousing yourself in it. It basically comes down to technique, placement, and how it interacts with your body chemistry. Here are some popular ways to make your fragrance last longer:

1. Apply to Moisturized Skin

Perfume lasts longer on hydrated skin. Apply an unscented lotion or a little petroleum jelly to pulse points before spraying your fragrance. The oils will help lock in the scent.

2. Focus on Pulse Points & Warm Areas

Heat helps diffuse fragrance, so apply perfume to your wrists, neck, behind the ears, inside elbows, behind knees, and even your belly button. These areas naturally radiate heat, which enhances the scent's projection.

3. Layer Your Scent

Using matching body washes, lotions, or oils from the same fragrance line builds depth and makes the scent last longer. If those aren't available, use an unscented lotion to prevent incompatibility.

4. Don't Rub Your Wrists Together

Rubbing breaks down fragrance molecules and shortens the lifespan of the scent. Instead, lightly dab or let the perfume dry naturally.

5. Spray on Clothes & Hair (With Caution!)

Fabric holds onto scents well, so lightly mist your clothing, but be mindful of delicate materials like silk. For hair, spritz the fragrance onto your brush before running it through your strands to prevent alcohol damage.

6. Choose the Right Concentration

Eau de Parfum (EDP) and Parfum (Extrait de Parfum) last much longer than Eau de Toilette (EDT) or body mists. If longevity is your goal, go for a higher concentration of perfume oil.

7. Store It Properly

Heat, light, and humidity can break down a fragrance's composition. Store your perfume in a cool, dark place, away from windows and bathrooms.

8. Switch it Up

Just like our other senses, our sense of smell has a memory. When we wear the same fragrance regularly, our brain gradually tunes it out to prevent sensory overload. Switching up your perfume can reawaken your sense of smell, which makes the scent more distinct  compared to wearing the same one every day.

Even with these strategies, no perfume lasts an entire day. Even the highest quality fragrances will eventually fade. Lighter scents - especially those with citrus or green notes - typically last around 4 to 6 hours. To keep your scent fresh and noticeable, carry your perfume with you and reapply as needed. It would benefit you to carry a travel-size bottle or rollerball to refresh pulse points midday. A quick refresh can make all the difference and keep you smelling sensational all day. Solid perfumes are another great option for discreet touch-ups.