How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer



Do you love wearing perfume but find it doesn't last as long as you'd like? It often happens. Many people struggle with their favorite scents fading faster than they'd prefer.
The good news is there are tricks you can use to get more longevity from your fragrances. With a few simple tips, you can make your perfume last hours longer, so you can enjoy the beautiful scents all day or night.
Prep Your Skin
Before spritzing on your perfume, prep your skin to make it more fragrance-friendly. The right skin care routine can help your scent cling better to your body.
• Cleanse skin to remove dirt, oil, and old perfume. Damp skin holds fragrance better.
• Use an unscented moisturizer. Hydrated skin absorbs and retains scents well.
• Apply petroleum jelly to prime spots. Great for wrists, behind ears, cleavage, and neck. Creates a barrier.
• Consider using an unscented oil like jojoba as a base. Oils help fragrances adhere and diffuse slowly.
• Don't use strongly scented products before perfume. They compete and muddle the true fragrance.
Spray Key Pulse Points
Be strategic about where you spritz. Some spots naturally radiate scent better than others.
• Wrists - Classic spot. Rub wrists together after spraying to disperse.
• Behind ears - Great for wafting scent upwards.
• Neck - Delicate and warm. Perfume diffuses nicely here.
• Cleavage - Utilize your body heat. Just don't overdo it.
• Hair - Mist your locks to leave a sillage. Avoid direct roots.
• Inner elbows - Subtle and soft spot. Your nose catches whiffs easily.
• Shoulders - Equally diffuses scent forward and behind you.
Use Fragrance Layering
Layering scent products makes the most of your fragrances. The combo strengthens staying power.
• Pair scented lotion and perfume - Double dose of same notes. eg. You can pair Darling Body Lotion with Darling Fragrance, both inspired by Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl.
• Complementary scented products - Matching shampoo, soap, cream.
• Fragrance primer - Creates a tacky base for perfume to cling to.
• Scented powder - Increases silage. Apply before and after perfume.
• Perfume spray and rollerball - Rollerballs refresh scent discreetly.
Mist Clothes and Hair
Fabric and hair hold fragrance surprisingly well. Lightly mist for lingering aroma.
• Shirts and blouses - Avoid direct skin contact. Reapply as needed.
• Scarves and shawls - Wraps keep scents close to your face.
• Suits and blazers - Jacket lining diffuses scent nicely.
• Hair brush - Quick spritz carries the scent every time you brush.
• Hats - Fabric and felt hats work great. Avoid straw hats.
Carry a Personal Fragrance
Tuck a rollerball perfume or solid fragrance balm in your purse or pocket. Use throughout the day for fresh bursts of scent.
• Perfume rollerball - Roll on pulse points for instant full fragrance.
• Solid balm - Rub balm anywhere for targeted touch-ups.
• Scented hair clip - Affix in hair to release aroma around you.
• Scented handkerchief - Sprinkle perfume and tuck in a pocket or bra.
• Empty lip balm tube - Fill with a perfume sample. Apply like lip balm!
Store Fragrances Properly
Heat, light, and air degrade perfumes over time. Give them ideal storage conditions.
• Keep away from heat - Avoid warm spots like windowsills and bathrooms.
• Store in a cool, dark place - Light accelerates fading. The fridge works!
• Keep perfume bottles closed - Limit air exposure to prevent oxidation.
• Purchase smaller bottles - Once opened, fragrances start deteriorating.
• Wrap in foam or tissue paper - Extra protection from jostling, light damage.
Maintain Your Skin's pH
Your skin's natural pH plays a role in how long scents linger. Stay balanced.
• pH too high = perfume fades faster. Too low = skin gets irritated.
• Cleanse gently to avoid stripping skin. This maintains pH.
• Use a pH-balanced moisturizer. Look for one matching your skin type.
• Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin and oil buildup. Keeps skin fresh.
• Avoid very hot showers that dry out the skin and disrupt pH.
Consider Fragrance-Binding Products
Specialized products bond with perfume molecules for extended wear.
• Fragrance primers - Create tacky base for perfume to stick to.
• Perfume-fixing sprays - Form protective layer over fragrance.
• Fragrance bracelets - Absorb perfume and diffuse aroma.
• Scent sealers - Micro-encapsulate fragrance so it releases gradually.
• Perfume-binding fibers - Embedded in clothes or scarves. Trap scent.
Avoid Fragrance Faders
Some ingredients unintentionally shorten how long scents linger. Minimize use.
• Alcohol-based products - Lead to quicker website fragrance evaporation.
• Products with benzophenone - Interact poorly with scented molecules.
• Citrus-based cleansers - The acidic pH disturbs fragrance.
• Bar soap - High pH strips away perfume oils faster.
• Heavy moisturizers - Create barrier preventing diffusion.
Consider Long-Lasting Fragrances
Some perfumes are formulated to be extra-long lasting. Prioritize these.
• Florals like ylang ylang and jasmine last longer.
• Orientals and amber scents often have staying power.
• Look for perfume oils rather than eau de toilettes.
• Seek out extrait or parfum formulations. Highest perfume oil concentration.
• Spray more - Don't hold back. With long-lasting scents, reapply generously.
Set Perfume with Powder
Powder helps set perfume and makes it adhere better to skin. Brush it on over top of fragrance.
• Loose translucent powder - Apply all over or just on pulse points.
• Body powder - Look for a fragrance matching your perfume.
• Baby powder - Scentless so it won't compete with your perfume.
• Facial blotting papers - Helps set perfume creatively!
• Makeup setting spray - Even works great. The fixative ingredients help.
Maintain a Signature Scent
Wearing the same scent daily trains your nose to notice it more over time. You get used to your own scent profile. This creates the impression it lasts longer throughout the day.
• Pick 1-2 signature scents you love.
• Stick to these for daily wear.
• Your brain tunes into the notes.
• Notes seem more pronounced and long-lasting.
• Others associate the scent with you.
Hope this helps!