How to Make Your Perfume Last Longer, According to Fragrance Experts
Smell you later.
Marilyn Monroe famously said she wore Chanel No. 5 perfume to bed, so she smelled like the luxe fragrance come morning. Some perfumes—like the classic floral aldehyde fragrance—are known for staying with you long after that initial spritz, lingering on your skin and clothes for hours. Other fragrances are more fleeting, so it's important to know industry hacks to make the perfume last longer.
"Many factors influence longevity in fragrances. The ingredients play a significant role, with elements like woods, resins, vanilla, and musk known for their lasting power," explains Dsm-Firmenich perfumer Alexandra Monet. But light fragrances ideal for summer, or those made with lower alcohol concentrations, tend to fade fast. If your signature scent is dissipating quickly, we're here with some good news: There are six easy tricks to make your fragrance stay put all day long.
Here, our experts explain how to make perfume last longer—and share their favorite long-lasting scents for when you don't want to fuss.
How to Make Perfume Last Longer
Choose a Highly Concentrated Perfume
When choosing a fragrance, it's important to know what concentration you're getting. "People often choose perfumes that last a long time because they seek value and want their fragrance to endure throughout the day," explains Monet.
Finding a product that wears for hours is doable; just make sure you pay attention to its name. An Extrait de Parfum or Eau de Parfum will likely give you longer wear than an Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette, even if you're purchasing the same scent. "The fragrance dosage—the ratio of fragrance oil to water and alcohol—can affect longevity," explains Monet. "Higher fragrance oil dosages generally result in longer-lasting scents."
- Parfum or Extrait de Parfum: The highest perfume concentration (and therefore the most expensive). They contain 20 to 40 percent perfume concentration and can last 8 to 12+ hours on the skin.
- Eau de Parfum: Has a perfume concentration of 15 to 20 percent and can last 6 to 8 hours on the skin.
- Eau de Toilette: Also known as "refreshing water," Eau de Toilettes have a perfume concentration of 5 to 15 percent and last for about 3 to 5 hours on the skin. They are usually fresher and lighter.
- Eau de Cologne: Has a perfume concentration of 3 to 5 percent and a high alcohol concentration. They are the most fleeting, lasting about 2 to 3 hours on the skin.
Keep Your Skin Hydrated
We're big believers in happy, hydrated skin here. So how lucky is it that moisturized skin equals a longer-lasting scent?
"Before you apply your fragrance, use a rich, nourishing moisturizer," explains fragrance expert Eudora Nwasike. "This will help to hold the scent longer. If you struggle with [extremely dry] skin, I recommend combining body oil with your body cream to ramp up the moisture." Simply mix a few drops of the body oil in with your body cream and say goodbye to that dry, flaky texture.
Don't Rub Your Wrists
If you don't know this very important piece of fragrance-wearing information yet, it's important we let you know now. Do not rub your wrists together after spraying your perfume.
"Doing this creates heat that causes the fragrance's top notes to evaporate quicker, ultimately changing the way the perfume will perform on your skin," explains Nwasike.
Spritz Your Clothing
When spritzing on your perfume, add a spray or two to your clothing. Nwasike says that your clothes will always retain the scent for longer by slowing down its evaporation process.
Multiply Your Fragrance With Body Care
Many fragrance brands carry bodycare products—such as body washes, body oils, soaps, sprays, and creams—in the same scents as their perfumes. If you use the entire range, your scent will be amplified. Plus, who doesn't want to use Dior bar soap?
Store Your Scents Safely
You want to store your fragrances in a cool, dark, and dry place away from sunlight to prevent their molecules from breaking down and thereby reducing longevity.
"To extend the longevity of a fragrance when in the bottle and stores, consider storing it in the fridge. Cooler temperatures and protection from light exposure can slow the breakdown of fragrance molecules, helping the scent stay potent for longer," notes Monet. "This is particularly beneficial for fragrances with delicate natural ingredients. By keeping your perfume in the fridge, you'll create an optimal environment to preserve its quality and freshness."
The Best Long-Lasting Perfumes
Nwasike describes this scent as "a fresh sparkling bouquet of lychee, peony, and Turkish rose dusted off with the warmness of cacao and an earthy patchouli base that gives you the most delightful olfactive experience." She adds that it's especially a winner on hot summer days.
A crowd pleaser (literally, everyone will be able to smell it) since its introduction in 1992, Mugler's Angel is a warm and spicy scent with key notes of bergamot, red fruits, and patchouli. It is worth noting that this scent is polarizing—make sure to grab a sample before you commit to a bottle.
Another of Nwasike's favorites, Matiere's Premiere Vanilla Powder is "an airy musky vanilla sprinkled with coconut powder" and palo santo, which adds "a soft woody touch to round it off." According to the expert, this vanilla lasts a whopping 48 hours and can be worn in any season.
My little sister wears this perfume, and I love it so much that I don't care that she is constantly "borrowing" my clothes (I smell it on them when she sneaks them back into my closet). While rose is a key note, it takes a backseat to lovely rhubarb.
While Baccarat Rouge 540 was only introduced in the last decade, it's quickly become an all-timer. This version, the Extrait, is its strongest form—even though the original Eau de Parfum is already quite concentrated. With top notes of bitter almond and saffron, middle notes of Egyptian jasmine and cedar, and base notes of ambergris, woody notes, and musk, it really is as good as everyone says it is.
"I love vanilla fragrances or musk ones like white musk from The Body Shop," shares Monet. While Body Shop locations in the U.S. have sadly shuttered, you can still find bottles of the fragrance in its various concentrations online. And if you're traveling, make sure to pick up a bottle or two of the velvety, floral favorite.
Meet the Experts
Eudora is a fragrance specialist by the Fragrance Foundation U.K., published journalist, and magazine contributor promoting and demystifying the art of fragrance across various audiences.
Sparkling and spontaneous, Alexandra Monet is the personification of joie de vivre. At the age of 13, her curiosity led her to discover the programs at ISIPCA.
The love of her profession brought Alexandra to Munich, Germany for six years. She wanted to start her career living in the German culture, with its reputation for order and structure in keeping with her own character. Her creations at that time reflected a certain expression of balance and organization.
Alexandra loves to travel. One of her most wonderful travel destinations is India; it’s a place she loves and which she has visited many times, finding it a country of great contrasts. “There you can find both the most horrible and the most extraordinary smells all at once; somber colors as well as the most vibrant and shimmering.”
