Making Fragrance Last Longer

If I apply fragrance in the morning, should I expect it to last all day long?

No. A fragrance is not designed to last all day. You’ll probably need to refresh it every three to four hours.

Why doesn’t fragrance last on me?

Unfortunately, your body’s chemistry causes perfumes to evaporate more quickly from your skin. Perfumers would say that your skin ‘throws off’ fragrance.

Instead of an eau de toilette lasting for some 3 to 4 hours, it disappears within an hour, sometimes shorter. The rate of evaporation triples or even quadruples on your skin. Why? The acidity of your skin is a possible culprit. Lick your wrist. Does it have a sharp, tangy taste? That’s a sure sign of acid. And the more acidic your skin, the more it will tend to throw off perfume.

Medicines, too, will change your body’s chemistry. Low fat diets, stress, spicy foods, fast foods all affect body temperature and encourage the skin to throw off perfume. Add dry skin and pregnancy to the list and you’ll see why so many women complain about the staying power of their fragrance.

The solution? Put an emollient layer between your skin and your perfume. ‘Layer’ your fragrance to extend its life. Use a body lotion or body crème that matches your fragrance to create an emollient foundation for the eau de toilette. It will slow down the rate of evaporation and double the life of your perfume.

A second solution? Use the matching bath oils of your favorite fragrances as oil perfumes. After your bath or shower, while your skin is dry but still warm from the water, stroke the fragrant bath oil across your pulse points. Finish with a light spray of fragrance.

How can I make my fragrance last longer?

The secret to long-lasting fragrance is ‘fragrance layering’. Build up layers of scent on the skin by using different forms of the same fragrance - perfumed soap, bath oil or gel, body lotion or cream, dusting powder and eau de toilette. Each reinforces the impact of the other to quadruple the life of your favorite scent. Layering, or “fragrance dressing” as it’s sometimes called, is also a clever way to wear a fragrance that’s too overpowering for daytime use.