If you love wearing perfume, but find that it never seems to last more than an hour, you’re not alone—this is one of the most common issues with fragrances that many people have. While there are many factors that can affect how long a perfume lasts, there are also things you can do to make your perfume last longer on your skin, from choosing the right fragrance to layering different notes to create a unique, long-lasting fragrance.
Why does my perfume fade so quickly?
There are many reasons why your perfume fades so quickly, including your body chemistry and even the type of skin you have. For example, if you have oily skin, the scent will fade quicker than if you have dry or normal skin because your skin glands produce sebum at a much faster rate, which mixes and reduces the strength of perfume.
The strength of the perfume is also affected by the type of activity you plan to do after wearing it. If you're working out, running around at work all day, or otherwise being physically active, your body will sweat more. This will change the composition of your body's natural odours and cause them to mix with any fragrance you've applied. Perfumes also fade quicker in hot, humid climates for the same reason as previously mentioned—scent oil mixes with sweat and evaporates faster than in cold climates. Besides, there are many more reasons why perfume fades so quickly, from picking the wrong scent oil concentration to wearing too many clothing layers.
How to make perfume last longer
Here are our five best tips to make your perfume last for longer, so you can feel confident throughout the day while knowing you're getting your money's worth:
1) Choose the right perfume concentration
Choosing the right perfume concentration is one of the simplest and most effective ways to make your perfume last longer. The scent concentration is the percentage of perfume oil content (and other additives) in any fragrance, which can affect how long it lasts. There are different types of perfume strength available on the market, and they generally fall under these categories: Eau de Cologne (EDC), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Parfum (EDP), and Pure Parfum. EDC and EDT are typically lightly scented with a fragrance concentration between 3% and 15%, while EDP and Pure Parfum have a scent oil concentration of around 15% and above. So if you want a perfume that will last all day, pick an EDP or Pure Parfum.
2) Apply it over unscented lotion
Moisturised or lotioned skin absorbs perfume scents more effectively than normal skin because it provides a better surface for the scent molecules to bind to. For maximum effectiveness, wear a perfume on your pulse points or on moisturised skin after taking a shower. An unscented lotion or moisturiser is usually a better option than a scented one, since a scented product may create a different smell or reduce the strength of perfume.
3) Spray it on your clothes
You can also try spraying perfume on your clothing to smell good all day long. This can often make the perfume last longer, but the duration may also be affected by the type of fabric you're wearing—perfume scents are known to remain longer on clothes made of natural fibres, such as linen, cotton, and wool. Also, all perfumes are different, and some may last longer than others.
4) Layer different notes to make your scent stronger
Another way to make your perfume last longer is to layer or combine different notes. It can be as simple as combining perfumes with similar notes or adding a perfume with different top or bottom notes. The different scent layers will blend together to produce a unique scent that can be your new signature scent while lasting all day long.
5) Pick a perfume with the right base notes
A base note is the most important scent layer in a perfume. It has a deeper and richer fragrance than the top and middle/heart notes, and it lasts the longest. Some of the most popular bottom notes include amber, honey, vanilla, sandalwood, musk and patchouli. While floral scents are popular among women, they often fall under top or middle notes since they have an instant effect and dissipate quickly. So you may find that floral and citrus perfumes don't last very long.
To make your perfume last longer, consider picking a perfume that has a strong bottom note like amber, vanilla, or chocolate. You could also try choosing a fragrance that contains a blend of different base notes for a longer-lasting effect.