Picture this – you hold the bottle of perfume you’ve long awaited and apply the first spritz to your wrist. It’s incredible. It’s everything you’ve been waiting for. You gleefully spritz your hair, clothes, arms, neck – and as you leave through the front door, you admire the scent trail it leaves. You’re going to be noticed today.
Cut to two hours later – you’re sat at your desk and there’s a lack of head-turns. You raise a wrist to inhale your new favourite scent; you’re met with nothing. Why has this amazing, potent scent disappeared? How long does perfume last…or how long is it supposed to last?
It’s a situation many a perfume enthusiast has experienced. The way a perfume projects on one person may not translate to the next – our unique chemistry and skin types massively affect the way a perfume smells, settles and lingers on us.
Whilst you cannot change this, there are some tips and tricks to keep your fragrance for as long as possible. The age-old question of what makes perfume last longer is answered in this guide.
Warm Up
Perfume absorbs more efficiently on a warm surface – so try taking a hot shower, dry off thoroughly and apply your favourite perfume. If you really want it to last, apply it to the pulse points, such as the wrist, neck, inner elbow and behind the knee.
Unscented Lotion
It’s important to apply perfume to soft, hydrated skin so it can thoroughly absorb. Applying an unscented lotion or Vaseline helps the fragrance to really lock onto your skin.
Perfume First, Clothes Second
It’s not advised to apply fragrance to your clothes – it can lead to stains and makes it difficult to apply to the pulse points.
Location is Key
As we’ve established, the pulse points are the magic locations for fragrance longevity. These parts of the body usually generate the most heat, which helps the scent to both diffuse and intensify, leading to a longer-lasting fragrance.
However, each pulse point targets a different audience, so apply strategically. If you want to smell the fragrance yourself, apply it to your neck, chin and collarbones. If you want to cast a scent trail (also known as sillage) then the best places to apply would be the back of the knees and neck.
Less Is More
In the perfumery world, it’s generally recommended to apply one spritz per pulse point. You want to smell good without it being overwhelming to yourself and the people around you.
Something important to note is the familiarity of the scent. The more you wear it, the more your nose gets used to it. However, this isn’t the case for the people around you, who won’t be as used to the scent as you are. Bear this in mind as you apply your signature scent before a day at the office or an outing with friends.
Variety is the Spice of Life
Scent familiarity is a very real thing, and our brains learn to mute it, to prevent overwhelming our senses. Rather than one staple scent, try to find a range of fragrances for different occasions – it’ll re-activate your sense of smell and keep it interesting.
AMBR London stock a variety of dupe perfumes to suit every occasion. From uplifting daytime fragrances to deeper evening and nighttime fragrances, our collections have something for everyone.
