9 Insider Tricks That Make Perfume Last All Day

They’re so easy.

There are few things quite like spritzing on your favourite perfume. The moment its scent settles into your skin and you take that first sniff has the power to set your mood for the day, and you likely want its trail to linger until the end of the day. However, it’s common for a fragrance to fade over time, which isn’t ideal. After all, if you’re taking time to build your fragrance wardrobe or scope out your signature scent, you want it to last all day. Thankfully, there are many tips and tricks you can do to make your perfume linger for hours.

We have decades of fragrance experience, and over the years we’ve mastered the art of making perfume last all day. From using layering techniques to applying perfume over moisturized skin, keep reading for the nine easiest ways to elongate the life of your perfume.

1. Moisturize Your Skin: Before applying perfume, make sure to moisturize your skin with an unscented lotion or body oil. Hydrated skin holds fragrance molecules better than dehydrated skin does, and it helps slow down the evaporation process, which makes your perfume last longer.
2. Apply Perfume to Pulse Points: This age-old trick is well-known for a reason. The pulse points on your body, such as your wrists, neck, and inner elbows, emit more heat and, as such, intensifies the scent. Applying perfume to these areas allows the fragrance to interact with your body's natural heat, enhancing its longevity.
3. Follow a Layering Technique: To extend the fragrance's lifespan, consider using products from the same perfume line, such as body lotion or perfume oil. Layering these products will build a stronger and more long-lasting scent experience. (Discover how to layer your perfume here.)
4. Spritz Perfume on Clothing: While applying perfume directly to your skin is ideal, you can also spritz it on your clothes, such as the collar or cuffs. Be cautious with delicate fabrics, such as silk, as some perfumes may leave stains.
5. Use Perfume After Bathing: Applying perfume right after a shower or bath helps lock in the moisture and scent. The dampness on your skin will trap the fragrance and make it last longer.
6. Refresh Midday: It’s normal for perfume to fade throughout the day, but you can refresh it by applying a small amount to your pulse points. If you don’t want to carry a full-sized perfume with you, consider purchasing travel-sizes of your favorite scents. (All our perfumes can be found in travel sprays, and if you want super-small samples you can also purchase our Discovery Set which includes five 1.7ml/0.06fl oz mini bottles.)
7. Don’t Rub Your Perfume: When applying perfume, resist the urge to rub your wrists together. It’s a common technique, but rubbing fragrance actually breaks down the molecular structure of the perfume and diminishes its staying power.
8. Choose Long-Lasting Fragrances: There are two ways to go about this. First, look at the fragrance oil percentage, as higher concentrations have longer staying powder. (The 7 Virtues uses between 22-30 percent fragrances oils—way above industry standard—to deliver a scent that will last all day.) The second way to do this is by looking for perfumes with base notes known for their longevity. Woody, spicy, and musky scents — like Santal Vanille — tend to linger on the skin longer than lighter, floral fragrances as they’re bolder and stronger.
9. Store Perfume Properly: Heat, light, and air can degrade the quality of your perfume. As such, it’s important to store your fragrances in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. And make sure to keep the bottle tightly closed as that will also prevent unnecessary exposure to air.

By following these tips, you will ensure your favorite perfumes last way longer and leave a lasting impression wherever you go.