Hand cream (and 6 other surprising tips) to make your perfume last longer!

As perfume lovers, we get it - there’s nothing more frustrating than spraying on your favourite scent only to discover its doesn’t last. While it would be easy to blame the fragrance itself in this situation, let us be the first to say, your perfume storage or application technique might just be the reason why. With the help of our training department, we’ve compiled a list of top tips and tricks on how to make perfume last longer!

1. Take a shower or a bath before spraying

Don’t get us wrong – it’s best practice not to spray on a perfume when your skin is still sopping wet, however, spritzing when your skin is still a little damp after your shower or bath might just be the best thing to do to help prolong the scent you’ve just sprayed on.

2. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!

It all starts with hydrated skin. Layering a hand cream or a body lotion under your perfume can enhance the fragrance and keep your skin hydrated. It works almost like a primer, creating a base for the fragrance to grip the skin and hang around for longer. Make sure you don’t skip this step, especially in cooler months. Some brands such as Juliette Has A Gun or Santa Maria Novella offer a wide range of scented body oil and/or lotion for this very reason. Some of our absolute favourite lotions to match are Fir Body Lotion, Velvet Seaweed Body Lotion and Not A Body Lotion by Juliette Has A Gun. You could always choose separate products with scents that complement each other well and don’t clash – perfume layering 101 lesson anyone?

3. Experts say focus on the right points, but where exactly are they?

Without a doubt, the best places to apply perfume are on our pulse points. But where exactly are they located? Don’t just restrict using perfume on the upper body - basically, you want to spray where your blood vessels are closest to the skin, like the insides of your wrists and elbows, behind your ears, on your neck, the back of your knees, etc. There's actually a functional reason why we tend to do this, and our National Training Manager Michael Marzano gives this particular tip his stamp of approval; and here’s why – science! At the skin’s thinnest points, blood is closest to the surface. This matched with your natural body heat will emanate your fragrance allowing the distribution of your chosen scent, which then inherently makes the scent last longer.

4. We can’t stress this enough: Don’t rub your wrists!

If you would like to blend two fragrances together or would like to transfer scent from each wrist to blot away some of the juice - try tapping your wrists together or dabbing motion instead of rubbing your wrists like you traditionally would as this would create friction and takes away the top notes of the perfume making it fade away faster . You can also lightly tab your wrist up your arm, onto your neck, or anywhere you'd like to deposit some scent without messing with its longevity.

5. Perfume on your hair or jewellery? Think again!

The alcohol in perfume can dry out your hair, so don’t apply it directly. Instead, lightly spray your hairbrush with it or purchase a hair perfume that is specifically designed to take care of your locks. It’s an unpopular opinion, but we recommend spraying your perfume on your clothes – trust us, you’ll never look back!

6. Store your fragrances right

Whatever you do, don't store it in the bathroom. Humidity and dampness will break down the perfume and weaken the fragrance, so keep it in a dry space instead. It’s such a simple tip but it really makes a difference to the longevity of your fragrance. Another big No-No is to keep your perfume in the car. Can you imagine Australian sun in the summer? Oh, don't let us get started here!

Bonus tip? Though we tend to do this to other personal care products, but when it comes to perfume, do not shake the perfume bottle or container as it will let air in and make it fade faster. 

7. Choose the right amount of sprays for different concentration

You have probably noticed there are a range of different concentrations available: parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and eau fraiche. These terms refer to the overall strength of the perfume and the percentage of essential oils in the formula. Parfum, which is also known as extrait de parfum, has the highest concentration of oils at 20-30%. Eau de parfum is next with an oil percentage of 10-20%, followed by eau de toilette with 5-15%. Eau de cologne and eau fraiche bring up the rear with a concentration of 2-4% and 1-3% respectively.

Being aware of these fragrance concentrations will enable you to establish realistic expectations of how long your perfume will last, as a parfum will hang around for a greater length of time compared to an eau de cologne or eau fraiche. If you’re looking for the best long-lasting perfume, it is suggested that you choose the highest quality perfume/concentration (which is 25%). If you haven’t already, we highly recommend the latest Attar Collection from Amouage. You can also opt for a fragrance with heavier base notes, such as woods, amber, leather and musk. Some of our all-time favourite amber scents are Material and Boundless by Amouage, Enigma by Roja Parfums and Hibiscus Mahajad by Maison Crivelli. If you're more of an aquatic, fresh scent lover, Millesime Imperial is an absolute must have! As versatile as it is opulent, it's a universal scent that is worn and appreciated by both men and women who appreciate its salty-sweet mix of sun-kissed citrus and rich musk.

If you’re like us and can’t get enough of your favourite scent, also consider investing in an atomiser to touch up your fragrance during the day. Quite literally #BestInvestmentEver!

Let us know if you try any of our tips - thank us later! 😉