We’ve all been there. Applying our new or even favorite perfume, only to find the scent faded within a few hours. We think, “Is it just me?”, “Am I not spritzing enough?” or “Is it the perfume?”
Our assumptions and a shoulder shrug almost always answer the question.
Turns out, there is a right and a wrong way to apply fragrance. And yes, spraying or dabbing perfume on your wrists and rubbing them together is the wrong way of application!
But what’s the key to making your perfume last? Nobody tells us! We’re all left guessing.
Refrain from blaming yourself for not knowing. The fragrance industry is most likely the culprit. They want you to waste product to keep you coming back for more.
Surprisingly, it might be your body’s chemistry. From the meals you’re eating to the stress you may be taking on at work, it could factor in why your fragrances aren’t lasting. But most usually, it’s your application process or the fragrance’s usage of low-grade ingredients.
4 Reasons Why Your Perfume May Not Last
1. Body Chemistry
The body’s natural chemistry can affect how a perfume smells and how long it lasts. Sweat, bacteria, and sebum can all change the scent of an Eau De Parfum. Not to mention what the wearer is ingesting into their bodies; Fast food, medications, nicotine, and stress can all be factors of perfume changes on the skin.
Generally, perfumes last longer on people with oily skin than those with dry skin.
People with dry skin often have a higher pH level, which can cause the perfume to bounce off one’s skin barrier. Dryness can make the scent impenetrable causing pre-mature evaporation.
Those with oily skin often have a lower pH level, creating a higher absorption rate. Thus, longevity.
2. Temperature, Humidity, Perspiration, and Sweat
Higher temperatures and humidity will make the perfume evaporate more quickly, while lower temperatures will make the scent last longer. The time of day can also affect how perfume smells. Often, they smell different in the morning than they do at night.
Those living in cooler climates sweat less than people who dwell in warmer temperatures. Consequently, sweating cohabitating with perfume scents results in chemical reactions.
Tangy oranges or sweet grasses are found to mix well with sweat and get amplified by perspiration, causing the aromas to linger longer. These are perfect summer scents.
Deeper notes like musks and resins do better in colder climates as they don’t do well when mixed with a person’s sweat.
3. Poor Ingredients
Choosing a perfume with finer ingredients will last longer on the skin. Lower-quality elements often evaporate more quickly, resulting in a shorter-lived scent.
When purchasing a perfume, you must factor in the quality of where it’s being manufactured and how. Some of the highest quality perfumes, particularly those of Middle Eastern origin, last for hours to even days on your body and clothes. You not only enjoy the scent for longer and get more bang for your buck.
4. Storage of Fragrances
Perfumes should be stored in a cool, dry place. Heat and light can cause the fragrance to break down over time, causing recent changes or even the product to go rancid. So it’s best to keep it in a dark cabinet or drawer.
And, if you have any leftover perfume after a bottle is finished, store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t evaporate.
Assurance The Perfume Will Last
Apply the perfume to areas where the skin is warm with good blood circulation. The heat helps diffuse and magnify the aroma of the fragrance.
Apply to pulse points at the base of the throat, inside the wrists, inside the elbows, below the ear lobes, and behind the knees.
If you want your fragrance to last even longer, try layering different forms of the same scent.
It’s best to start with a cream base after showering, as the cream will lock in the moisture. Then a solid perfume over the cream, finishing with a couple of spritz of your perfume eight inches away from your skin and, for extra measure, dabs of roll-on oil fragrance. Each layer extends the life of your scent, increasing its impact on its vitality and aroma.
To also give yourself an oomph, spray your hair and clothes with your chosen scent.
The layering of oils can also cause the opposite. Your scent receptors may become overloaded, dissipating the fragrance faster than usual. Try applying sparingly; letting the aroma slowly build over time can help to make your perfume last longer.
Final Thoughts
There’s actual science behind perfume application.
Who knew there were so many possibilities surrounding why your perfume isn’t lasting? This article may give you greater insight into the subject many have no education on.
Go out there and impress people with your now impeccable knowledge.
