How to make perfume last longer on your skin

Longevity depends on the perfume, but also on your skin and how you apply it. A few simple habits can add hours to the same fragrance.

Moisturised skin holds scent better

Fragrance evaporates faster from dry skin. Apply an unscented body lotion before spraying, ideally right after a shower while your skin is still slightly warm.

Where to spray

• Pulse points – wrists, the base of the neck, behind the ears, inside the elbows.
• Clothes and hair hold scent longer than skin; spray from a distance and test fabrics first, as some perfumes can stain.
• Don’t rub your wrists together – it doesn’t ruin the perfume, but the top notes evaporate faster.

How many sprays

With an Eau de Parfum, two to four sprays are usually enough for the whole day. More is not always better – your nose gets used to the scent quickly, while the people around you still notice it.

How to store a decant

Light, heat and air are what damage perfume. Keep the atomizer somewhere dark and cool – a drawer, not the bathroom shelf or the car. Keep it closed and avoid big temperature swings.

Top up during the day

This is where a 10 ml decant shines: it fits in any handbag, so an extra spray in the afternoon or before an evening out is always within reach.