How do I make my perfume smell stronger?

One of the most common questions I receive is "How do I make my perfume stronger and last longer?". Here's a few tips that may help:

Stronger: I guess the question should be should I wear a stronger perfume? I know you love your very favorite scent, but that doesn't mean that everyone around you loves it too. Make sure you are not overdoing it, people around you should just get a hint of your perfume, not be immersed in it when you are near them. And if you hug them and they can taste it and smell it hours later on their clothes, that is also a big no-no.

Apply your perfume to your skin and hair, do not spray it liberally on your clothing. You want your scent to blend with your natural body chemistry and become uniquely yours. And another caution to over-spraying; you smell your own perfume less than others do because your nose becomes accustomed to it. Your brain adjusts naturally to surrounding smells after a certain time (it's called olfactory adaptation) so while you won't smell it yourself, other people certainly will.

Last longer: I carry many different lighter scents and a common question is how can I make my perfume last longer?

The best way is to build layers of scent directly on your skin, preferably warm, slightly damp skin when you just come out of the shower. The warm water opens your pores and allows your perfume to be absorbed into your skin.

If you find you showered the night before and need to apply perfume in the morning, keep in mind the molecules in fragrance bind to the oils on your skin when applied. If you have dry skin, you have less skin oil for the perfume molecules to grab, so moisturize your skin for longer lasting perfume. Use a solid perfume or lotion first, then “layer on” your fragrance, it will have a better surface to bind to.

The best place to wear fragrance is on the skin at the pulse points: the wrist, behind the ears, inner elbows and the base of the neck. This is where the fragrance will have the most projection due to the fact that the skin warms up here.

Apply your perfume sparingly and don’t be tempted to rub the fragrance (except for perfume oils, you can dab it in) – it’s better to leave it to unfold naturally as it warms up on the skin. If you need to, carry a smaller size bottle with you to reapply later in the day – particularly if you are going out for the evening – this will freshen up the top notes again.

Many people underestimate the power of scent in the hair. Spritz fragrance directly onto your hair or onto your brush and comb it through your hair. Hair carries scent for a really long time. Applying fragrance directly to your hair creates delicious, mysterious wafts that are bound to get you compliments.

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How do I make my perfume smell stronger?

Photo: Courtesy of YSL Beauté

If you find that your fragrance has faded away by lunchtime or you go through perfumes far too quickly, these top tips from the experts at Hairtrade will help your scent last all day long – without the need to spray an entire bottle on yourself. As one of its beauty gurus, Joanne Dodds explains, “We like to smell nice all day long, but sometimes it can feel like your perfume has disappeared the moment you put it on. It’s all about knowing where and how to apply fragrance, and how to store it so it retains its quality. If you know how to make the most out of your perfume, you won’t waste as much as well.”

Read on for easy and simple scent changes that will enhance the power of your perfume from day to night.

1

Add Petroleum Jelly on Pulse Points

The ointment in petroleum jelly will hold the fragrance for longer. Apply to your wrists, neck, inside elbows, behind knees, and on ankles and calves.

2

Spray Your Hairbrush

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.

3

Don't Store It in the Bathroom

Humidity and dampness will break down the perfume and weaken the fragrance, so keep it in your bedroom instead.

How do I make my perfume smell stronger?

Photo: Courtesy of Dior Parfums

4

Moisturize

Apply an unscented lotion before spritzing. Oily skin will retain the fragrance for longer.

5

Apply It at the Right Time

Damp skin will lock in the scent, but if you get dressed immediately after, it will rub off. Wait a few minutes for the scent to dry.

How do I make my perfume smell stronger?

Photo: Courtesy of Hermès

6

Don't Rub Wrists Together

Friction will cause the top notes of the perfume to fade faster and your perfume won’t last as long.

7

Utilize Every Last Drop

Don’t waste those last few, frustrating drops. Instead, mix them into an unscented body lotion to make your favorite scent last even longer.

How do I make my perfume smell stronger?

Photo: Courtesy of Penhaligon's

8

Know the Different Types of Perfume

Anything labeled body spray, eau de cologne, or eau de toilette has a low concentration of fragrance oils and a more subtle scent. Eau de parfum and extrait de parfum are a lot more pungent and last the longest.

9

Carry Around Cotton Buds

Lugging around your perfume bottle can be heavy, and you might lose it. Instead, carry around some cotton buds swabbed with your fragrance for touch-ups throughout the day.

10

Don't Shake Your Scent

Perfume is designed to stand still. Shaking the bottle will only let air in and reduce its quality.

11

Keep the Box

Perfume needs to be stored away from daylight as it degrades the oil and breaks down the fragrance. If you still want your fragrances on display, keep them in the pretty boxes they came in.

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How do I get my perfume to smell all day?

4 Tricks To Make Perfume Last All Day.
Moisturize. Scent clings better to oily skin, so for those with drier skin, opt for a perfume in cream form, or use an unscented lotion on damp skin before spraying it on..
Apply to pulse points. Perfume is activated by body heat. ... .
Never rub. ... .
Store properly. ... .
Experiment..

Why can I not smell my perfume?

Olfactory adaptation The fact that we no longer smell our perfume is part of a physiological process of olfaction. With our own scent, the stimulation of our olfactory sensors is permanent. This is also the case with the smell of our home, or a perfume that we wear very often.