A Few Good Tips - How to Make Perfume Last Longer

First, here's a little background about what makes perfume smell. If the perfume never evaporated, we'd never smell it! The scent molecules evaporate and perfume the air around us, where our sensitive noses detect the scent. Different components of the perfume evaporate at different rates, which means that the perfume will change over time. (This is also called "volatility.")

Why are some perfumes longer lasting than others? Why do some stay on other people, but not on you? The volatility of fragrances also depends on the wearer. Body temperature, weather, and skin dryness affect how fast your perfume launches off your skin.

People with oilier skin retain fragrance longer than people with dry skin. The oil binds the fragrance to the skin and results in a more controlled release of scent over time. On dry-skinned people, the fragrance tends to bounce right off. Redheads or pale blondes with dry skin have more problems with perfume longevity than most.

If this describes you, try applying perfume to the oiliest parts of your body. When applying, consider warmth and moisture. Perfume reacts well to body temperature, so you'll smell the scent strongest when you apply it to your pulse points---inside the wrists, behind the ears, behind the knees, the back of the neck, in the cleavage. Perfume also clings better to skin that is naturally oily or moist from a shower because of the evaporating properties of the alcohol mixed with many scents. This is why manufacturers make not only perfume but scented body wash, lotion and powder to match. Applying a scent in layers---for instance, using scented body wash followed by lotion and cologne---will make the scent linger. If you don't want to layer your scent, at least apply perfume or cologne to freshly moisturized skin before you dress.

Also, do not put your fragrance on immediately after you get out of the shower. The heat, soap, and water strip away your skin's natural oils. Try using a body lotion first, and give your skin time to recover its moisture balance. This will give the perfume something to latch on to.

Store perfume carefully. Manufacturers estimate that the shelf life of a perfume is about three to five years, depending on its ingredients and storage. Extreme light or heat is poison to perfume, because it can change the perfume's composition or color. Although the bottles look beautiful arranged in on a bedroom vanity, the best storage place for perfume is tucked in its original box and kept at room temperature---perhaps in a sock or underwear drawer. A dark or opaque bottle also will keep the scent longer than a clear one. Cap the bottle tightly, if it's not a spray, to avoid evaporation. When the perfume smells odd or changes color or consistency, toss it.

Remember, though, that perfume is a cosmetic. It's only temporary, and no matter what you do, it will eventually evaporate completely. Enjoy it while it lasts!