Finding a perfect perfume is no less than a struggle. But once you do, the next challenge is to make it last longer for all the meetings, parties, and events you attend.
Since fragrances are not less than a significant investment, wanting them to last longer is not asking for more. A perfume generally won’t fade before four to five hours and will likely last up to twelve to fourteen hours.
But perfumes seem to have taken the ‘nothing is constant’ notion of life too seriously, and so knowing about its characteristics can help you decode the secret to make your perfume last longer.
So read on and see how and why’s about your favourite fragrance’s longevity.
How Long Does Cologne Last on Your Skin?
Depending on the brand you invest in, cologne can easily last more than 24 hours. But surprisingly, most popular perfumes, however, tend to start fading by 12 hours. The scent begins changing its fragrance before it is gone completely.
But how long your perfume will last on your skin largely depend upon three things—the molecular combination of the fragrance, its concentration, and the pH level of your skin.
Every perfume’s molecules are of different sizes, and depending on their sizes, the smell can be correlated. The same is with the additives used in the concentrations.
Concentration typically means the amount and type of essential oils and aromatic chemicals diluted in the alcohol. This decides how concentrated a particular cologne is and how long it will last.
Lastly, every individual’s pH varies, and predicting how long a particular perfume will last on you will only be possible after trying each scent.
But irrespective of these three, a branded cologne will last at least six to seven hours for all before it slowly slips from dense to mild tones.
Since perfumery is both art and chemistry, these factors come as no surprise. However, there are specific reasons you are likely unaware about that make perfume disappear quickly. Here’s what you should know.
Why Does Perfume Disappear Quickly?
We know fragrances are quite a lot of investment, and they fading away quickly comes as a disappointment. But it’s not entirely a perfume’s fault, and so here are few reasons your cologne might be disappearing sooner than expected.
Season
Yes, you read that right. One of the crucial reasons is the temperature or the season of the country you are living in.
Perfumes tend to wear off sooner in summers, compared to autumn or winters. Also, if you live near coastal areas with low humidity, the scent tends to evaporate quickly.
So on rainy days, no matter how much perfume you apply, it won’t last long.
Nature of Perfume
The blend of various ingredients like the essential oils and the alcohol content decides how long a perfume will easily last. For example, a fragrance with a citrus blend tends to fade away sooner.
Citrus in normal condition as well evaporates sooner. Although mixed with more potent agents like vetiver, lavender, and other similar options, your perfume will still fade away sooner.
Your Skin and Food
Every human on earth is different, and so will be the longevity of the perfume. The food you eat and the pH of your skin matters along with the moisturizer or the body lotion you apply before applying perfume.
If your skin is hydrated well, it will likely last longer. Depending on your diet, your skin creates its natural fragrance that blends with your perfume and affects its longevity.
These three factors altogether can make it fade away sooner. But there are certain tricks you should know that will make any and every perfume last longer.
Tips to Help your Fragrance Last Longer
Since now you know how long your perfume can last longer and why it is actually fading away sooner, we probably hope these tips will be easier to follow.
With the concentrations, pH, and other details about the perfumery you have known this far, here are the simplest tips you can follow to make your perfume last longer.
Spray it at the Right Time
Spraying your perfume the right way is a trick that will keep it fresh for a longer duration. The moment you spray the perfume, what you smell for the first 10 minutes are its top notes. The next two to four hours are its middle notes, and base notes appear after that.
So to keep smelling fresh, make sure to spray your perfume 20 minutes before you step out. The middle notes will eventually set in well and will last longer.
Avoid Rubbing your Perfume.
The most common mistake we make is spraying the perfume and then rubbing it. Make sure you avoid doing this. It does not in any way make your perfume smell differently.
Instead, it breaks down the densely packed molecules, which make the perfume lighter. This eventually makes it fade faster and can even cause allergies due to changes in the original formula.
Use Less Scented Skincare Products.
Yes, skincare is essential, and so is moisturizing your skin before applying scent. But if you want your perfume to last longer, make sure you apply fragrance-free moisturizer.
Stronger smelling skincare products often get mixed with the scent of the perfume, creating a different scent. This affects perfume’s original state, and it fades sooner than it would.
Store it Well
Storing your perfume in the right place maintains its actual concentration. This eventually makes it last longer. Keep cologne bottle away from direct sunlight in a cool dark place. This way, the perfume will be less likely to evaporate.
The heat of the direct sun rays can break perfume molecules, eventually making it lighter than air. So when stored properly, the longevity of the perfume rightly will surely increase.
Avoid Shaking your Scent
Most of us have a habit of shaking cologne bottles. But doing so will affect densely packed molecules that save the perfume from fading away.
Know that perfumes are designed to stand still. Shaking a cologne bottle frequently will increase the air bubbles in the bottle, eventually affecting its overall quality.
Conclusion
Next time you step out, make sure you follow these tips and see how your perfume stays long. Also, consider the atmospheric conditions and nature of your scent while investing in a perfume.
These things matter the most, and we are sure you don’t want to invest in any fragrance that will fade sooner or smell differently than you expected.
Hope these tips will make your perfumes last longer on your skin no matter where you go.
How Long Does a Bottle of Cologne Last
Maximo is the ideator behind Getastylehub.com. He graduated from the Grasse Institute of Perfumery (GIP) in France in the year 2003. His learnings in the field of perfumery have been immensely educative and helpful in creating new fragrances at a creative centre in Manhattan where Maximo works as a perfumer. He has a fine appreciation for incense’s art, and his colossal passion for perfumery reflects in his discussions. He has managed and led teams in his past working experience researching scents with its key clients.