When switching over to using a natural perfume, you may notice the scents fade more quickly than those made with synthetic fragrances. This is because store-bought perfumes are usually made with fragrances that contain chemicals like phthalates which help to prolong the life of the scent on the skin. However, they also come with a range of health implications when used over the long-term. Here are some ways to help prolong the scent of a natural perfume on your body for longer without having to turn to synthetic fragrances.

Synthetic fragrances last longer as the molecules are designed to maintain their scent, whereas natural scents will break down over the minutes and hours in which they are exposed to the light and air around them, revealing the many different notes as they evaporate.

One Seed, a natural perfume company, share how there are a few contributing factors as to why some natural perfumes last longer than others:

– Composition: A perfume that contains more deeper heavier (base) notes will generally last longer on the skin than one composed mainly of lighter, fresher notes

– Ingredients: The type of ingredients used and the extraction method of each of these (for example steam distilled vs CO2 extracted vs cold pressed etc.), can create great variations in the longevity of the finished product due to the variation in ingredient volatility. The more volatile an ingredient, the faster it will break down. The inclusion of natural isolates can also effect longevity, often extending the dry-down longer than what an essential oil can on its own. (Natural isolates are single molecule components of essential oils).

– Quality: The quality of the ingredients used has a significant impact not only on the quality and beauty of your natural perfume, but also on its staying power, depth and character

– Skill: A better-skilled perfumer will be able to compose a perfume that has greater staying power by utilising specific blending techniques, and by a greater understanding of ingredient properties

– Concentration: The higher the concentration, generally the longer your fragrance should last on your skin. Keep in mind that there is no exact standard concentration (only a general rule) within each segments, so you could find an eau de parfum in one brand is 10% concentration and 15% in another.

To make a natural perfume last longer, one way is to ensure that the perfume is able to connect with the skin, particularly pulse points, where it comes into contact with the warmth of your blood.

Below are a few other ways in which I’ve found particularly helpful in keeping my homemade natural perfume lasting longer throughout the day.

Before we get started in learning how to make perfume last longer on the skin – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!

Store the Perfume in a Cool, Dark, Dry Place

Heat, light, and humidity can break down natural fragrances like essential oils, and reduce the quality of the perfume. So instead, store the perfume bottle in a cool, dark, dry place away from windows and the bathroom (showering can produce a lot of steam, which creates humid temperatures and may cause the scents to evaporate more quickly).

Apply a Moisturiser Before Spraying

Oily skin will retain scents for longer, so if you’re someone with dry skin, apply some unscented natural moisturiser before applying the perfume.

Shower, then Spray

Right after taking a shower, spray on your perfume. The moisture on your skin will help to hold the scent for longer, and will prevent the perfume from staining any clothes or jewellery.

Don’t Rub Your Wrists Together

It’s a common practice among many to rub the wrists together after applying a perfume, in the hope that it will spread the fragrance and unlock the scent (I was one of these people for many years), but in reality it does the opposite.

Rubbing the perfume on your skin will break down the delicate top notes, causing them to evaporate more quickly and make the natural perfume disappear much faster. Instead, simply spray the perfume onto the skin and gently pat the wrists together or leave the perfume untouched.

Spray Certain Points on Your Body

Applying perfume to pulse points and warmer areas such as the wrists, the inside of your elbows, the neck, behind the ears, below the midriff area on your belly, behind the knees, or on the ankles and calves, will help diffuse the fragrance across your entire body. Just make sure not to spray all areas at once (it’ll be really overpowering), just a couple of spots will do.

Mix Your Perfume with a Moisturiser

So nothing goes to waste, mix the last bit of the perfume with an unscented moisturiser and apply that to your skin for a little extra fragrance.

Top-Up the Perfume During the Day

Spray some cotton balls or buds (these ones are eco-friendly) with your perfume and keep them in sandwich bags inside your handbag to use for quick touch-ups over the course of the day. It saves space (as a perfume bottle is much bigger) and can easily fit into your clutch.

Line Your Dresser Drawers

Line your drawers with tissue paper then spray them with a little perfume to make your clothes smell amazing.

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.

What’s your favourite perfume? Do you make your own? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa

Sources:

Shunatona, Brooke. (December 31, 2014). 19 Fragrance Hacks to Make You Smell Amazing All the Time. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved from https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a34783/fragrance-hacks/

Raidt, Dana. (November 11, 2016). 10 Ways To Make Your Own Perfume (And Make It Last). Hello Glow. Retrieved from https://helloglow.co/10-essential-ways-make-perfume-make-last/

Cook, Liz. (August 11, 2016). Make your natural perfume last longer. One Seed. Retrieved from https://oneseedperfumes.com/blogs/news/make-your-natural-perfume-last-longer

Serras, Leanna. (April 25, 2019). 15 Fragrance Hacks to Make Your Perfume Last Longer. FragranceX. Retrieved from https://www.fragrancex.com/blog/make-your-perfume-last-longer/

Rozwadowskav ,Frankie. (September 28, 2020). Vaseline (and 10 Other Surprising Tips) to Make Your Perfume Last Longer. Savoir Flair. Retrieved from https://www.savoirflair.com/beauty/111571/perfume-tips-how-to-make-fragrance-last-longer

Gordon, Kerri. (March 3, 2020). You Asked, We Answered: How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer. Mecca. Retrieved from https://www.mecca.com.au/the-mecca-memo/the-in-tray/make-fragrance-last-longer.html

Kwarteng, Ama. (January 21, 2021). How to Apply Perfume: 20 Tricks to Make Fragrance Last Longer. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved from https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a34783/fragrance-hacks/

Haddad, Mirella. Some Hacks to Make Your Perfume Last Longer. Azyaamode. Retrieved from https://www.azyaamode.com/en/some-hacks-to-make-your-perfume-last-longer

Makan, Sunil. (October 20, 2017). We asked an expert how to make perfume last longer. Marie Claire. Retrieved from https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/how-to-make-perfume-last-longer-415863

Hoff, Victoria. (Updated: March 29, 2020). 4 Common Perfume Mistakes, Plus How to Make Your Scent Last. Byrdie. Retrieved from https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-make-perfume-last-longer