How to make your favourite fragrance last all day

There's nothing worse than leaving your house smelling absolutely amazing...and coming back smelling like AIR! After all of the money you've spent and searching far and wide for your signature scent (or maybe just something you really like), i'm sure you want it to last all day.

Concentration

The concentration of a scent determines how long it will last. Eau de Toilette's are the most common concentration but also the weakest. You'll find yourself smelling like absolutely nothing after just a couple hours, and spraying more to compensate. If you've read 'Finding Your Signature Scent', you'll already know that Eau de Parfums and Parfums are my top recommendation! These are the strongest and a few spritz' will last all day and sometimes even into the next.

Hygiene

Every good scent, starts with a shower! What you may think is an obvious rule of thumb, surprisingly isn’t, but masking body odour - even with the best perfume- is never a good idea.

Starting in the shower, I actually wouldn't recommend a fragranced soap, as this should be the step that you strip back and create a blank canvas. The extra fragrance can compromise and confuse the scent of your chosen fragrance, but If you MUST use something scented, let it be something plain and neutral like a fresh linen or vanilla scent. Proceed with a moisturiser AND body oil as they give your perfume a base to hold onto, but they also provide a really nice glow! My go to combination is Palmers fragrance free cocoa butter moisturiser, paired with the Aveeno body oil spray.

Options

Speaking of bases, The “vaseline trick” is age old for a reason. Like your moisturiser, vaseline creates a base for your scent to hold onto and last. Rub some on your pulse points (neck, behind the ears and wrists) and let it dry naturally. Do not rub it in as this can break down the fragrance and it will wear off quicker. Aside from spraying on your skin, spraying directly on your clothes is common but not recommended. This can cause oil staining which may not come out upon washing, but if you absolutely insist, there are safer ways. You can spray into the air and walk through the fragrance cloud, or go a step above and pour some of your chosen fragrance into the water of your iron or steamer! I know this sounds...absurd, but trust me. This way, you're literally locking the scent into your clothes without ruining the fabric.

Solid perfumes in the form of balms and gels, are a great as they last a long time. This is the same concept as the Vaseline trick but even better! It works best when applied to your pulse points, and the warmth of your body in those spots will help the scent to diffuse throughout the day for long-lasting wear.

Hair perfumes and scented oils are also a great investment! They're basically normal perfumes, just designed with less alcohol to avoid damaging your hair. This is a great layer to add to your routine (although a little extra!), but it's very easy to go wrong by choosing the wrong scent. Like the hygiene step, choose a scent that is either neutral or exactly the same as the fragrance you're already wearing.