Finding your signature scent is a magical moment and a rite of passage. But even when you’ve finally settled on the fragrance that defines your essence—or at least the essence that defines the current chapter of your life, anyway—its not unusual to notice that it doesn’t linger as long as you would like. Sure, it could just be the fact that your nose naturally adjusts. Or, it could also be because you aren’t applying it correctly in the first place.
That’s right: It’s entirely possible to do something as seemingly simple as spraying perfume wrong. In fact, there are several factors that can adversely influence how long your perfume lasts—and applying it incorrectly is a big one. To help us all get it right once and for all, we asked fragrance experts Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm to share what they know about fixing this common mistake.
After all, the two perfumers—who have created fragrances for Armani, Burberry, Gucci, and more—are well known in the industry for creating memorable, unique scents that linger. Case in point: the duo’s latest concoction, Yves Saint Laurent’s Libre Flowers & Flames, which manages to smell sun-kissed, creamy, and spicy all at once. Like the original Libre scent, it contains orange blossom, lavender, and vanilla, but smells completely distinct thanks to accords of tropical coco palm tree flower and desert lily—which is known for its vibrant, solar scent. “In Libre Flowers & Flames, desert lily is really in the spotlight. It’s the star, so to speak, of this composition,” enthuses Flipo. “We were impressed by its majestic scent; it’s very warm and sensual.”
It also has a lot of staying power, which Benaïm says embodies nature’s adaptability and tenacity: “This flower blooms in extreme climatic conditions, very high temperatures and very little water. This resilience is reflected in the intensity and depth of their scent. It’s almost intoxicating.”
Of course, even with a fragrance so striking, the question of how to keep it that way will inevitably arise. Below, Flipo and Benaïm share their pro tips for how to make perfume last longer by applying it correctly. As Yves Saint Laurent himself put it: “Perfume is the indispensable complement to the personality of women.”
5 tips to make your scent last longer
1. Store it properly
First thing first: Perfume doesn’t belong in the bathroom! “Heat and humidity can change the scent molecules,” explains Flipo. Instead, she recommends keeping it in a cool, dark place like a chest of drawers in the bedroom or on your nightstand away from direct sun.
2. Don’t rub
This is major—and we’ve all done it. In truth, most people make the mistake of rubbing perfume into their skin after spraying. “This makes the top notes disappear more quickly,” says Benaïm. Instead, he recommends simply spraying the perfume onto your skin and letting it absorb on its own “so it develops more intensively and more individually.”
3. Spray in the right places
Perfume lasts longer when it’s sprayed on the so-called pulse points like wrists, behind the ears, or on the inside of the elbows. “These warm areas of the body intensify the scent and make it feel stronger,” says Flipo.
4. Layer fragrance
“Layering different scents is a great trick to make the scent more personal and intense,” reveals Benaïm. “This allows you to customize your perfume depending on your mood and occasion.” Try a scented body lotion or deodorant along with your usual eau de parfum.
5. Choose the right form
More and more brands are offering fragrances in different forms from body mists to solids, making them easy to stash in your purse. “These are handy for on-the-go and help to intensify the scent throughout the day,” notes Flipo.