Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

How to Properly Apply Perfume So It Will Last All Day Long

How to Properly Apply Perfume So It Will Last All Day Long

Where you spray is everything.

Getting a hint of your perfume during the day is one of the few simple pleasures we can enjoy these days. However, having to get up and reapply your favorite fragrance every hour isn't exactly ideal.

Thankfully, there are several ways to ensure your scent lasts all day. But whether or not you're applying it correctly in the first place has a lot to do with how long it will stay put.

That's why we reached out to a handful of master perfumers to get their expert insight on how to properly spray on your go-to perfumes, so you'll only have to do it once.

All of their best tips, ahead.

Apply Fragrance Directly to Skin


“Perfume is designed to interact with your own body’s chemistry and the warmth from your body,” explains Ixchel Leigh, a 40-year and counting master perfumer, founder of Artisan Parfums, and author of the fragrance anthology, Aromatic Alchemy.

In other words, to apply fragrance anywhere other than onto skin directly actually disrupts and works against how the formulation was built and intended to be used.

“How long the scent lasts on your skin is dependent on the perfume and how dry your skin is," Gerard Camme, president of the fragrance house, Atelier Cologne adds. "If your skin is dry, the scent will fade more quickly. So if you want it to last longer, moisturize prior to application." This is exactly why everything smells more fragrant (for better or worse) in the summer.

Avoid the Mist-and-Walk


We’re all guilty of the mist-and-walk-through strategy at one time or another, which Leigh considers not only an absolute waste, but can also impact the surrounding furniture or decor.

“With spritzing perfumes into the air, it will also drop onto your clothes and the floor or furniture and can stain from the residue,” she cautions. “I’m not a fan of spraying it in your hair either, particularly if your fragrance is in alcohol, because it dries the hair.”

So let’s all agree to stop spraying expensive things into thin air.

Focus on Pulse Points


“Pulse points are the warmest parts of your body and heat lends to the dry down process and helps to emit the scent," says Camme.

The wrists and neck are the go-to spots for most people, but there are also plenty of other lesser-known pulse points on your body that will maximize the perfume’s intensity and longevity. Camme suggests giving your elbow creases and behind the knees a whirl, while Leigh reminds us of the sneaky pulse points behind the ear, in the hollow of the throat (near the clavicle) and abdomen above the pubic bone. But definitely skip areas with broken or sensitive skin, as perfume may be irritating.

With all the spots to choose from, “it’s up to people to decide for themselves,” says David Moltz, perfumer and co-founder of D.S. & Durga, who personally prefers applying fragrance to the top of the wrist, “where there’s a little hair,” to help the scent last.

Above all, abide by the golden rule: “Do you,” he says. “If you apply somewhere once and don’t like it, don’t do it again. Like anything else.”



Resist Rubbing


Perhaps the biggest faux pas - and most widely used - of perfume application is spritzing and then rubbing the wrists together.

“We suggest to never do this,” explains Gerard. "[Instead,] allow the fragrance to dry down naturally. You won’t crush the top notes, but rather you will allow the layers of fragrance to properly play their role.”

But if you don’t have the patience to let it dry on its own, Moltz recommends gently tapping any excess on another easy pulse point, like the neck.

Don't Overdo It


Putting on the right amount is a challenge for everyone. And if you’ve ever wondered why perfume prices have quite the range, it’s because they contain different levels of fragrance concentration, meaning they will have a different intensity when applied. So pay attention to how your fragrance is named and labeled, as that will indicate how much to apply and how often.

Fragrances with a “perfume” label have the highest fragrance concentration, followed by eau de parfum and lastly, eau de toilette, the lightest variety, explains Laura Slatkin, founder of NEST New York. The more concentrated the fragrance, the longer it will last and the less you’ll need to apply.

A true perfume should only need two spritzes tops, while an eau de toilette is “more like a body splash to be applied more liberally,” explains Bee Shapiro, founder of Ellis Brooklyn. For the in-between eau de parfum, trust your nose, but don’t get too spritz-happy, anywhere in the three-to-four pump range should be plenty.

Be Careful with Layering


Dry shampoo, lotions, and oils are often dripping with super sweet fragrance, which can accidentally distort your pricey perfume - in a negative way!

Swap the outlying fragrance-based products for unscented varieties so you (and everyone around you) experience the fragrance exactly as you intended.

You Probably Don't Need to Re-Apply That Often


“Perfumes are meant to tantalize someone close to you, not to stay for hours in the air after you’re gone - that is invasive perfumery!” jokes Leigh, who adds in that when we wear a fragrance regularly, we become nose blind to it.

Although if you applied in the morning and then worked out or sweated a bit throughout the day, it wouldn’t be overwhelming to re-apply using less than you did in the morning to that same location.

However, when shopping for a new perfume, it’s important to remember that every fragrance’s intensity will fade as the day wears on, so “don’t be attached to the first 10 minutes of a fragrance,” says Moltz.

“Hopefully the perfumer created a blend to take you on a journey that is interesting after those 10 minutes are gone," the expert continues. "Respray it later in the day if you want to relive the top notes, but like most things, subtly is a sign of good taste.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
×