Have you ever sprayed your favourite perfume, only to find the scent has disappeared after a couple of hours? It is common for fragrances with light, fresh notes to disappear faster than fragrances with heavier oriental, floral or woody notes. However, the longevity of your fragrance is not just dependent on its composition – it’s also largely dependent on how you use it. So whether you’re looking for top tips to get the best out of your favourite perfume or want a cologne that lasts all day long, these tips are super to help.
Follow these simple tips to ensure you get the most out of your fragrance and increase its longevity:
Know your EDT from your EDP
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Most fragrances are either an “EDT” – eau de toilette, or an “EDP” – eau de parfum. An eau de toilette typically contains around 8-15% fragrance oil which lasts around 4-6 hours, in comparison to an eau de parfum which typically contains 15-30% fragrance oil and can last up to 8-10 hours. An eau de parfum therefore has a higher concentration of fragrance oil, meaning it will typically last longer on the skin. If you prefer not to reapply your fragrance during the day, then an eau de parfum is your best option, as it typically lasts for most of the day.
For him, try: Mercedes Benz Sign Eau de Parfum (R,1895 for 100ml). A fougere oriental, this fragrance features top notes of cardamom and pink peppercorn, heart notes of aromatic lavender, orange blossom, rose geranium and base notes of tonka bean, white musk and cashmere.
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For her, try: Mercedes Benz For Woman Eau De Parfum (R1,495 for 60ml). It’s an enchanting, luxurious, unexpected fragrance created to accentuate and exalt a woman’s personality with a rich, sophisticated accord composed of sandalwood, vanilla, musk and cashmere woods.
Moisturise your skin
Moisturised skin holds onto fragrance a lot longer than drier skin. To make your scent last longer, we recommend applying a fragrance-free body lotion all over before you spritz on your fragrance.
Apply your fragrance after a shower
The steam from a shower helps open the aroma of your fragrance: When you get out of the shower, your skin and body temperature is high, and heat helps diffuse fragrance. In addition, clean post-shower skin is free from sweat, oil and impurities which can interfere with your fragrance.
Layer your fragrance
If you have a shower gel or scented body lotion or oil of the same scent as your fragrance, then layering these products will increase the longevity of your fragrance, and may also enhance your fragrance.
Love an uplifting scent? Layer your fragrance with Superdry Re:Vive Body+Hair Wash (R95.99) and Superdry Re:Vive Body Spray (R79.99). Invigorating and zesty, this duo is powered by notes of cardamom and lemon.
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Prefer a marine-inspired scent? Try Superdry’s Pacific Men’s Body+Hair Wash (R95.99) and Pacific Men’s Body Spray (R79.99) features oceanic citrus marine notes and masculine mineral depths for a fresh, marine-inspired scent.
Don’t rub your wrists together
If you apply fragrance to your wrists, you may feel an instinctual urge to rub them together, but in doing this, you can make the top notes disappear faster. Not only does this affect the fragrance’s longevity, but it also alters its scent.
Store your fragrance correctly
Exposure to light and heat can chemically alter your fragrance. Maintain its scent and longevity by storing your fragrance correctly. Store your fragrance in a cool and dark place. As tempting as it is to keep it on your dressing table, exposure to sunlight and humidity can cause unwanted chemical reactions to occur. We recommend keeping it in its original bottle, in a drawer or cupboard not too close to a bathroom where it can be exposed to steam.
Apply to your pulse points
Experts recommend applying fragrance to your pulse points as your skin is the thinnest at these points, meaning the veins are closer to the skin, making these areas warmer. Essentially, pulse points are like mini radiators, and heat helps diffuse fragrance. Pulse points are found on the insides of your wrists and elbows, behind your ears, on your neck and the back of your knees. A few sprays of a good EDP on the wrists are all you need for all-day fragrance.
Don’t spray regular perfume on your hair
The temptation to spray perfume on your hair is very real – after all, it holds fragrance longer than skin does. But most fragrances have a high alcohol percentage, and alcohol is dehydrating. Because dryness and dehydration are such common hair concerns, it’s best to avoid spraying your fragrance in your hair. Instead, opt for a hair mist or hair perfume. Formulated without drying alcohol, hair perfume is safe to use and won’t damage or dry your hair.
Try Curls In Bloom Hair Perfume (R69.95). A light and nourishing formula that delicately scents the hair with green apples, lily of the valley and sandalwood, it also fights frizz, leaving hair soft and nourished throughout the day.
