6 Ways To Make the Most Out Of Your Perfume

While your fragrance bottle may look beautiful on the vanity that sits under your bedroom window, that’s possibly one of the worst places you can keep it. Your bathroom counter is pretty bad, too. 

See, elements like heat, light and humidity (like the kind created from your morning shower) can break down your perfume, which will affect the intensity and quality of the scent, meaning you’re not getting the best result. 

So where is the best place to store your Balenciaga EDP? A cool, dry place that’s out of direct sunlight is going to be your best bet – so if your vanity sits far away from your window, you’re good to keep your fragrance there.

If you’re spritzing you’re favourite evening scent just as you’re about to head out the door, you’re doing it wrong. 

The best time to spray your perfume is just after your bath or shower when your skin is still a little damp (but not too wet). The scent will adhere to the moisture in your skin, meaning those notes will stay more fragrant for longer.

On the note of moisture, your skin will be able to hold onto those notes a lot more if it’s nourished and hydrated. Perfume will evaporate quicker off drier skin, so make sure your limbs are sufficiently moisturised by using a body lotion or cream regularly.

Most of us tend to spray our perfume on our wrists and neck, but there are certain areas to spritz your scent that will actually enhance the fragrance (and make sure it sticks around for a bit longer). 

‘Warmer’ areas of your body are more moist, and as you’ve learnt, moisture helps lock in your fragrance, so it’s a good idea to target your spraying to these areas. 

Besides your neck and wrists (your pulse points), you can also try spraying your perfume behind your ears, on the insides of your elbows, and even behind your knees. It sounds bizarre, but try it and you’ll notice a difference in how long your perfume lasts! 

Your hair will also hold onto the scent quite well, but if you’re concerned about the alcohol in your perfume drying out your hair, you can try a hair mist. 

Layering your fragrance can help you make the most of your fragrance in two ways: you can use body washes, body lotions and body oils featuring the same notes as your perfume to enhance improve the longevity of your scent, or you can get creative and use different perfumes and scented non-perfumes to create your own unique scent. 

TOP TIP: If you’re unsure about mixing scents, try spritzing them on perfume blotter first to see how they work together.

None of us want to throw out what seems like a perfectly good perfume, but notes that have been compromised are not going to leave you smelling as alluring as you’d like. 

So how do you know when to throw out your fragrance? Well, if you’ve had your perfume for more than five years, it’s probably a good idea to bin it. Besides that, take note of the colour of your perfume. If it’s different to what it was when you started using it, chances are it’s off. Another sign to look for is if the scent is slightly off – whether it’s a bit musty or vinegary, any change in the notes mean your fragrance is on the downhill.  

TOP TIP: The more empty space in the bottle, the quicker your scent will oxidise and turn, so if you switch between scents quite often, always buy smaller bottles.