London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 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

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×