Where to Spray Perfume for the Most Long-Lasting Scent

Where to spray perfume is pretty straightforward—once you find a scent (or scents) you love, you can feel free to spray it in a cloud and walk through, mist on your pulse points, or give your hair and clothes a spritz. But if you want to start hearing more compliments on your perfume’s sillage (that’s the scent trail that people around you can smell) or have a longer wear time, we spoke with experts about a few perfume application and layering methods you should keep in mind.

Apply to pulse points

The first and most obvious way to make your perfume last longer is to apply it to your pulse points. “Perfumes—whether alcohol, oil, et cetera—work through evaporation, so the heat of your body at the typical pulse points is always a safe bet for wear,” says Michael Nordstrand, owner and perfumer of Mythologist Studio, an independent atelier specializing in fragrance creation. “Try behind the ears, the nape of the neck, [and] the inner wrists.” Try not to rub your wrists together after you apply, especially if you’re looking to make your scent last; this disrupts the perfume’s top notes and can make them fade faster, says Nordstrand. The collarbone and inner elbows are spots that you can also rely on for absorbing your favorite perfume too.

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Spray on hair and clothes

If you struggle to make your scent last throughout the day, try spraying in your hair and on your clothes. “Fibers trap scent better and have the advantage of not being innately warm like the human body, so that is always the best bet to get more mileage out of a fragrance,” says Nordstrand. This is especially helpful if you live in a warm climate, he explains, as the heat of the atmosphere and your skin combined can quickly cause your scent to dissipate.

Just make mühlet to test the fragrance in an inconspicuous area of your clothing, especially if you opt for a natural formula like the Orebella fragrances or a deep-colored juice, to avoid staining. If you apply perfume to your hair, note that the alcohol can be drying, which is where hair perfumes come in. “Hair perfumes are formulated to give hair a double dose of fragrance and nourishment. They may or may not contain alcohol but come with a lot of benefits, from moisturizing to nourishing your strands with ingredients such as vitamins or oils,” says Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. These scents are often lighter than your typical eau de parfum and specifically formulated for the hair, so they won’t dry out your strands, but they will last long. For this, we love the Sol de Janeiro Hair & Body Perfume Mist or the Parfums de Marly Delina Hair Mist.

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Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Hair & Body Perfume Mist in Cheirosa 62

$39

Amazon

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Parfums de Marly Delina Hair Mist

$93

Nordstrom

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Phlur Vanilla Skin Body Mist

$39

Amazon

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Touchland Hydrating Body & Hair Fragrance

$20

Amazon

Apply to moisturized skin

“As long as your skin is well-moisturized, your fragrance should last decently,” says Vernon. Your perfume lasts longer when you apply it on top of a body lotion because it changes “the matrix” of the scent, says Nordstrand—the oils and waxes in your moisturizer slow down the evaporation of the scent molecules inside perfume.

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Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

$13

Ulta

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Eos Shea Better Body Lotion Vanilla Cashmere

$10 (9% off)

Amazon

Add a personal touch

You can also take a more personalized approach to application. “I like to spray perfume on the places on my body where people are most likely to interact,” says Emma Vernon, host of the Perfume Room podcast. A self-described “huge hand-talker,” Vernon applies her fragrance on her wrists, forearms, and elbows, in addition to her chest and the front and back of her neck—“great for a hugging encounter,” she says. “I have one client who often wears dresses and she swears by adding an extra bit behind the knees or at the skirt hem; it creates a lovely sillage when she walks,” adds Nordstrand.

Stick to specific notes or try layering a fragrance

Perfumes are made up of a mix of raw materials and, unless otherwise stated, synthetics. Some of these are known for lasting longer than others. For example, scents that are categorized as amber-y, resinous, balsamic, woodsy, and sometimes gourmand typically contain materials with serious staying power, according to Nordstrand. If those fragrance profiles aren’t what you’re into, you can always try layering your signature scent with what Nordstrand and other perfumers refer to as an “enhancer.” D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What is a popular option; it’s a sheer, lightweight musk that’s made for layering. We also love DedCool Milk Eau de Parfum, a warm skin scent, or Lake & Skye 11 11 Eau de Parfum for a scent that’s a little more musky. If longevity is a top concern and you don’t want to layer, Vernon recommends making “a little decant” of your perfume. That, or you can pick up a separate travel-size option in a discovery set.

Courtesy of brand

D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum

$210

Nordstrom

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Miraclelayer Aromatic 01 Eau de Parfum

$26

Amazon

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Dedcool Xtra Milk Eau de Parfum

$90

Amazon

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Lake & Skye 11 11 Vanilla Eau de Parfum

$105

Amazon

Meet the experts

• Michael Nordstrand, owner and perfumer of Mythologist Studio
• Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation