Huge Mistakes Everyone Makes When Applying Perfume

While applying perfume isn't exactly rocket science, there are a few ways that you can make the most of your scent. When it comes to application, it can either make or break your product's staying power. The scent of your perfume should last you at least a few hours, so if you're noticing that your fragrance has faded within an hour or so, it's time to look at your application technique. Especially since perfumes can cost above $50 these days, it's worth your while to spritz with care.

For starters, the type of perfume you purchase will impact its staying power. For instance, Cosmopolitan explains that eau de perfumes last longer and contain a much more concentrated scent. Eau de toilettes on the other hand come more diluted — limiting their lasting time to three hours as opposed to eau de perfume's five. Essentially, the ratio of perfume to alcohol makes up this categorization, so finding the right product in the first place will save you headaches down the road.

Once you've found the right scent and ratio for you, make sure your body is moisturized with a non-scented body oil, the outlet suggests. Plus, your clothes are able to hold onto scents for longer than your skin, making it a wise choice to lightly spritz your outfit before you head out; it may even stay after a few trips through the wash, making your signature scent just that.

Spraying your wrists and dabbing them together may be what's zapping your scent quicker than you think. Byrdie explains that heat is the agent that spreads your fragrance, meaning that your ankles, wrists, the back of your knees, and your neck are all perfect spots to apply perfume. Cosmo even recommends dabbing some on the tops of your ears because the skin in this area contains the lowest amount of oil. But, rubbing your wrists together actually breaks down the perfume, making it less and less noticeable, so if you spritz this point, let it dry on its own.

Once you've found the right places to spray, make sure that your fragrance has the staying power you want. Lighter scents such as citrus and florals don't contain the same ingredients as more intense fragrance notes that are woodsy or Oriental, per Byrdie. So, if you bought the former, make sure you take extra care to moisturize your skin and apply to heat-generating spots on your body.

Lastly, store your scent with care. If your expensive perfume stands in a sticky, humid place like your medicine cabinet or in your bathroom, the heat can break down the compounds within the liquid. You also want to steer clear of exposing your bottles to direct sunlight, Real Simple notes, so find a shady area like your dresser or desk to display your perfume. Byrdie recommends to keep your bottles far away from air systems like heating or cooling apparatuses as well.