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4 tricks to making your fragrance last all day...and beyond

Feel like your fragrance has faded to nothing by the time you even get into the office? Getting a scent to linger is easier than you might think when you follow a few simple strategies.Treat your fragrances like...beer?It might sound odd, but even the finest flacons of perfume are a little like bottles of beer — at least in how you should store them. Just as a lager can turn 'skunky' after being
how to make fragrance last
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Feel like your fragrance has faded to nothing by the time you even get into the office? Getting a scent to linger is easier than you might think when you follow a few simple strategies.

Treat your fragrances like...beer?
It might sound odd, but even the finest flacons of perfume are a little like bottles of beer — at least in how you should store them. Just as a lager can turn 'skunky' after being exposed to light and heat, fragrance too can oxidize and lose its familiar notes. Prevent changes in composition by storing your favorite scents in a dark, cool place instead of out in the open. “The most basic tip for storing fragrances is to keep them in their original boxes,” shares Lee-Ann Hodgekins, founder of the website, The Perfume Expert. “Not only is the packaging for perfume just as beautiful as the bottles, but being in the box will keep the perfume safe from exposure to sunlight.” The best possible option? Stash them in the fridge. If that's not practical, though, place them in a drawer, or in a room, closet, or area of your home that may constantly be air-conditioned or naturally tends to be much colder.

Learn your fragrance's strengths and weaknesses
“The first thing to know about the longevity of a fragrance is to understand the strength of the perfume oils used to create it,” says Hodgekins. If you’ve finally found a signature scent, consider splurging on the least-diluted (read: most expensive) formulation of it, which will give you the most staying-power throughout the day and require just a drop rather than several spritzes. “Perfume has the highest concentration of oils, followed by an eau de parfum, then an eau de toilette, which has the lowest concentration of oil and a higher ratio of water and alcohol,” Hodgekins explains.  

Get creative with where you spritz
“Spraying in your hair or clothing lightly is great for a haze of scent, and it seems to hang onto both longer than skin,’’ says Patty White, founder of the fragrance review site Perfume Posse. Pulse points (areas such as the neck, the back of the knees and wrists) emanate more heat than some other parts of the body and help to diffuse the scent throughout the day. But be aware of costume jewelry, as the alloy could interact with the perfume, causing the metals to rub off onto the skin.  

Pile it on with purpose
Lotions, creams, rollerballs, deodorant, bath gels, hair mists ... most major fragrances come in a variety of different forms. If you master the art of layering them, a before-work application of your scent could last long into the night. “Perfume needs layers and something to hold onto," says White. The more skin you cover with a fragrance, the longer the smell will last. The cheapest way to achieve this potentially pricey goal? Gift sets, which sometimes include an assortment of ancillary fragrance products for around the same price as a bottle alone.

Julia DiNardo is a fashion and beauty expert residing in New York City who pens the blog Fashion Pulse Daily. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.