How To Apply Perfume for More Compliments & Longer-Lasting Scent

Another tip worth noting: 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 Michael.

Add a personal touch

You can also take a more personalised approach to application. “I like to spray perfume in the places on my body where people are most likely to interact,” explains Emma.

A self-described “huge hand-talker,” Emma 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,” Michael adds.

Apply to moisturised skin

In the same way that your foundation sits better when it’s applied over primer, your perfume lasts longer when it can cling to moisturise on your skin’s surface. “As long as your skin is well-moisturised, your fragrance should last decently,” says Emma Vernon, host of the Perfume Room podcast. This is because the oils and waxes in your moisturiser slow down the evaporation of the scent molecules inside perfume, adds Michael.

You can match the scent of a body lotion or oil with that of your perfume to boost its effect, or mix and match to create your own signature.