We’ve done lots of tests & a popular hack to make perfume last longer actually does the opposite – our method is better

IF you're fed up with having your favorite fragrance fade fast, a perfume pro's surprising tricks will give your scent staying power.

The proof is in the way perfume will linger for a longer period of time.

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GET A WHIFF OF THAT

Lisa Hipgrave, the Head of Fragrance at Diem Scents and Director of the International Fragrance Association, has set out to debunk a popular hack.

"At Diem, we’ve carried out many tests and have found that Vaseline actually inhibits the smell of fragrances," she said.

She also recognizes that not everyone responds to products in the same way.

"But all skin is different so maybe it will work for some!" she said.

Hipgrave, who has been in the industry for 25 years, also knows that some things in life are all about timing - and that includes perfume application.

"The optimum time to spray would be post-shower and after moisturizing - in fact, I’d recommend waiting until just before you head out the door," she said.

There was a method to her misting madness.

"Ethanol, while it’s a great carrier and helps fragrance evaporate, tends to dry out the skin, so make sure you’re well-moisturized," she said.

SPRAY ALL DAY

Getting the best-smelling results also comes down to pulse points.

"Pulse points tend to be warmer and it's the warmth of the skin that affects evaporation the most. The hotter you are the quicker it will disperse," she said.

This is because natural body heat slowly releases perfume ingredients.

Other fragrance-lasting factors to consider include the weather as well as how much clothing and air will be exposed to a particular area.

"If a fragrance is applied on the neck, for example, it's fairly warm, but also fairly sheltered - detectable when you lean in for a kiss!" she said.

If you want your scent to linger longer, simply layer.

"This can be done by using a body wash, lotion, or oil with the same or similar scent before applying your perfume or cologne," she said.

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"Not only does this help in prolonging the fragrance, but it also means you're enveloped in a more dimensional scent," she added.

Because evaporation is what gives fragrances the ability to be smelled, the more you use, the stronger it will stay, according to Hipgrave.

"Where it’s applied will either help the fragrance last longer or help it evaporate faster," she said.

"Applying a fragrance in the right way allows for optimum evaporation and therefore they can be smelled for much longer," she continued.

PERFUME PERFECTION

Still, how you perfume is a personal choice.

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"Some like to apply the fragrance by spraying their head, shoulders, and chest - this envelopes them in the smell," she said.

"But, as it's so thinly spread out, it may not last quite as long as applying to say the lower arms or wrists."

Overall, she said that there is no correct way to spritz yourself.

Just remember that you can't go wrong with re-applying.

You might not even be aware of how well others detect your scent.

"Remember that your brain actively blocks out its surroundings so you may not be able to smell the fragrance when others can," she said.

This is similar to when you go into someone's home and can pick up on an odor they are most likely immune to.