Why Your Perfume Loses Its Longevity and How to Make It Last Again

Reasons for Perfume Loss of Longevity

Why Your Perfume Loses Its Longevity and How to Make It Last Again

The longevity of perfumes on the skin varies from person to person, but what factors influence this? Is it related to skin type or the perfume's composition?

To answer these questions, we must return to the perfume-making process, which involves three stages. It begins with the top notes, which we smell first and are the most volatile, fading after a few minutes. Next come the heart notes, which take longer to disappear, and finally the base notes, which are the most persistent. 

The fragrance's longevity is also affected by its family. Some fragrances, like the hesperidin family (which includes citrus), have a fleeting scent, while woody, oriental, and amber notes ensure that the fragrance lasts longer.

Longevity Related to Skin Type

Tests indicate that moisturized skin helps perfume last better. Therefore, it is recommended to apply a moisturizer before applying perfume. Ideally, this moisturizer should be unscented or from the same fragrance family as the perfume. 

It's worth noting that skin that produces a lot of sebum retains fragrance better. This is because most fragrance notes have an oily formula, making them more compatible with oily skin.

Other Influencing Factors

Research into how different skin types react to fragrance is still in its early stages. This is why many variations in fragrance perception remain unexplained, and it may explain why some perfumes smell different on different skin types. 

Another factor affecting fragrance longevity is that some large fragrance molecules reduce its staying power. Therefore, experts recommend testing a perfume before buying it to see how it develops on the skin. Climate can also affect fragrance longevity. When it's very hot, volatile fragrance notes evaporate more quickly, and very humid weather alters the way a fragrance diffuses, making it less noticeable.

Why Can't I Smell My Perfume Anymore?

Many people complain that they can no longer smell their own perfume, while those around them can. This phenomenon is called olfactory adaptation.

This is a natural and common brain reaction. Once the brain detects a scent as harmless, it signals the nose to ignore it and focus on other scents to remain alert in case of danger. This is a simplified explanation of how our olfactory system works. This phenomenon occurs when we become accustomed to a particular fragrance, and the brain begins to classify it as a normal scent, shifting its focus away from it to other things.

The fragrance we use daily becomes a personal scent for our brains. The brain recognizes this scent very quickly and stops responding to it, not because the fragrance has lost its effectiveness, but simply because our brain has come to consider it familiar.

Steps to smell your fragrance again:

Some steps can help you smell the fragrance you are used to.

• Change your application method: If you usually spray perfume on pulse points, try spraying it in a fragrant mist around you. This will diffuse the scent and make it more noticeable.

Alternating between two fragrances: Using two fragrances alternately helps prevent developing a dependence on a single scent.

You can also use products from the same fragrance family but in different concentrations, such as a scented cream instead of eau de parfum or a concentrated perfume instead of eau de toilette. This alternation will enhance the fragrance's scent. Additionally, using a shower gel and body lotion in the same fragrance range helps maintain and intensify its aroma.