How to Make Your Cologne Last Much Longer?

So you've found a cologne or unisex scent that you love. But once you find the right scent, you'll probably wonder: How do you make cologne last longer? Like, as much as you can?

“I think Americans are a little less knowledgeable about proper application of fragrance,” said Matt Moore, co-owner of Austin-based EastWest Bottlers. Men's Magazine. “Big scents that are animalistic – musk-based, wood-based or Oud-based – often leave a much stronger mark or trace; when you pass someone or exit the elevator, that scent is still there.” This trace is called sillage, a French word meaning “waking.” “Most Americans don't want strong sillage,” he continued. “They don't want it to be too strong, but they want it to be reflected. If I get this close to you, I'll be like, 'Wow, what are you wearing?' you will say. ”

Şahina Ibrahim, founder of UK-based Nuhr Home, which specializes in oud fragrances, adds: “Think of it this way: Europeans like to make a statement, while Americans like more subtle whispers of scent. Oud is like the marathon runner of the fragrance world. It just keeps going and going.” “While floral and citrus scents are very pleasant, they smell more like sprinters and fade quicker.”

Related: The 5 Best Colognes for Men to Wear Not for Men

Cologne vs. Eau de Parfum vs. Eau de Toilette

Fragrance concentrations also affect how long a scent lasts. Generally speaking, eau de parfum contains 15 to 20 percent perfume oil and lasts 5 to 8 hours. Eau de Toilette contains less oil (5 to 15 percent) and lasts 3 to 4 hours. Cologne, on the other hand, contains 2 to 4 percent perfume oil and lasts only two hours.

One of the most important ways to increase concentration? Go for alcohol-based fragrances. “They last longer and reflect better because the alcohol helps spread the scent,” Ibrahim said. “Non-alcoholic scents are gentler on the skin but can be a little shy. “They won't be able to make the same grand entrance.” (So ​​if you have skin that gets irritated easily, you may want to give up alcohol.)

Now that you know the basics of how fragrances work, what are the do's and don'ts?

Fragrance concentration is determined by whether you use cologne, eau de parfum or eau de toilette.

Cristi Ursea/Unsplash

Dos and Don'ts: How to Make Cologne Last Longer

Apply perfume after shower

“I always tell people you want to be clean,” Moore says. She also recommends applying a fragrance-free moisturizer. “The humidity will help the scent really come through. “If your skin is very, very dry, it's like the body is absorbing it somehow and the scent itself won't give you the same effect.”

APPLY to multiple pulse points

“Pulse points are basically your body's VIP areas for cologne,” Ibrahim said. “It is perfect behind the ear, on the wrist, inside the elbow and behind the knee. The heat from these areas helps spread your scent. Applying it to your chest and neck also works wonders, but let's not overdo it. You don't want to be the person everyone smells from a mile away.”

EastWest's colognes do not have atomizers, instead they use the splash method which aids application.

But don't rub it

“Sometimes people rub their wrists together and that really changes the formulation of the scent,” says Moore. “You actually start to incorporate the skin's oils into the scent, and we want the scent to sit almost at the top.”

Ibrahim likens rubbing the wrists together to “shaking a soda can before opening it.” He says: “It overwhelms the top notes and ruins the scent.”

Moore even recommends wearing jewelry made of wood, stone or something absorbent. “Wearing them throughout the day and warming up your body depending on your activity will also help with the scent project.”

Related: $18 Cologne on Amazon Competing Fragrances Are 10 Times the Price

Spray the scent on your clothes

“This is completely appropriate,” Moore says. “If you spray it on your neck area and put it on a T-shirt the next morning, it brings back a good memory like, 'Wow, that's a warm scent that I really like,' and then you reapply it and keep moving forward.”

However, Ibrahim is divided on the issue of applying fragrance to clothes. “The scent works best when it's on the skin, where it can mix with your natural oils and body heat,” she says. “Spraying directly on clothes can sometimes alter the scent and potentially leave marks.” But walking into a scent cloud can also help.

“If you like the idea of ​​a scent cloud, go ahead and step into it,” she adds. “It will give you a lighter, more even application.”

Don't store fragrances in the bathroom or in your car

“The bathroom will often be one of the worst places, as many people have brighter light. [in the bathroom]points out Moore. “You want to keep it out of sunlight. You also have a lot of humidity, which changes when you shower.

“Smells are a bit like vampires; they hate sunlight,” adds Ibrahim. “Keep them in a cool, dark place, such as a drawer or cabinet, away from heat and light.”

Moore suggests a slightly different location. “My dad had a bottle of Polo Green in his wardrobe, and we created a fragrance that comes in a green bottle for my brand called Sportsman,” he says. “The closet is the perfect place to store scents because it's away from light, too much moisture, and temperature differences.”

So what's the worst place to hide your scent? Your vehicle. “Don't leave your perfume in the car unless you want a melted fragrance bottle,” says Ibrahim.

Don't overdo it

Whether you choose a heavier, Oud-based scent or a lighter scent, layering scents creates projection. For example, EastWest's acclaimed Moonshine has notes of black pepper, and Moore recommends layering it with a black pepper-scented lotion.

But the most important tip is about implementation. “Don't cover yourself with perfume,” says Ibrahim. “More is not always better. Sometimes less is more, especially when your scent does a great job on its own. Overspraying is a common rookie move. “This was supposed to be an accent, not an alarm bell.”

Related: The 13 Best Men's Colognes of 2024

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