How to apply perfume so it lasts

You put on perfume in the morning and by lunchtime, nothing? It's not necessarily your perfume. It might be how you apply it. Where to put it, how, how much: here's the how-to for making it last all day.

Where should you put perfume?

On your pulse points. These are the areas where blood flows close to the skin: they're warmer, and warmth helps the perfume diffuse.

• The neck and the nape
• The wrists
• The inner elbows
• Behind the ears
• The chest
• Behind the knees, for a scent that rises as you walk

Bonus: the ends of your hair. Hair holds on to scents really well. With a spray, mist from a distance. With a roll-on, swipe it onto your fingers first, then onto the ends.

Roll-on: apply, then rub in

With an oil roll-on, it's the opposite of what you've always been told. Here, you rub it in.

1. Roll the ball over two or three pulse points.
2. Gently rub it in with your fingertips, or rub your wrists together.
3. Warmth wakes up the oil and reveals the perfume. It melts into your skin.

One or two applications a day are enough. Our extraits de parfum are concentrated at 30 to 38%: no need to pile on the layers.

Spray: mist, don't rub

With a spray, it's the other way around: no rubbing.

1. Hold the bottle 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) from your skin.
2. Spray once on your neck and once on each wrist. Three or four sprays are plenty.
3. Let it dry on its own. Rubbing heats up the top notes too fast and crushes their freshness.

5 tips to make it last longer

• Moisturize first: perfume clings better to nourished skin. Dry skin lets it evaporate. A body care product like L'Huile Vinaigrette before your perfume makes a real difference.
• Put on perfume right after your shower: your skin is clean, warm and still slightly damp.
• Layer the formats: a roll-on as your base, a spray on top. The oil holds, the alcohol projects. That's the whole idea behind layering.
• Take it with you: a 15ml roll-on fits in your pocket. A quick touch-up at lunch and you're good to go.
• Store it properly: away from light and heat. Not on the windowsill, not in a steamy, overheated bathroom.

“I can't smell my perfume anymore”: is that normal?

Yes. After a few minutes, your brain gets used to a smell and stops flagging it. It's called olfactory fatigue. Your perfume is still there: other people can smell it. Before adding another layer, ask someone for their opinion. We tell you all about it in Why can't I smell my perfume anymore?

Mistakes to avoid

• Putting on too much: a perfume should be discovered, not imposed.
• Putting on perfume in the sun: some materials can cause spots on sun-exposed skin. In summer, go for your clothes or hair on the areas that get sun.
• Testing on a scrap of paper: a perfume comes alive on skin. It reacts to your warmth and your skin. Test it on yourself, over a whole day.

The right perfume for the right moment

At Versatile, every perfume is a moment in life. Croissant Café for breakfast, Sea, Sud & Sun for happy hour, Dimanche Flemme for lazy Sundays (it's in the name). To find yours without making a mistake, start with a Discovery Box: you try them at home, and you get the price of the box back as a voucher (in France).

FAQ

Should you rub your perfume in?

It depends on the format. An oil roll-on, yes: rubbing warms it up and reveals it. An alcohol-based spray, no: let it dry on its own.

How many times a day should you put on perfume?

With an extrait, one application in the morning is often enough. Add a quick touch-up at the end of the day if you're going out in the evening.

Can you put perfume on your clothes?

A spray, yes, on fabrics that can handle it: the perfume lasts a long time there. An oil roll-on is best kept for your skin.