So you’ve found a cologne, or unisex fragrance, that you love. But after finding the right scent, you’ll probably wonder: How to make cologne last longer? Like, as long as you possibly can?
“I think Americans are a little less informed on the proper application of fragrance,” Matt Moore, co-owner of the Austin-based EastWest Bottlers, told Men’s Journal. “Big fragrances that are animalistic—musk-based, wood-based, or Oud-based—are typically going to have a much stronger wake or trail, where you walk by somebody or you leave an elevator and that scent is still there.” That trail is called sillage, a French word that translates to “wake.” “Most Americans do not want a strong sillage,” he continued. “They don’t want it to be overpowering, but they do want it to project. If I’m that close to you, you’re going to say, ‘Oh wow, what are you wearing?’ ”
Sahina Ibrahim, the 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 are more about 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 lovely, they’re more like sprinters, fading away sooner.”
Related: 5 Best Colognes for Men to Wear Now Aren’t Made for Men
Cologne vs. Eau de Parfum vs. Eau de Toilette
Fragrance concentrations also factor into how long a scent will last. Generally speaking, eau de parfum contains 15 to 20 percent perfume oil and lasts 5 to 8 hours. Eau de toilette has 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 only lasts two hours.
One of the key ways to boost concentration? Turn to alcohol-based fragrances. “They last longer and project better because alcohol helps distribute the scent,” Ibrahim said. “Alcohol-free fragrances are gentler on the skin but can be a bit shy. They won’t make quite the same grand entrance.” (So if you have easily irritated skin, you might want to pass up the alcohol.)
Now that you know the basics of how fragrances work, what are a few dos and don’ts?
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Dos and Don’ts: How to Make Cologne Last Longer
DO apply the fragrance after a shower
“I always tell people that you want to be clean,” Moore says. He also recommends applying a non-fragrant moisturizer. “Moisture is going to help that fragrance really project. If your skin is very, very dry, it’s almost like the body kind of absorbs it and the fragrance itself is just going to not give you that same projection.”
DO apply to multiple pulse points
“Pulse points are basically your body’s VIP areas for cologne,” Ibrahim said. “Behind the ears, wrists, inside the elbows, and behind the knees are perfect. The heat from these areas helps your scent radiate. Applying to your chest and neck works wonders, too, but let’s not overdo it. You don’t want to be the person everyone smells from a mile away.”
EastWest’s colognes don’t have an atomizer but instead use the splash method, which helps with the application.
But DON’T rub it in
“Sometimes people rub their wrists together, and that’s really going to change the formulation of the fragrance,” Moore says. “You’re actually starting to incorporate the oils of the skin into the fragrance, and we want the fragrance to almost sit on top.”
Ibrahim compares rubbing the wrists together to “shaking a soda can before opening it.” She says: “It crushes the top notes and messes with the scent.”
Moore recommends even wearing jewelry made of wood, stones, or something absorbent. “As you wear those throughout the day and as your body heats up depending on your activity, that will also help the scent project.”
Related: This $18 Cologne on Amazon Rivals Fragrances 10X the Price
DO spray the scent on your clothes
“It’s totally appropriate,” Moore says. “If you spray on your neck area and the next morning you put a T-shirt on, you get that beautiful recall of, ‘Wow, that’s a warm scent that I just absolutely love,’ and then you reapply and move forward.”
However, Ibrahim is split on applying scents to clothes. “Fragrance works best when it’s on the skin, where it can mingle with your natural oils and body heat,” she says. “Spraying it directly on clothes can sometimes alter the scent and potentially leave marks.” But walking into a scent cloud can work, too.
“If you love the idea of a scent cloud, go ahead and step into it,” she adds. “It’ll give you a lighter, more even application.”
DON’T store the fragrances in the bathroom—or your car
“The bathroom is usually going to be one of your worst places due to the fact that a lot of folks have brighter light [in the bathroom],” Moore notes. “You want to keep it out of sunlight. You also have a lot of humidity that’s varying by showering.”
“Fragrances are a bit like vampires—they hate sunlight,” Ibrahim adds. “Keep them in a cool, dark place, like a drawer or cupboard, away from heat or light.”
Moore suggests a slightly different place. “My father kept a bottle of Polo Green in his wardrobe, and we created a scent for my brand called Sportsman that comes in a green bottle,” he says. “The wardrobe itself is the perfect place to keep fragrances because it’s away from light, a lot of humidity, and temperature variances.”
But the worst place to keep your fragrance? Your vehicle. “Don’t leave your perfume in the car unless you fancy a melted fragrance bottle,” Ibrahim says.
DON’T overdo it
Whether you choose a heavier, Oud-based fragrance or something lighter, layering the scents provides projection. For instance, 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 concerns the application. “Don’t drench yourself in perfume,” Ibrahim says. “More isn’t always better. Sometimes less is more, especially when your scent is doing a great job on its own. Over-spraying is a common rookie move. It’s supposed to be an accent, not an alarm bell.”
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Author: Garin Pirnia
