We've recently received a full re-stock from scent specialists Laboratory Perfumes. Included was a re-stock of the there first three scents (Amber, Gorse & Samphire). We also brought in their two newest scents, Tonka & Atlas. Tonka has notes of Peppercorn and Mandarin with fresh Vanilla and Tobacoo undertones. Atlas, named after the Moroccan mountains, has notes of Rum, Vanilla and Hay topped with Cinnamon, Ginger, Black Pepper with Woody Cognac top notes.
Before we get into how to prolong that smell, let's get a little scientific. The base of any fragrance you can buy will be the 'perfume essence', this is what actually makes the smell. This is a combination of essential oils (cedar wood, sandalwood etc), absolutes (jasmine, rose, etc.), animal extracts (musk, ambergris) and synthetic fragrance. There are four categories of fragrances, each with it's own characteristics. Perfume, Eau de Perfume, Eau de Toilette & Eau de Cologne. The main difference is the percentage of pure perfume extract in each type. Generally speaking, they have 15-40%, 10-20%, 4-15% and 2-5% of perfume extract, respectively. The more perfume extract a fragrance has, the longer it will last, but usually costs more.
Stay Away From Pulse Points
Most of us have heard at one time or another that the best place to apply a fragrance is on so-called ‘pulse points’. This refers to areas on the body where blood passes closest to the skin and are therefore warmer, such as on the wrists, throat or behind the ears. This is a no no for a couple reasons. Firstly, heat drives off a perfume faster. The more heat, the quicker the perfume will disappear. Secondly, these areas are the most exposed to the air and therefore the fragrance dissipates more quickly.
A much better technique is to activate your scent through movement. Applying directly to clothes helps fragrance linger. Apply a few spritz to the chest area (between your skin and clothes) to allow it to waft upwards and out of the neck of your shirt. Spritz straight onto tees and shirts and scent gets trapped between your layers, wafting out throughout the day. Also look to less hematic spots, like your forearms or the back of your neck, which release the scent more slowly.
Moisture
Ensuring the skin is well moisturised can add precious hours to the life of a scent, as can opting for more concentrated eau de toilettes which last longer than colognes or aftershaves. The drier your skin, the less it will hold onto a fragrance. But don’t be tempted to spray on straight out of the shower; the hot water elevates your skin temperature, which means your fragrance burns off faster. Try using a moisturiser lotion formulated for sensitive skin...but make sure it's scentless.
Storage
Where you stow your collection also plays a role. Store fragrances away from light, keep it cool, and avoid temperature changes. If it resides on your bathroom shelf then heat, moisture and light will gang up on its chemicals, breaking down the constituent ingredients. Which means it stops smelling like it should and won’t last as long. Your best bet is to stow your scents in a drawer in your bedroom instead. If you really want to take care of your fragrance, keep them in the fridge.
