Make Cologne Last All Day
Never before has there been such an array of scents and it’s not only the ladies who are benefiting. These days anyone dressing to impress or just get through the day includes a splash of something smelly. Whether you have your favorite cologne that has become part of your identity or prefer to act the butterfly and match how you smell to your outfit, here’s how to keep your cologne smelling as nice all day.
Choose A Wood Inspired Scent
If you want to make it last longer, make sure it’s strong enough. Many colognes feature heavy, stronger scents, but those with woody tones, such as patchouli, cedar or juniper seem to last longer. Others include spices such as ginger, clove and nutmeg.
For a scent that lasts all day choose perfume or parfum that contains more oil. The oil sticks on your skin and releases scent compound slowly. Eau de toilette sprays don’t contain anywhere near the same amount of oils and many use a cheaper alcohol base that means the scent evaporates fast. The very low priced sprays tend to be water-based and only last a couple of hours.
Use It After You Shower
You’re not doing yourself any favors by leaving your cologne as a last-minute item. The best time to apply it is immediately after a shower when your pores are open to collect the cologne. Apply cologne to warm skin for a longer-lasting aroma.
Apply To Moisturized Skin
Another great tip is to moisturize before you spray. The oils in the moisturizer trap the scent molecules to your skin like the oils, for a slower release.
Layer Your Fragrance
Guys often wonder why there are so many fragrances with corresponding aftershaves, soaps and body balms. These complementary products help complete the scented man package by getting rid of competing aromas. Layering your fragrance creates greater depth and intensity which lasts longer.
Spray Your Pulse Points
You can make your cologne last by applying it to pulse points which are behind the ears, inside the elbows, at the base of the throat and behind the knees. These areas are the warmest spots on the body and the heat encourages the steady release of more of the scent molecules.
Don’t Use An Expired Cologne
Perhaps you have wondered why your cologne isn’t smelling like your cologne. It could be because it has expired. If it is composed of natural ingredients the cologne will have a best before date but even the most expensive oil-packed perfume in the world will go off eventually.
Can’t find an expiration date on the bottle? Don’t worry instead check the consistency and color. Colognes, toilette sprays and perfumes that have gone bad become cloudy then dark and syrupy.
Remember To Mist Your Hair
Picking the right cologne and spraying the right areas helps make it last longer, but you can extend the time even further by spritzing your hair. Since hair is porous, the scent lingers even longer than on the skin. Some people worry about causing brittle hair or scalp dryness because most colognes are alcohol-based but these days, there are many alcohol-free alternatives. Spray it onto your comb.
Apply Again If Necessary
Even when you do everything right your cologne can dissipate quickly in warm rooms and enclosed cars or even outdoors in hot weather. The only solution is to reapply, at least to your pulse points which is why pocket or purse size cologne bottles are handy for reapplying on the go. Look out for free one-shot samples at perfume counters.
There are certain bad habits left over from the old days that contribute to scents not lasting. These include
- Rubbing wrists after applying perfume or perfume. Experts say not to because it bruises the scent and makes it disappear much faster.
- Over-applying thinking the scent will last longer. How much you put doesn’t really affect the rate of dissipation. Instead, it adds to the intensity and can be overwhelming for the people around you.
- Spraying directly on your clothes. The clothing already carries a lot of different aromas, from your own body scent to detergent and smells in the environment. A direct hit to your jacket or shirt isn’t going to make it last longer. It just adds to the cacophony.
- Keeping your cologne in the bathroom. For colognes to keep they have to be at a constant temperature and have been formulated to work most effectively when kept at room temperature. Humidity and direct sunlight trigger the break down of compounds, and if left uncapped, it doesn’t take long for them to breakdown completely and dry up or evaporate.
Perfumery has been considered an art form for centuries. Nothing said wealth and power like having enough money to smell nice, except for being able to come away. For ladies, gifts of perfumes and colognes have long conjured up dreams of love and romance and escape to exotic places. We feel good when we smell nice. If you doubt it, try no bathing for a while. If you have a nose for such things, smelling good could become a passion with a hefty price tag. It’s tempting to keep that expensive bottle on the shelf but this really is a case of use it or lose it. Decent cologne is not best left for best but best used wisely. To get the best from your scent, spray your pulse points and comb your hair.
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