How to Make Fragrance Last Longer in Summer: A Paris Perfumer’s Top Tips

The fun of summer fades all too quickly—ice-cream cones, midday sun, steamy sunsets—but there’s no reason your fragrance need be on that list. Still, if you feel like your morning mist of perfume hasn’t been lasting as long as it does in the cooler months, you may be right. “Heat and humidity enhance natural sweat that destroys fragrances,” explains master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. Luckily, the debonair Parisian says there’s plenty we can do to combat the elements and keep scent fresh all day long—starting with the format of the fragrance itself. “It’s better to use an eau de parfum instead of an eau de toilette, or the most concentrated version of the line,” says Kurkdjian, who also advises the use of perfumed oils for longer-lasting aroma.

Next, consider your bouquet. “Citrus notes fade very quickly, though they are the most refreshing,” Kurkdjian says. Instead, he suggests, go for strong florals, Asian amber, and Middle Eastern ouds—scents born in hot climes and tested through the centuries. “The hotter the temperature in a country,” he explains, “the stronger and heavier the scent is.” (Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s own Baccarat Rouge 540, Grand Soir, or the Oud collection are all summer-friendly choices.)

Once you have the right fragrance in hand, consider the canvas. Kurkdjian explains that dry skin doesn’t hold scent well, so keep hydrated and treat the skin with deeply moisturizing lotions, even when the humidity is high. Next, mist skin like a pro: “Spray on the pulse points—the back of the neck and both sides of the carotids, the neckline, and the wrist,” he advises, “because it is where the skin is the thinnest.”

To give your fragrance extra staying power, Kurkdjian advises spraying directly on your clothing: “My preference is for cotton and linen, natural fibers that help air to circulate and skin to breathe.” Another great carrier for scent is hair; a light spray will cling to strands for hours. And wash your delicates and bathing suits with your favorite scented liquid for an extra layer of fragrance that lasts all day—heat wave or not.

 

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