It’s one thing to give yourself a good spritz in the morning, but having to maintain that scent throughout the day is an entirely different ball game. You have a whole day of work ahead of you, and then a night out come evening; do you really want to stash a fragile perfume bottle in your purse just to be certain you smell your best tonight?

This may sound like a simple nuisance at worst, but such hassles can pile up. You have to find the time and place to reapply your fragrance, hopefully without catching anyone else in the crossfire; not to mention you’re risking bringing it out and about in the first place. That, and the fact that reapplying the fragrance throughout the day only means running out of it that much faster.

But we all probably frequent the web enough to know that when we’re faced with inconveniences, we turn to the magic of life hacks. These expert fragrance hacks will have you smelling better for longer, and increase the lifespan of both your products and your scent of the day. Here’s how to apply perfume correctly for ultimate longevity.

#1: Know what lasts

Our first hack is actually just some helpful knowledge—certain fragrance notes simply have longer lives than others. Fruity and floral base notes are typically airier, and will fade more quickly than heavier, headier bases.

As a general rule of thumb, woody scents and musks go a long way. If you still want a lighter scent overall, try fragrances that have base notes of sandalwood or freesia. They’re fresh enough to maintain the alacrity of a fragrance, but just heavy enough to hold everything together for the day.

#2: Apply to moisturized skin

Products in general have a harder time soaking into dried out skin. Apply your fragrance just after you’ve stepped out of the shower and toweled off. The remaining moisture on your skin will lock in the fragrance—just make sure you wait for it to dry before putting any clothes on!

Alternatively, you can apply it right after applying lotion. Use an unscented lotion if you don’t want it to affect the fragrance. That’s not to say you can’t have some fun with scented moisturizers as well, but we’ll get to that!

3: Lock it in with Vaseline

Is there anything Vaseline can’t do? We’ve previously covered how and where you should be aiming your fragrances; at your pulse points, your body emanates enough heat to diffuse the product throughout the day.

If you want to go the extra mile, though, try priming those targets with a bit of petroleum jelly. A light coating will provide some heat insulation to keep things nice and toasty, and capture your fragrance with some extra moisture.

#4: Harmonize your scents

By layering different scented products like lotions and shampoos, you can alter the air and strength of your fragrance in exciting new ways. Using contrasting, complementary notes can actually give you a whole new scent altogether, a method we’ve covered in detail.

Alternatively, you can use a similar method to instead power your main fragrance. By using products that are just close enough to your chosen perfume, you can give the fragrance a boost and keep its notes lingering longer.

#5: Go straight to the source

If you have the good stuff, don’t waste it! Once you reach the bottom of the bottle and can’t even get a spritz out of it, it’s time to open that baby up. You may have to do some prying, but then you can take those last few drops and dab it directly onto your skin.

Remember, though, this is a last resort. Introducing your perfume to the air shortens its lifespan, so you only want to risk doing that once it’s down to the wire.

#6: Slash and spray

Here’s a fun tip straight from the perfume counter. Women’s blog Mamamia divulged some fragrance flogger secrets to readers, and revealed that we’ve all been applying our perfume wrong. Not in the wrong place, or at the wrong time—what we’ve been doing wrong for so long has been the motion, or the lack thereof.

Think of how you’re instructed to apply a makeup setting spray: you spray it while moving the bottle in an X or cross over your skin. Otherwise, you’d just get a single wet blotch centered on your face.

Perfume should be applied in a similar manner, ‘slashing’ it across your inner elbow or wrist from a distance. The more surface area the fragrance gets, the more your body heat can diffuse!

Keep it going all night long

Now that you know some insider tips, you can invest in your favorite fragrances without fear of them wearing off halfway through the day. No harm, no hassle; just smelling great without limits.Your knowledge regarding using and buying fragrance is ever-growing, and we at ScentBox would love to accompany you on your aromatic adventure! Just one monthly subscription for all the designer fragrances you’d ever need, delivered straight to your door. Subscribe today with the freedom to cancel any time, and we’ll also give you the freedom to smell as great as you want, for as long as you want.