Skin, longevity and storage

Getting the most out of your perfume

Fisfis Academy · 10 min read ·

Skin, longevity and storage

What you will learn

  • Distinguish between longevity, sillage and projection.
  • Apply perfume in a way that improves longevity.
  • Store perfume so that it keeps well for a long time.
Longevity
How long the scent remains noticeable on the skin.
Sillage
The scent trail you leave behind; how much the scent can be noticed when you walk into a room.
Projection
How far the scent reaches from your skin; whether people near you notice it.
Warm areas such as the neck help the scent spread; a fine mist gives a more even application than dabbing it on drop by drop.
Warm areas such as the neck help the scent spread; a fine mist gives a more even application than dabbing it on drop by drop.

Application

  • Moisturized skin holds scent better. Using an unscented moisturizer after a shower can improve longevity.
  • Warm areas such as the neck, inner wrists and inner elbows help the scent spread.
  • Not rubbing your wrists together is generally recommended; the friction can speed up the opening and change how the scent develops.
  • Perfume applied to fabric lasts longer, but some materials can stain; be careful with delicate fabrics.

Storage

The same bottles: on a sunny, warm windowsill they are doomed to spoil; in a cool, dark drawer they can keep for years.
The same bottles: on a sunny, warm windowsill they are doomed to spoil; in a cool, dark drawer they can keep for years.

Perfume's three enemies are light, heat and oxygen. Keep the bottle in its box or in a dark, cool cupboard. Bathrooms, where temperature and humidity keep changing, are not ideal. Under the right conditions many perfumes keep well for years; fresh, citrus-led scents, however, usually change sooner.

Protects perfume

  • In its box or in a closed, dark cupboard
  • A cool, steady temperature
  • A tightly capped bottle
  • A bottle with little air space left

Spoils perfume

  • Direct sunlight
  • A warm, humid bathroom
  • Places with changing temperatures, like a car glove box
  • Half-empty bottles that are opened and closed often

Key points

  • Longevity is duration, sillage is the trail you leave behind, and projection is how far the scent reaches from your skin.
  • Moisturized skin and warm areas support longevity and sillage; rubbing your wrists can change how the scent develops.
  • Light, heat and oxygen are perfume's enemies; a cool, dark place is best.
  • If redness or itching appears, stop using it.

Sources

  • Charles S. Sell (ed.), The Chemistry of Fragrances, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2nd ed., 2006.
  • Tony Curtis & David G. Williams, Introduction to Perfumery, Micelle Press, 2nd ed., 2001.