Let your fragrance turn heads with 7 ways to maximise your perfume scent

It's one thing finding your perfect scent, be it woody or even floral, but it's another minefield trying to make sure it will keep its strength throughout the day.

But fret not, here are some simple hacks to help you keep your beloved aroma alive.

1. Before applying any fragrance, make sure your skin is properly moisturised with a body lotion, Vaseline or body oil. Fragrance holds better and lasts longer on skin that’s properly moisturised.
2. Create a unique scent bubble by layering spicy scents with citrus, soft floral or watery profiles to customise your scent as well as elevate or soften heady fragrances. Apply one spritz of the spicy scent and then layer two spritzes of the lighter scent directly afterwards. This will prevent the heavy scent from overwhelming the lighter one and form a more complementary profile and layer.
3. Do not rub or press wrists together after applying fragrance — rather spritz and leave it to air-dry for a truer representation of the scent. Rubbing after application mixes the fragrance molecules with your skin’s natural oils and can obscure the scent.
4. Always go for an EDP (eau de parfum) if you want a scent that is long-lasting and slightly heavier. EDPs typically contain a higher concentration of oils (around 10-30% fragrance oil) than EDTs (eau de toilettes), giving them their long-wearing quality. Apply an EDP directly after taking a shower when the skin is still warm and damp, to create the optimum conditions for the fragrance to be fully absorbed.
5. Try three-layer scenting by starting with a heavy, heady scent as the base and creating a second layer by choosing a warm or soft floral scent. Finish off with a fresh, zesty scent as the third layer.
6. Switch things up by applying two or three fragrances on different parts of the body — you don’t always have to layer them on top of each other. Try applying a fresh scent to the wrists and neck and then a spicy scent to the chest and behind the ears, to create a subtle halo of scent around you.
7. Practise moderation when applying spicy scents to avoid overwhelming your nose and those around you. Create an impact by reserving heavy fragrances with a more spicy or heady profile for the evenings or warmer days when you need longer wear and more of a scent trail.