| Sometimes, you find the perfect perfume, but it has | | | | can also carry an eau de toilette purse spray or roll-on |
| one serious flaw. After a few hours, the fragrance has | | | | oil to refresh the scent after a few hours. |
| disappeared as though you had never put it on! What | | | | What if your favorite perfume doesn't come in body |
| can you do to make your perfume last a little longer | | | | care products? You can make your own by adding |
| (and be worth the price of the bottle?) | | | | designer fragrance concentrates to unscented |
| First, here's a little background about what makes | | | | products. The designer oils are not from the original |
| perfume smell. If the perfume never evaporated, we'd | | | | perfume manufacturer, but made by a separate |
| never smell it! The scent molecules evaporate and | | | | company to be a close - if not exact - match for the |
| perfume the air around us, where our sensitive noses | | | | perfume. Most people cannot tell the difference |
| detect the scent. Different components of the | | | | between them and "the real thing," and it is often the |
| perfume evaporate at different rates, which means | | | | only way you will be able to get lotion, shower gel, and |
| that the perfume will change over time. (This is also | | | | other products in your favorite designer scent. |
| called "volatility.") | | | | You'd be amazed at how many are available, and |
| Why are some perfumes longer lasting than others? | | | | most of them are indistinguishable from the "real thing." |
| Why do some stay on other people, but not on you? | | | | Small or specialty brands, such as Demeter, are not |
| The volatility of fragrances also depends on the | | | | available, but almost every modern popular perfume is. |
| wearer. Body temperature, weather, and skin dryness | | | | Thousands of perfumes have high-quality duplications |
| affect how fast your perfume launches off your skin. | | | | for you to use. |
| People with oilier skin retain fragrance longer than | | | | To scent your own products is simple. If you can |
| people with dry skin. The oil binds the fragrance to the | | | | make your own ice cream sundaes, you can add |
| skin and results in a more controlled release of scent | | | | scent to a basic lotion. Unscented products can be |
| over time. On dry-skinned people, the fragrance tends | | | | found in health food stores, such as Whole Foods and |
| to bounce right off. Redheads or pale blondes with dry | | | | Wild Oats, and drug stores like CVS. You can even |
| skin have more problems with perfume longevity than | | | | make scented shampoo and conditioner! The good |
| most. | | | | news is that unscented products are usually good |
| If this describes you, try applying perfume to the oiliest | | | | quality because they are for people with skin |
| parts of your body. Since everyone is different, you will | | | | sensitivities. |
| have to experiment and see what works best for you. | | | | Start with a few drops in a small amount of lotion, and |
| For women, between the breasts is an excellent place | | | | increase the strength as you like it. It's a good idea to |
| for perfume. The hairline is also good for many people, | | | | buy a few empty travel-sized containers so you can |
| but it may clash with the scent of your hair care | | | | experiment. If you add too much fragrance, your |
| products. | | | | product may separate or thin out. Don't worry if this |
| Also, do not put your fragrance on immediately after | | | | happens - it's still good! |
| you get out of the shower. The heat, soap, and water | | | | Just shake it up or add more unscented product to |
| strip away your skin's natural oils. Try using a body | | | | dilute it. 1% is usually the limit for products such as |
| lotion first, and give your skin time to recover its | | | | shampoo or body wash before they start thinning; you |
| moisture balance. This will give the perfume something | | | | usually can't add more than 1% concentrated |
| to latch on to. | | | | fragrance to any product that washes or bubbles. 1 |
| Layering perfume with different products in the same | | | | 2% is the recommended amount. |
| fragrance helps to seal in the scent. If you start with | | | | Remember, though, that perfume is a cosmetic. It's only |
| body wash and lotion underneath your perfume, it may | | | | temporary, and no matter what you do, it will |
| control and slow the release of the fragrance. You | | | | eventually evaporate completely. Enjoy it while it lasts! |