Fragrance fades faster on some people than others, and it is rarely the fragrance's fault. Skin type, hydration and application technique account for most of the difference.

1. Moisturise first

The largest single factor. Dry skin holds fragrance poorly — scent molecules need oil to cling to, and dry skin gives them nothing.

An unscented body lotion or a plain oil on the areas you spray, applied before the fragrance, can double how long it lasts. If you have dry skin and fragrances vanish on you, this is your answer.

2. Apply to warm pulse points

Wrists, neck, base of the throat, behind the ears, inside the elbows. Warmth releases fragrance steadily through the day.

3. Apply straight after a shower

Warm, slightly damp, clean skin absorbs and holds fragrance better than cool dry skin later in the day.

4. Do not rub your wrists together

The single most common mistake. The friction and heat break down the top notes and accelerate the whole development. Spray and let it dry.

5. Use clothing and hair

Fabric holds fragrance far longer than skin — a scarf can carry it for days. Hair holds it well too, though spray onto a brush rather than directly, since alcohol is drying.

Be careful with delicate or pale fabrics, which can stain.

6. Choose the concentration deliberately

Eau de toilette, eau de parfum, parfum — increasing concentration and increasing longevity. If a fragrance you love fades, the same scent in a higher concentration is the simplest fix.

7. Layer

An unscented base product, or a matching body product from the same line, slows evaporation from underneath.

8. Store it properly

Heat, light and temperature swings degrade fragrance. A bathroom shelf is the worst place in the house. A cupboard, in the box, away from the window.

The one that is not your fault

Some people cannot smell certain musks — a documented specific anosmia. If your fragrance seems to vanish within an hour but other people say they can smell it, you may simply not perceive its base notes.

Before spending money solving a longevity problem, ask someone else whether they can still smell it.

What does not work

Spraying more. Past two or three sprays you are increasing projection, not duration, and the difference between pleasant and overwhelming is smaller than most people think.

For storage specifics, see the perfume section.