Whether you’re someone who wears a fragrance every day or only on special occasions, finding a signature scent (or five if you’re anything like us) can be a lengthy and expensive process of trial and error. To ensure this time, effort and cost aren’t lost, read on as MECCA Fragrance Education Manager, Laura Curtis, and CEO of Agence de Parfum, Nick Smart explains to us how to best care for our fragrances and how to know when their time is up.
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How long does perfume last?
Depending on the type of fragrance (parfum, Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne), Laura explains that “generally speaking, when stored correctly, a fragrance should last between 2-3 years.”
“You will know when your perfume has expired – or, in fragrance terminology, has “turned” – when it changes colour, the texture thickens, or it smells quite different to the way it smelled when you first purchased it. That said, there is a vintage fragrance industry where people collect and wear “matured” fragrances that are decades old. It’s often quite safe to wear a fragrance that has “expired” – it will just smell different to the way it once did, like a fine wine. It depends on your preference!”
How to make your perfume last longer
Though Laura knows how tempting it can be to show off a few beautiful bottles of perfume on a bathroom counter or windowsill, “heat and light are the enemies of fragrance” as they cause the ingredients to oxidise more quickly. Instead, she recommends “storing perfumes in cool, dark places like drawers, wardrobes, cupboards or, if you’re really fragrance-savvy, in the fridge.” Echoing this, Nick notes that with consistent care and storage somewhere cool like a wine cellar, some fragrances can last up to six years!
When caring for your perfumes, sunlight and humidity aren’t the only things to watch out for – oxidation within the bottle can also wreak havoc. Buying smaller sizes is a great way to limit the time your fragrance is exposed to air like it would be in a larger bottle.
Which perfumes last the longest?
If we’re talking about wear time, fragrances with higher oil content and lower alcohol content will last the longest on the skin but expire more quickly, while a fragrance with higher alcohol content and lower oil content will last longer in the bottle and shorter on the skin. This is because alcohol is a preservative and prevents a fragrance’s aromatic molecules from evaporating within the bottle but also limits the skin’s ability to absorb them.
- Eau de cologne – the lightest fragrance blend that will last longest in the bottle. An eau de cologne usually lasts three to four hours on the skin and contains 2% fragrance oil—a good choice for those wanting a light fragrance that doesn’t linger on clothing.
- Eau de toilette – the most common fragrance type for everyday wear. An eau de toilette will last between four and six hours on the skin and three to four years in the bottle with good care. Eau de toilettes usually contain 6-8% fragrance oil.
- Eau de parfum – a higher concentrated fragrance that will last all day. Eau de parfums are typically more expensive than eau de toilettes and eau de colognes as they contain between 10-15% fragrance oil.
- Parfum – the longest lasting and most luxurious fragrance blend that can last up to 48 hours on the skin. A parfum contains between 15-20% fragrance oil and only 80-85% alcohol, so it usually turns within two or so years.
As well as selecting a fragrance type that will last for years, Nick and Laura explain that selecting certain fragrance families can extend the life of your bottle even further. According to Nick, “Orientals and Woody Orientals (that are rich in resinoids like Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin, Incense and Oud) last the longest.”. Laura similarly claims, “Citrus notes can be more volatile, whereas woody or ambery notes are more stable.”
If you like the longevity of eau de toilettes and eau de colognes but wish they lasted longer on the skin, switching up the way you spray can make all the difference. Our skin loves to absorb moisture and oils which is why fragrances higher in oil can still be smelled days after their application. To mimic this, a great trick to extend the scent of a fragrance higher in alcohol is to layer it over moisturiser or body oil or apply it onto damp skin after showering.
As we explained earlier, heat and perfumes do not mix. Despite the popular instruction to apply perfume on pulse points, doing so can cause the top notes to evaporate too soon and reveal the stronger heart and base notes before they have had time to settle. Instead, try limiting your application to cooler areas like the elbows, chest and behind the knees.
Now that you’re an expert on applying and storing fragrances, why not expand your collection? Read on to discover the scents the perfume junkies at Caviar Feeling are loving.
MAISON MARGIELA – Under The Lemon Tree
Fragrance family: citrus, fresh
An invigorating unisex scent that is perfect for summer (or days when we wish it still was). Designed to evoke the fragrant lemon fields of Italy, this light, fresh and bright scent is suitable for everyday wear and can be sprayed liberally.
Top notes: Calamansi Accord (Panamanian Citrus), Petitgrain Essence (oil extracted from the leaves and roots of bitter orange) and Cardamom Essence
Heart notes: Coriander Essence, Green Tea Extract and Mate Absolute (an oil extract with a fresh matcha and faint tobacco scent)
Base notes: Cedarwood Essence, Musk and Citrus Absolute
Price: 10ml – $47.00, 30ml – $90.00, 100ml – $185.00
DIPTYQUE – Orphéon EDP
Fragrance family: floral, woody
An olfactory tribute to 1960s Paris and the many nights the Diptyque founders spent in their favourite jazz bar, Orphéon. This intoxicating fragrance has been formulated to conjure the smells of wooden dance floors, tobacco, alcohol and the heady, powdered makeup used by artists’ muses and actresses.
Unlike most fragrances, Diptyque eau de parfums tend to retain their top and heart notes without fading away to a base note. Orphéon is no different and presents a complex blend of fresh Juniper berry, warm tonka bean, cedarwood, jasmine and tobacco that doesn’t shift over time.
Price: 75ml – $243.00
CLIVE CHRISTIAN – Matsukita
Fragrance family: woody, oriental, subtly floral
A luxurious fragrance based on an 1892 release from the brand that was inspired by the beauty and mystique of a visiting Japanese Princess. The original, alluring scent has been reimagined for 2021 while still retaining its fresh, woody and a spicy complexity. With a 25% oil concentration, Matsukita is a powerful fragrance that will entrance long after you have left the room.
Top Notes: Green Bergamot, Bitter Orange Oil, Clary Sage Oil, Frankincense Oil, Pink Pepper, Black Pepper and Nutmeg Oil
Heart Notes: Mate Absolute (an oil extract with a fresh matcha and faint tobacco scent), Jasmine Sambac (a strong Asian species of Jasmine), Fresh Jasmine, Rose Absolute, Rose, Magnolia, Guaiac Oil (an oil distilled from Palo Santo), Cade Oil and Styrax (a sweet, woody smelling Japanese shrub)
Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Cedarwood Oil, Vetiver Oil, Patchouli Oil, Cypriol Oil, Georgywood (a clean, woody scented synthetic compound), Akigalawood (a spicy, floral scented synthetic compound), Fir Balsam absolute and Oakmoss
Price: 100ml – $598
MATIERE PREMIERE – Radical Rose
Fragrance family: floral, rose, subtly woody
Formulated by seventh generation perfumier, Aurélien Guichard from roses organically grown in his family farm in Grasse, France, Radical Rose has a luxurious rose scent made richer with saffron, pepper berries and Indonesian patchouli essence. Deliciously fresh, warm and high in oil, Radical Rose will linger on the skin all day.
Top Notes: Saffron, Pepper Berries
Heart Notes: Rose Centifolia (a Dutch hybrid rose bred for its large petals and strong scent)
Base Notes: Cistus Labdanum (a luxurious, amber smelling flower) and Patchouli Essence
Price: 100ml – $339.00
GRANDIFLORA – Saskia
Fragrance family: floral, fresh
A light, fresh fragrance inspired by the aroma of world-renowned florist Saskia Havekes’ Potts Point store and the shifting beauty of natural scents. Formulated to fade slowly and allow each note to group its own time in the spotlight, Saskia will take you on a journey to the world’s most fragrant gardens that lasts all day.
Top notes: Ginger, Pink Pepper, Violet Leaves, Tasmanian Myrtle and Water Hyacinth
Heart notes: Gardenia Petals, Flowershop Accord, Petrichor and Ylang Ylang
Base notes: Tasmanian Boronia Leaves, Immortelle, Oakmoss and French Mimosa
Price: 50ml – $195.00
L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR – Passage D’Enfer EDT
Fragrance family: woody, dry
French for ‘passage to Hell’, Passage D’Enfer is a complex scent inspired by fire, incense and the end of the 20th century. Lily, rose, and musk sweetens the fragrance’s smokiness, while frankincense and amber provide warmth and the sense of tranquillity of incense. Spray in the morning for a softly seductive aroma that will last all day.
Top notes: Rose and Ginger
Heart notes: Lily, Cedarwood, Aloe and Frankincense
Base notes: Sandalwood, Benzoin (a sweet, spicy scented tree resin) and White Musk
Price: 100ml – $216
MANCERA – Midnight Gold
Fragrance Family: woody, fresh, citrus
A bright and intriguing unisex scent that reminds us of cool summer evenings. With a fresh citrus opening that shifts into a green woody base throughout wear, Midnight sun is perfect for everyday and can be reapplied to layer fragrance notes.
Top notes: Cardamom, Rosemary, Mandarin, Lime, Neroli and Black Pepper.
Heart notes: Leaves of Patchouli, Cedar and Turkish Rose.
Base notes: Intense Amber, Oakmoss, Nepalese Oud and White Musk
Price: 60ml – $133.00, 120ml – $210.00
MAISON CRIVELLI – Osmanthe Kōdoshān
Fragrance family: fruity, leather, subtly woody
All of Maison Crivelli’s delicious fragrances are designed to mimic experiences and after spritzing Osmanthe Kōdoshān, wearers are transported to a flower topped mountain shrouded in mist. Delicate and complex, this fragrance is suitable for everyday and will intrigue those around you without overpowering you.
Similar to Diptyque’s single layered fragrances, Osmanthe Kōdoshān is made from a small selection of ingredients that pleasantly contrast but don’t shift. These ingredients are Star Anise Essential Oil, Sichuan Pepper Essential Oil, Osmanthus Absolute (a fruity smelling plant extract), Black Tea Absolute, Patchouli Essential Oil, Tobacco Absolute, Cistus Absolute and Leather
Price: 30ml – $180.00, 100ml – $280.00
We hope this helps you to select, wear and care for your fragrances in ways you both deserve. Enjoy smelling your best!
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