What can I do to make my perfume last more than 10 minutes? I’ve put it on over powder and that doesn’t seem to help. I’ve sprayed it in my hair but that doesn’t help either.
The only way I can get it to last is to put too much on, but I don’t want to do that. Perfume is supposed to be subtle, not make people’s eyes water when you are standing next to them. Anyone have any tips?
MaryAnn
Sometimes life is so great you just gotta muss up your hair and quack like a duck!
How about a coat of polyurethane? 
Carpe hoc!
Silly question, but have you checked with other people to make sure they can’t smell it after 10 min. either? It could be you just get accustomed to the scent. If not, try keeping it in the freezer.
I believe Felinecare is right. After about 10 minutes or sense, the average human will stop noticing a particular smell, sort of as defense mechanism. Since you are surrounded by the scent of perfume, your smell centers will begin to ignore it after a short period of time.
Having been around people that douse themselves with stinkum, please let me be the first to encourage NOT to increase your daily dose. Instead, ask a friend if s/he can still smell your perfume.
MaryAnn, I always wonder the same thing but like Feline and Guy said, you get used to the scent and stop recognizing it. Example: perfume goes on in the morning. Went out to my dad’s at night and he says “boy, you smell nice.” Didn’t figure I’d even had any left on.
OTOH, have you tried any of the perfumes that come as an oil-base? I usually find these at stores like Garden Botanika or the like. There is one here in Lansing called Essential Oils that sells…well…essential oils, soaps, the like. What’s great is that they also formulate “smell alike” perfumes for some of the more famous perfumes. Very cheap too and they have excellent staying power!!! 3-4 oz of perfumed oil for maybe $10 tops. The regular essential oils are even cheaper: rose, patchouli, melon along with interesting scents called “rain”, “warm musk” etc. Usually $3-4 for these. They have a little flyer/catalogue. If you’re interested, e-mail me with your address. I’ll go pick up one and mail it to you.
…it has never been my way to bother much about things which you can’t cure.
Perfume is one of my greatest weaknesses. I must have two hundred bottles.
A few tips:
Keep your perfume out of the light. Light breaks down perfume oils and can ruin it.
The more alcohol in the perfume, the less time it will smell good after application. BunnyGirl was right . . . essential oils are a good way to go. Also, if you accidently apply too much, you can rub a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol over the spot to dilute the scent.
Eau de cologne is less diuted than perfume, and also lasts longer.
In the summer, I sometimes put my body sprays in the 'fridge. Very refreshing.
I agree with the others – you’ve just gotten used to the scent. I changed perfumes recently, and when I put it on for the first time, it seemed overwhelming - I got a headache and I was afraid I’d choke everyone around me. But now I don’t notice it after about 10 minutes. And, yes, many hours later, boyfriend will comment on the scent. I think a lot of women (and men) make the mistake of putting too much on for this reason.
Thanks for the tips, guys. For the record…i do ask if anyone can smell my perfume. Usually they say no. I am a perfume nut, too, and I have a vast collection (no oils, though. I am e-mailing Bunnygirl for the catalog). I do keep it out of the light. My collection is kept under my bathroon sink in it’s own section.
I remember reading about how each person is affected diffently by perfume (ie. perfume will smell better on one person than another).
and I swear it mentioned it doesn’t stay as well on one person than another because the persons natural oils, sweat, and the like may cause it to fade faster. maybe I’m one of the unlucky ones?
MaryAnn
Sometimes life is so great you just gotta muss up your hair and quack like a duck!
Hey MaryAnn, maybe that’s true. Your body does funny things sometimes. If I wear any kind of red lipstick, it looks pumpkin-orange. Woops, off subject!
Hey guys! What’s your favorite perfume? I had quite a few male friends who loved the smell of “Poison” which I personally thought smelled like a Turkish bordello. Eeewww.
…it has never been my way to bother much about things which you can’t cure.
MaryAnn–you’re right about perfume smelling differently on other people. The essential oils that actaully make up the scent react differently with to different people’s body chemistry. The difference is usually not dramatic (i.e., you won’t have one person smelling wonderful while the other stinks), but it is noticeable.
As to scent lifespan on your body, I’m sure it depends on a lot of factors–how much you sweat, temperature (both body and outside temp), age of perfume, etc., etc.
Try applying it to parts of your body that are covered with clothing. The cloth will act a sponge for the perfume. As you move about, the scented cloth will touch your skin and release new waves of odor.
Geez, sounds vaguely erotic…
A perfume story…
For years, I wore nothing but Liz Claiborne perfume…They guy I dated at the time evidentially was quite taken by it. We were shopping one day for his new girlfriend (strange, but true), and he sniffed a bottle in the Bon Ton…instantly started to sweat and shake…made him crazy! (as a side note, he bought a bottle for his girlfriend…hmmmm)
My favorites for me:
Liz Claiborne
Wild Hearts (a cheap one, but people LOVE it)
Obsession
If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success.
Anybody read Even Cowgirls Get The Blues? There was a wonderful idea for perfume.