How to Make Cologne Last

While guys may not seem concerned with how they smell, we wouldn't be dousing ourselves with cologne if we didn't. No matter if it's spicy, leafy, woodsy or musky, it all comes down to how a man wants to smell. But, sometimes it just doesn't seem to last as long as we may want, and we may need to take a few things into consideration to make either the scent, or the bottle itself, last longer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cologne

The Longevity of the Scent

1. Select a fragrance that is appropriate for you. Due to the variations in chemistry of a person's skin, not all colognes, or at least the notes within the cologne, will be suitable for everyone. Certain fragrances simply last longer on one person and almost completely dissipate on another. This will take some trial and error on your part, so you may want to visit the fragrance counter a few times before deciding on the right cologne for you.

2. Apply your cologne, once you've found the right fragrance, to your wrists and neck. These locations on the body are considered pulse points, or areas of perpetual heat. They will essentially diffuse the fragrance notes over a period of time. In men, these regions are really the two areas most common for application, but you may choose to also apply the cologne to other areas, like the crook of the arms or legs.

3. Keep your skin moist. Typically, a man's wrists and neck are affected by dryness, but moist skin will generally carry a fragrance longer. Dry skin will ultimately absorb the fragrance and reduce the length of time the scent lasts. Use an unscented body lotion to help combat dryness.

4. Apply while your skin is still warm, usually soon after a shower. This is when your pores are at their widest.

The Longevity of the Bottle

5. Purchase your cologne from a fragrance counter or specialty fragrance store. Each bottle of cologne has a lifespan. Once it has been on the shelf for a certain amount of time, it will be removed and then shipped back to the distributor where it will be redistributed, to big box chains and discount stores.

6. Buy smaller bottles of cologne. Though it seems like a better deal to pick up a larger bottle of cologne, the cologne only has a limited lifespan. If you're someone who uses a fragrance sparingly, you'll most likely not finish the bottle before its fragrance begins to change.

7. Store your cologne in a cool, dry place (like a drawer in your dresser) as this will keep its formula intact.

8. Avoid keeping your bottle in the bathroom. Extreme changes in temperature alter the fragrance and shorten its lifespan.

Tips & Warnings

• All colognes will change during the day, since each formula is essentially made in layers. There are three basic layers (notes) to a single cologne, each layer containing one or more aromas. The head note will be the first you smell, but it will be the first to disappear. The heart note (which is the second) really makes up the central fragrance. This note is then grounded by the base note, hence the name. These two notes will ultimately be what you smell throughout the life of the application.
• Just because you can't smell your cologne doesn't mean no one else can. Most people will become so accustomed to their fragrance that they can no longer smell it later in the day. This doesn't mean it's time to reapply, so avoid it at all costs. You'll end up smelling like you took a bath in it.