Summer is basically here (especially if you live in the South!), which means long days, warm nights, and—unfortunately—a whole lot of sweat. But just because the heat is in full swing doesn’t mean it has the power to make us smell anything less than fabulous. In fact, the right scent can become your summer signature, helping you feel fresh, confident, and ready for anything. But here’s the thing: how to make perfume last longer is a summer challenge, and applying your fragrance the right way—especially when the temperature rises—makes all the difference.

During the summer, our body chemistry changes, thanks to sweat and heat. That means the perfume that works perfectly in cooler months might react differently on your skin in the summer heat. The warmth can intensify a scent’s top notes, sometimes making it smell stronger or even slightly different from what was intended. Knowing how to make perfume last longer ensures your fragrance stays pleasant and consistent throughout the day, no matter how high the temperature climbs.

Before diving into the full swing of summer and all its sunny glory, let’s get you prepped with a few essential tips on how to make perfume last longer, so you can confidently take on everything from rooftop parties to sunset dinners with a signature scent that lingers beautifully.

How to Make Perfume Last Longer in the Summer

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Moisturize your skin first.

The prep starts before you take the lid off your fragrance. Your skin needs to be moisturized, oiled, and hydrated.  Find a scented lotion and body oil that pairs well with your perfume for optimal scent!

Apply your perfume in the right area.

Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away when putting your perfume or body spray on and spraying it everywhere or only in one spot. When you go to spritz on your summer scent, apply it to your pulse points: wrists, neck, inside elbows, and behind your knees.

Try applying vaseline first.

If you need your scent to stay in one area, apply vaseline or a fragrance primer to give the perfume something to stick to (similar to lotion, but more effective). This will slow down the fragrance from evaporation.

Try not to rub your wrists.

Though it is recommended to apply perfume to your wrists, it’s also easy to mess with your wrists, get water on them, have jewelry there, and more irritations. To save your fragrance there, be mindful of what you do to that area.

Be safe when spraying perfume on clothing and hair.

Depending on the fragrance and its chemicals, you may be able to spritz it on your clothing and hair. There are several brands that sell perfumes specifically for hair that could be beneficial for this time of year.

Take care of your perfume.

In order to get the most from your perfume, you have to take care of it. Just like you take care of your skin so that over time you have beautiful skin, you have to take care of your perfume so that over time it maintains its original scent. At the end of the day, perfumes are chemicals and some may have care instructions on the box.

Layer, layer, layer!

It’s summer, you’re gonna sweat, it’s inevitable. However, if you know you’re gonna be out a long time, layer your scents! This can be done with the lotion and oil, but you can also mix perfumes. I recommend keeping a small, purse-sized fragrance in your purse so you know you can touch up whenever you need to.

Have tips for how to make perfume last longer? Let us know in the comments!

Kerbi Lynn

Kerbi Lynn is the managing editor at The Curvy Fashionista. She is an entertainment and culture journalist from Atlanta, GA. In addition to covering celebrities and music, she is a certified makeup artist and a beauty lover. Kerbi has been published in MEFeater Magazine, HerAgenda, and BOSSIP.