Yes, this is a genuinely safe and widely used trick — mixing a spray or two of perfume into an unscented, fragrance-free lotion and applying it to skin before your usual spray can noticeably extend how long a scent lasts, since the lotion gives fragrance molecules something to cling to.

Why This Actually Works

Perfume applied straight to dry skin has nothing to hold onto and tends to evaporate faster, especially the top notes. A layer of unscented, moisturised skin underneath gives the fragrance oils more surface to bind to, which is part of why perfume traditionally lasts longer on well-moisturised skin than on very dry skin.

How to Do It Properly

  • Use a genuinely unscented or fragrance-free lotion, not one already carrying its own scent, which will muddy your perfume
  • Mix a small amount of perfume into a dollop of lotion in your palm rather than spraying directly onto the lotion once applied
  • Apply to pulse points as usual, then spray your normal perfume over the top for extra intensity
  • Test this combination before an important day, since it can subtly change how a fragrance opens compared with wearing it alone

Our guide to applying and wearing perfume and guide to perfume longevity and projection both cover tricks like this properly, part of the complete guide to perfume.