Grayscale editorial photo of perfume bottles, representing fragrance longevity and how scent lasts through the day

Pulse points are the classic answer because the skin there is warmer, which helps release the scent gradually through the day. Layering a little onto clothing or hair alongside skin extends things further still.

Best Spots to Apply

  • Insides of the wrists, avoiding rubbing them together afterwards
  • The base of the throat, where warmth helps the scent rise gently through the day
  • Behind the ears
  • The insides of the elbows
  • The back of the knees for a scent that rises subtly as you move

A Few Extra Tips

Never rub your wrists together after spraying, as the friction breaks down the top notes and changes how the fragrance develops. Moisturised skin also holds scent noticeably longer than dry skin. Layering matters too, a matching perfume oil or attar applied to the same points before your spray gives the fragrance a longer-lasting foundation to build on. Reapplying once in the afternoon, rather than assuming a single morning application should carry you through a sixteen hour day, is also entirely normal and not a sign anything is wrong. Our guide to perfume longevity and projection has more detail on maximising wear time, and the complete guide to perfume covers application more broadly.