Dry skin tends to lose fragrance faster since there’s less natural oil to help it bind and linger, so richer concentrations like eau de parfum, parfum, or a proper perfume oil generally perform better than a light eau de toilette, and moisturising beforehand makes a genuinely noticeable difference to longevity.

Working with dry skin rather than against it

As covered in our answer on why the same perfume behaves differently on oily versus dry skin, oil acts as a natural fixative for fragrance, so dry skin simply has less to hold onto, meaning scent fades noticeably faster than it would on someone with naturally oily skin. The most effective fix is applying an unscented moisturiser first, giving fragrance a slightly oily surface to adhere to, then choosing a richer concentration or an oil-based attar rather than a light spray.

Perfume oils in particular suit dry skin well, since they’re designed to sit and slowly release over hours rather than relying on quick evaporation the way alcohol-based sprays do. Our perfume oils range is worth trying if dryness has been an issue for you. Our how to choose a perfume guide covers this properly, and the complete guide to perfume has more on skin and longevity. Reapplying a small amount partway through the day is also a sensible habit for dry skin, since it won’t hold a single application as long as oilier skin will.