Wearing perfume is a tricky balancing act. Either you douse yourself with it, resulting in an overpowering scent, or you spritz your wrists and neck, only for the scent to disappear in no time. Unfortunately, the reason why fragrance does not last long is usually that you have misapplied the fragrance. As odd as it may sound, there is a right and wrong way to wear your favorite fragrance. Here are five valuable tips to make fragrances last:

1. Exfoliate and moisturize your skin

Hydrated, moisturized skin holds fragrance for longer. Apply your preferred product, such as balm, body lotion, or body oil, on the areas you wish to spritz, and the moisture will help the fragrance leave a stronger trace. You can also apply the fragrance along with unscented deodorant. Do not be tempted to pair it with scented deodorant, however, as combining scents can yield poor results.

2. Know different types of fragrance

There are countless variations of fragrances available in the market that often only confuse users with their concentration levels. Fragrance “concentration” means the fragrance’s strength—the higher the concentration, the purer the fragrance. A pure fragrance contains less alcohol and more fragrance oils, which generally makes the cost of the bottle higher. However, if you struggle with your fragrance fading fast, it may be worth the price to buy a more concentrated fragrance, as the greater the concentration of fragrance oils, the greater its lasting power on your skin (generally known as tenacity).

3. Spritz your hair brush and clothing

Your skin loses scents because of the accumulation of natural oils and sweat throughout the day. Spraying some fragrance in your hair, on the other hand, will ensure that you smell good for longer, as scent lingers longer on hair than it does on skin. However, do not spray directly on your hair; instead, use a hairbrush to prevent damaging your hair with the fragrance’s alcohol content. Applying too much can also damage your hair; a light mist will do. Alternatively, spray your clothes, especially when applying Eau de parfum, as fragrance also holds longer on fabric than on skin.

4. Apply petroleum jelly on your pulse points

Fragrances respond to your body’s natural fluctuations in body temperature and emit the scent in turn. Therefore, applying a fragrance to your pulse points will increase the scent. Before you spritz your favorite fragrance, apply petroleum jelly on your pulse points, as it makes the fragrance stay longer on your skin. Your pulse points include your ankles, calves, below your midriff, the backs of the knees, elbows, wrists, and the nape and sides of the neck.

5. Don’t rub your wrists together

When you apply fragrance on your wrists, it is second nature to want to rub your wrists together to blot the fragrance, especially if your skin feels damp. However, rubbing your wrists together only makes the top notes fade faster. If you want to blend two fragrances, it is better to tap your wrists together rather than to create friction. If you’d like to redistribute some scent, you can dab the scent on your wrist onto your neck or up your arm.