I鈥檓 obsessed鈥攚ith full awareness of the exaggeration鈥攚ith the fact that my perfume lingers. That others can smell it. That it leaves a trace, a memory, a signature. That I鈥檒l be remembered, at least in part, for my scent.
And more than anything, that I can smell it throughout the day. That I鈥檓 not left with the familiar sense of abandonment I often feel with fragrance. Because no matter how intense or long-lasting the formula claims to be, my skin tends to swallow scent whole. By mid-morning, it鈥檚 like I never wore it at all. That moment of ritual, of spritzing something luxurious on myself at the start of the day, disappears too soon.
That鈥檚 why I say, just as I could claim a master鈥檚 degree in dry shampoo (because yes, I鈥檓 also fixated on my hair being ultra-clean and voluminous. Everyone has their thing), I鈥檇 graduate with honours in figuring out how to make perfume last longer. I鈥檝e tried nearly every trick: applying it to pulse points like the neck and behind the ears, walking through a mist like a perfume ad clich茅, layering it over moisturised skin, because we all know hydrated skin holds scent better.
Why a makeup primer might help your perfume last longer
It began, as most beauty curiosities tend to in 2025, with a TikTok scroll. A new trick was gaining traction: using makeup primer to extend the wear of your perfume. At first, it sounded like just another gimmick designed to boost views. But then the team at Prada Beauty Spain confirmed it with actual science.
Their Prada Beauty Primer, originally formulated to smooth skin and improve makeup longevity, has a surprising side effect: it helps fragrance linger. 鈥淭he formula creates a light, silky film that sits invisibly on the skin,鈥 they explain. 鈥淭his film acts as a barrier, trapping the volatile molecules of perfume and slowing their evaporation.鈥
For anyone trying to make perfume last longer, this technique creates the ideal conditions. The primer holds the scent closer to the surface of the skin, allowing it to develop more gradually throughout the day. It also prevents the fragrance from sinking unevenly into dry patches, which can dull or distort the notes.
It鈥檚 the kind of beauty hack that seems made for the algorithm, but actually holds up in real life.
How to apply makeup primer to help set your scent
Here is how the team at Prada Beauty recommends using primer to help your fragrance last:
Begin with clean, prepped skin. Cleanse and tone as usual to create a fresh base.
Apply primer to pulse points. Use a small amount on areas where you normally apply perfume, such as the neck, wrists and d茅collet茅. Massage it in gently using circular motions until fully absorbed.
Spritz your perfume. Spray your fragrance over the primed skin from a distance of about 15 centimetres. Let it settle without rubbing or touching.
If you are looking for ways to make perfume last longer, this technique creates a smooth, moisturised surface that helps hold the scent in place and allows it to diffuse more evenly throughout the day.
This article first appeared on Vogue.es
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