If you don’t want to alter the scent of your cologne, be sure to choose an unscented moisturizer. Because hydrated skin holds onto to fragrance better than dry skin, people with oily skin usually don’t need to reapply their cologne as often.
Petroleum jelly can stain clothing, so be sure to rub it into your skin until the area isn’t greasy to the touch.
Other areas where you may want to apply your cologne include the stomach and back of the neck. Forget the common advice of rubbing your wrists together after applying your fragrance. Rubbing the cologne actually helps break it down, so it doesn’t last as long.
If you’re worried about the alcohol in your cologne drying out your hair, you don’t have to spray it directly on your locks. Instead, apply some to your brush or comb before running it through your hair.
Some colognes may stain delicate fabrics, such as silk, so it’s a good idea to test a clothing item before spraying it with a fragrance. Apply some to a small, inconspicuous spot, such as the inside bottom hem of a shirt, to see how the fabric reacts.
Carrying a full-size bottle of cologne around all day to reapply isn’t always practical. Fortunately, many fragrance companies make smaller bottles that are travel-friendly, so you can easily toss one in your pocket or bag.
Woody, spicy scents that come in oil form are the best choice when you want your cologne to last all day. That’s because oils cling better to the skin than sprays or mists. They’re not mixed with alcohol either, so the scent isn’t diluted. Colognes that features fresh citrus notes aren’t going to last as long as heavier, musky scents.
If there’s no expiration date on your cologne, examine its color and consistency. When it starts to get darker and syrupy, it’s likely gone bad. Colognes made with synthetic ingredients usually don’t go bad, so you don’t have to worry about an expiration date.
The bathroom isn’t an ideal storage spot for cologne because the humidity from steamy showers can affect it even if you keep the bottle inside a cabinet or drawer. You may have heard that storing your fragrances in the refrigerator can help them last longer, but the extreme cold can affect its composition just as much as heat and humidity. That’s why shouldn’t store it near an air conditioning vent either. If you want to display your colognes’ attractive bottles on a shelf, make sure that it isn’t near a window where sunlight will hit them. Always ensure that you recap your cologne bottles securely. If air reaches the fragrance, it can oxidize, changing the scent and decreasing its lasting power.
