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Our Ultimate Guide on How to Make Cologne Last Longer

Want to take your fragrance to the next level? Consider this your guide to unlocking the secrets of cologne.

Just as you wouldn’t leave the house in yesterday’s t-shirt, why step out without making sure your scent is on point? From morning to night, we've got the fragrance hacks to leave you radiating confidence all day long.

We’re delivering some pro tips on how to make cologne last longer, answering the burning questions like, “should you rub cologne in?” and “does cologne last longer on skin or clothes?” as well as some advice on what type of cologne lasts the longest.

What Type of Cologne Lasts the Longest?

Before we get into exploring strategies on how to make cologne last longer, it's important to select a fragrance that suits your needs. Not all colognes have the same staying power and you wouldn't opt for a light cologne for a long day.

But how long should cologne last exactly? Well, the answer to that lies in the fact that there isn’t just one type of cologne – there are several different types of colognes, each mixed up with a different concentration of fragrance oils. If you’re wondering what type of cologne lasts the longest, let's get a closer look.

Eau fraiche

This is lightest type of fragrance there is, often lasting just an hour or two.

Eau de cologne

This is another quick-hit option. With a concentration of 2% to 4% of perfume essence, it lasts around 2 to 3 hours.

Eau de toilette

This has a concentration of 5% to 15% pure perfume essence. It's ideal for about 4 to 5 hours of wear, making it suitable for a casual hangout or a short workday.

Eau de parfum

If you need to know what type of cologne lasts the longest, you’ve just found the answer. With a concentration of 15% to 20% pure perfume essence, it can last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. Perfect if you’re spending an entire day at the office followed by dinner plans.

If you’re looking to get yourself some all-day freshness, it’s worth starting with a strong foundation of deodorant to help keep unwanted odors at bay. If you’re wondering how long deodorant lasts, check out our guide to deodorant longevity.

How to Make Cologne Last Longer

When it comes to cologne, there are strategies to ensure your fragrance lasts all day. Let’s investigate exactly how to make cologne last longer.

Prep your skin

First things first – hit the shower. Starting with clean, fresh skin means your chosen fragrances aren’t competing with any unwanted residual odors. If you’re looking to start your fragrance game on the right foot, check out our Aqua Bergamot Premium Body Wash, packed with fresh fragrance notes of bergamot, sage and juniper.

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When it comes to knowing how to make cologne last longer, think of moisturizing as your base for the cologne to latch onto, helping it stick around longer. Using an unscented lotion or moisturizer ensures your skin is hydrated, allowing the fragrance to cling better without competing with other scents.

Know where to spray cologne

We’ve moisturized our skin to give it a solid foundation. Now it’s a question of where to spray cologne to make it last longer. No one wants a fragrance that is going to disappear halfway through the day, so knowing where to aim for is essential.

Pulse points are the key areas for cologne. These are the areas where blood vessels are closer to the skin, causing more warmth. This warmth amplifies the scent, allowing it to radiate all around you.

Key pulse points include the wrists, neck, behind the knees, behind the ears, and inside the elbows. Giving these spots a gentle spritz keeps the scent working hard as you move through your day.

While we’re about where to put cologne to last all day, we must address one of the big debates out there – does cologne last longer on skin or clothes?

On the one hand, some argue that applying cologne to clothing can make the scent last longer and diffuse better since clothes don't have the body heat that might speed up the evaporation process. However, on the flip side, some colognes can potentially stain delicate fabrics. Plus, fragrances are designed to evolve with body heat, meaning its full fragrance profile shines on the skin.

Test on a discreet section of clothing first if you go down that route or stick to the tried-and-true skin application for the authentic experience.

Avoid rubbing

If you’ve ever seen someone put on cologne, you’ve probably seen them spritz their wrists and neck and then rub it in with their hands, right? But are you supposed to rub cologne into your skin? In short, no.

Rubbing your cologne after application is a rookie mistake that can cut its lasting power in half. By rubbing, you're accelerating the evaporation of those top notes and accelerating the evaporation of the fragrance. So, the next time you spritz, let your cologne settle naturally. Trust the process and let the scent unfold on its own.

Layer for longevity

Our ultimate tip on how to make cologne last longer – is to combine it with deodorant. While cologne is your fragrance ally, it's not built to battle body odors. That's where your deodorant comes in, defending against unwanted smells and keeping your skin fresh.

Layering starts at the base level. Kick off with a robust deodorant, establishing a solid foundation of freshness. Try to find a deodorant with complementary fragrance notes to that of your cologne. If your cologne is packed with fresh floral fragrances, see if you can find a deodorant to match. By the time you apply your cologne, you've got a harmonious fragrance blend, where each one supports the other, rather than trying to outshine it.

Layering up your fragrances is easy thanks to our Fine Fragrance Collection of deodorant body sprays, sticks and body washes. Working with world-renowned perfumers, we’ve developed five incredible fragrance combinations which can be paired seamlessly with your chosen cologne.

If you’re looking for an easy way to smell great, check out our Blue Lavender Premium Deodorant Body Spray, voted by Men’s Health as one of the best colognes of 2023.

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Get ready to dial up your scent

Now that you know what type of cologne lasts the longest, you’re ready to get the most out of your scent. We’ve given you some top tips on where to spray cologne to last longer and how to master the ultimate scent combination of layering deodorant with cologne, so you can smell good – and feel good – every day of the week.

If you’re looking to advance to the next level, check out these six pro tips on how to smell great.