When I review perfumes, I comment on the perfume’s longevity. I don’t have a formal way of measuring this. But, I have expectations of how long a pure parfum/extrait, an EDP, an EDT, a cologne and a solid perfume should last on my skin.* The industry doesn’t really have a “set” standard for longevity either. So I ask you, how long should a perfume last on your skin?
Here’s my thoughts and like I said, there is no industry standard or science behind my reasoning:
Pure parfum, extraits or oil-based perfumes – I expect oil-based perfumes and parfums to last 10+ hours on my skin. I usually expect for these to wear closely but I expect at least 10+ hours. If the parfum is really expensive, I expect for it to last through a shower 😉 I expect for their powers to last long through the night.
Eau de Parfum – I expect EDPs to last 8+ hours on my skin. I don’t expect mega sillage but I expect to smell it at 8 hours.
Eau de Toilette – I’m happy if an EDT stays on my skin for 4 hours.
Eau de Cologne – I expect 2 hours of wear with colognes. I own one cologne, 4711.
Solid Perfumes – I expect for solids to be reapplied throughout the day. I give them about 4 hours. I expect for them to wear closely to the skin too.
Here are some things I’ve noticed. Continuing reading for more of my rambling on and on:
- Men expect for perfumes to last longer on the skin but they are usually only offered cologne or EDT concentrations. Why is this? Like I said, I expect for an EDP to last 8+ hours. I find that many male Youtube reviewers say a perfume has terrible longevity if it lasts on their skin for less than 10 hours…and they are usually reviewing something labeled “EDT”! My hypothesis is that women have lower expectations (or realistic expectations depending on who you ask) since many of us use so many products and these products let us down. We expect for a foundation to fade, for our hair to frizz, and for our undergarments and shoes to feel uncomfortable by quitting time. We don’t expect for our lipstick to last through lunch. The Revlon Colorstay line claims to last 12 hours; that’s the line’s selling point. I find that most women are happy if they can smell the base remains of their perfume after a work day. I also think that many of us don’t want a scent that lasts all day. Woman have distinctions in fragrances. Women have “day” and “night” fragrances.
- On the same topic, I feel that most fragrances marketed to men are mislabeled. It says “EDT” but has the concentration of a women’s “EDP”. The market won’t say “EDP” because, silly rabbit, “perfume” is for chicks! More proof – You rarely see travel sized perfumes or atomizers marketed towards men.
- Most of us associate longevity of a fragrance with quality. Personally, if a perfume is fleeting I put very little value on it. This is one of the reasons why I don’t own any bottles of citrus perfumes…take that back, I bought Atelier Orange Sanguine last week. I think this is also why I like “base note” heavy scents. Things with tonka, vanilla, amber, patchouli or resins stick to my skin longer; hence, I put more value on these notes.
- The industry pushes EDTs to women by saying they’re “lighter” instead of lasting on the skin for a shorter amount of time. Not having longevity isn’t a great selling point, see bullet above. And most sales associates are correct to some extent, most EDT formulas are “lighter” than their EDP sisters…think Chanel. Most are completely different formulas…think Chanel. It’s not as simple as “watering” them down to make them “suitable for summer”.
- Yes, dry skin will “eat” fragrances. Moisturize. I used to not believe this but now I’m older and wiser and I see the light. My friends with normal to oily skin types seem to have the same fragrances last on them hours longer than than they last on me. But, my abnormally low body temp makes up for my dry, parched skin type.
- Oh, and perfumes evaporate AKA have less longevity in warmer climates. I’m sure you know that but really, our environment really influences longevity.
I ask you:
How long does a “long-wearing” perfume last on your skin?
What’s “average” longevity?
Do you associate longevity with quality?
*See this guide for the differences and definitions of these.
A long-wearing perfume would be one that I can still smell the next day or that lasts through a shower. It doesn’t necessarily have to be extrait strength though; I find that By Kilian Incense Oud and Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady are the longest lasting perfumes I have tried and I think they’re both EDP.
for Average, I expect a perfume to last from when I put it on at 8 am to when I get home at 6. And yes, I associate the ability of my perfumes to do that with quality. But some of the lighter scents (like citrus) I forgive if they don’t last as long.
kjanicki recently posted..By Kilian Cruel Intentions
If an EDP lasts like that, I’d say they have “above average longevity” since they are an EDP but seem to last like a parfum/extrait.
So, you would say 10 hours is average? On further reading my reviews, if I say it lasts “above average”, you knock it down to “average”, OK 🙂
(Snort! Especially at Krista!)
I have finally stopped trying with colognes: I just don’t LIKE them. Not much of a citrus fan, which is probably why colognes – colognes in the traditional-formula sense – bore me. So I don’t even have an “average length” for those. Don’t care much for solids, either, ditto ditto.
Longevity tends very low on me. I’m not a heavy applier, and that may be one factor in how long a fragrance will stay on my skin – to keep a light little thing like a Goutal floral from disappearing in a couple of hours, I have to do the “spray until wet” 4-6 spray technique. This works, but I really cannot do it with heavier things.
EdTs last 3-4 hours on me, EdPs 4-6 hours, unless it’s something particularly long-lasti.ng (PoaL was one of those. L’Arte di Gucci, too.) Parfums radiate less but last 8-10 hours. Yep, that’s all. Really. And I moisturize (perhaps not well enough).
But that’s ME – if you say “above average longevity,” I’m probably still going to get something longer than my usual. Lasting power is a valid and useful piece of information, and I can easily extrapolate how long I’m likely to get out of something.
I notice that naturals tend to lift off quicker than usual, unless they involve tuberose and/or vanilla, which CAN go 12 hours on me. Not sure I associate longevity with quality, though: Light Blue, which probably does not have one single natural material in its weird little body, can also last 12 hours, and it’s not what I’d call a quality fragrance.
mals86 recently posted..Top 20 Bestselling Women’s Fragrances of 2011 in the US: part III of the mini-reviews
Thank you for commenting.
Colognes – I don’t live in the climate for them. I find them pointless. I have 4711 and I’ve had Febreeze hang around longer than that stuff.
Solids – I’m not a fan of them either but I can see how they fit with certain lifestyles (travel, work in close quarters, get headaches from spray perfumes).
Great point with how much you spray. With many of the AGs, I have to spray until wet too just to get 4-6 hours of wear. That’s really something to mention when reviewing. Did I have to bathe in this to get 5 hours of wear?
And I forgot to mention naturals too. Maybe in another post. They seem to go quickly on me too unless they have tuberose or vanilla. I should have a different standard for the longevity of naturals, but I don’t. I’ll compare them to other extraits/EDPs/Colognes that are mixed media or completely synthetic.
Speaking of the exception of the quality/longevity “argument” – Coty Sand & Sable. That’s an “EDT” and it’s potent, not exactly quality but it lasts through anything.
Fragrances burn off quicker on you because you’re always radiating warmth 🙂
For me, 8 hours is a good time for a fragrance to be on a skin. Of course guys fragrance are labeled as Edt.. two reasons.. a dude isn’t going to buy something that says parfum.. and guys will always laugh at toilet water as being funny. Seriously – A*Men fragannces are listed as EdT.. really.. those are EdP strength for me. If guys use that as a bassline, of course they are going to be disappointed with normal EdT longevity.
My longest fragrance.. toss up between Illuminum Black Musk and Profumi Del Forte Versilia Aurum. Both last more than two days and two showers..
And yes, I associate longevity with value.. the only exception is Creed Acier Aluminum – which lasts about an hour on my skin but has such a cold metallic feel that it is so unique.
DJ Ron Slomowicz recently posted..Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Shot Fragrance Review
Yeah, I agree with you with the labeling of masculines. No bro wants something labeled “perfume” or “toilette” (inset Beavis laughter here). I think this does cause problems when guys start venturing into the niche world. Their EDT A*Men lasts longer than Nez a Nez EDP and then they get pissed. And I understand why.
I think maybe 2 days and 2 showers may be too long 😉 I like to reapply new things.
Have you tried No. 19 yet?
No. 19? No, not yet. Is that a Chanel?
DJ Ron Slomowicz recently posted..Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Shot Fragrance Review
Yes. A feminine. But, it’s cold and icy.
Very good on a guy, I think, especially the EdT or parfum, which are very green and irisy. (EdP has a stronger rose note.)
mals86 recently posted..By Kilian sample giveaway
Thank you! I couldn’t remember which had more rose. I always get the Chanel formulations confused.
I’m going to buy Coco again but I can’t remember if I like the EDT, EDP or parfum the best. This gives me a reason to actually go to the mall instead of order on-line.
Long-wearing perfumes last on my skin 12+ hours and I do not like that in general: I cannot commit to the same scent for that long 😉 My ideal longevity is probably 7-8 hours: I’d like my perfume to stay around without me re-applying it for the duration of my work day but be almost gone by the time I get home – so I can choose to either put on more or to test/wear a completely different scent.
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That’s exactly what I want. 6-8 hours so I can have a SOTE. I’m too much of a perfume flirt!
I’m in this camp too. Six to eight hours is ideal for me. Any longer and I start to feel bored and smothered. I also hate fragrances that contain musks that don’t wash off in the shower. That’s one of my least favorite smells.
Longevity has never been a big deal for me – if my perfume wears off, that’s an excuse to reapply or apply something else, and I enjoy that. I’d say that I don’t get annoyed unless a fragrance lasts less than two hours, and I do get annoyed if I can still smell it through a shower or a night’s sleep.
The longevity extremes in my collection are Osmanthe Yunnan at the low end and Serge Noire at the high end. Osmanthe Yunnan can vanish within an hour even if I’ve applied four or five sprays. Serge Noire lasts on me for more than a day, and on my clothes until the end of time.
And it’s absolutely essential for everyone to try No. 19! Preferably the extrait.
ChickenFreak recently posted..Rambling: Rambling
I agree that fragrances that last through showers are annoying. I’m not a signature scent person. I like to mix it up.
Did you read that, Ron?!
If they last through a shower – its probably just subtle base notes, something you can apply over. 🙂
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