How to make perfume last longer?

Fixatives in perfumery are substances that help stabilize and prolong the fragrance of a perfume. They are ingredients that slow down the evaporation rate of more volatile essential oils and aromatic compounds, thus ensuring that the scent lingers for a longer time.

For us to make the perfume last longer, let us understand the fixatives in detail to achieve long-lasting results.

Fixatives serve several purposes in perfume-making:

Prolonging Scent:

• They slow down the rate at which the fragrance evaporates, ensuring that the scent lasts longer on the skin or in the air.

Enhancing Fragrance:

• Fixatives can enhance and enrich the aroma of perfume by providing a base for the more volatile top and middle notes to linger upon.

Binding Ingredients:

• They help in binding and harmonizing the various fragrance components together, creating a more cohesive and well-rounded scent.

Common Fixatives:

• Animal-derived: Historically, fixatives like musk and ambergris from animals were used. However, due to ethical and environmental concerns, synthetic alternatives are now prevalent.
• Plant-based: Ingredients like benzoin, labdanum, frankincense, myrrh, and certain resins act as natural fixatives.
• Synthetic: Modern perfumery uses synthetic fixatives like Iso E Super, ambroxan, or various aroma chemicals designed to prolong the fragrance.

Fixatives play a crucial role in perfumery, ensuring that the carefully crafted scent retains its potency and allure over time.

Here’s is an advanced  list of commonly used fixatives in perfumery, categorized by their sources that makes perfume last longer.

Natural Fixatives:

Benzoin Resin: A sweet, vanilla-like aroma often used as a fixative and a base note. Blends seamlessly with vanilla, woods, and spices, providing a warm, sweet undertone.

Labdanum: Derived from rockrose, it has a warm, amber-like scent and excellent fixative properties. Harmonizes well with floral notes, especially rose, and adds depth to oriental and amber compositions.

Frankincense: Known for its rich, woody, and resinous scent, it helps anchor other fragrance notes. Complements woody and resinous scents, works well with citrus and floral notes.

Myrrh: Offers a balsamic, slightly sweet aroma and acts as a fixative in perfumes. Blends well with oriental fragrances, spices, and woods, adding depth and warmth.

Oakmoss: Provides a mossy, earthy scent and helps to fix the fragrance in perfumes, especially chypre compositions. Enhances chypre fragrances, combining well with citrus, floral, and woody notes.

Animal-derived Fixatives (historically used, now mostly replaced with synthetics):

Musk: Known for its animalistic, musky scent, it was historically used as a powerful fixative.

Ambergris: A rare and valuable fixative with a unique marine, sweet, and earthy scent.

Synthetic Fixatives:

Iso E Super: A synthetic molecule with a woody, amber-like scent, often used for its fixative properties. blends well with woody and floral scents, adding a subtle, velvety touch to the fragrance

Ambroxan: Has an ambery, musky scent and is used as a fixative in many modern perfumes. Blends smoothly with marine, floral, and oriental fragrances, imparting a warm, ambery nuance.

Galaxolide: Provides a musky, clean scent and is commonly used as a fixative in various fragrances. Mixes effortlessly with a wide range of fragrance families, particularly floral, musky, and fresh compositions.

These fixatives, whether natural or synthetic, play essential roles in perfumery, contributing to the longevity and depth of fragrances. Perfumers often use a combination of these fixatives along with other fragrance components to create well-rounded and long-lasting scents.

When adding fixatives while creating a scent, consider these points to achieve the desired balance and longevity to make the smell last longer.

Potency and Concentration:

Start Small: Fixatives are potent. Begin with a small amount, especially if you’re new to using them.

Gradual Addition: Add fixatives slowly in small increments to gauge their impact on the overall scent profile.

Complementing the Blend:

Consider the Scent Profile: Ensure fixatives align with the fragrance you’re creating and complement other notes.

Test Blends: Experiment with different combinations to find fixatives that harmonize well with the other fragrance components.

These fixatives possess versatile qualities, making them suitable for blending with various fragrance components. When used thoughtfully and in proper proportions, they can enhance the longevity, complexity, and overall character of perfumes. Experimentation with these fixatives within different scent profiles can yield intriguing and balanced fragrance creations.

If you already have the perfume formula, simply identify the fixatives and increase the quantity to make the perfume last longer.

At perfumes formula, we offer generic yet premium perfume formulas created in-house by our perfumers. You may purchase the desired formula and make the necessary changes to enhance the longevity of the perfume. You can check out the formulas by clicking on the link here