Everyone's been there: You spray on your new perfume, thinking it'll attract all the compliments, only to find that the light fragrance has worn off by the time you reach the office. That's why finding the best long-lasting fragrance is key when purchasing a luxury perfume. It's an experience that's meant to be enjoyed for longer than an hour or two.
"There’s no exact science to creating a long-lasting perfume," admits J.J. Vittoria, founder of customizable fragrance brand Olfactory NYC. "No matter what you buy, everyone’s skin reacts differently to different products and ingredients." However, there are some insider tricks to helping the scent linger. Look for extraits and intense versions of your favorite fragrances, prime your wrists with Vaseline (this helps the scent stick to the skin), and spray your clothes for good measure.
To help make your search for long-lasting fragrances easier, I'm sharing the juices that remain noticeable from day to night. I've also tapped the rest of the Marie Claire team for their favorites and gathered tips from Vittoria, Darryl Do, Senior Perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrance Lab, and Berenice Watteau, perfumer at dsm-firmenich.
Best Long-Lasting Perfumes
- Best Long-Lasting Perfume Overall: Frederic Malle Hope Eau de Parfum
- Best Day To Night Long-Lasting Perfume: By Rosie Jane Rosie Eau de Parfum
- Best Evening Long-Lasting Perfume: Initio Parfums Privés Side Effect Eau de Parfum
- Best Long-Lasting Unisex Perfume: Christian Dior Gris Dior Eau de Parfum
- Best Long-Lasting Perfume Oil: Nest Balinese Coconut Perfume Oil
You can always expect the best from Frédéric Malle, and Hope Eau de Parfum is no exception. Hope is perfumer Dominique Ropion’s third creation for the Desert Gems collection, and this juice is radiant, sophisticated, and refined, with a perfect balance of earthy and spicy notes. Oud, vetiver, and smoky amber ground the fragrance, while notes of pink pepper, juniper, and frankincense add a vibrant touch. The result? An uplifting perfume that smells like pure opulence.
Fragrance family: Amber
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Oud, vetiver, smoky amber, pink pepper, frankincense.
What We Love: The fine balance between smoky and vibrant.
What We Don’t: It's the priciest perfume on this list.
Review for MC: "If earthy scents are your jam, the latest from Frederic Malle is for you. Oud, vetiver, and smoky amber come together to create a gorgeous, long-lasting fragrance that gets everyone asking what I've spritzed on." —Contributing Beauty Writer Kayla Greaves
The bottle also looks chic on any vanity, which is a huge plus.
Rosie by Rosie Jane is a subtle yet unforgettable fragrance that will be a compliment magnet from your initial spritz until the end of your day. With a delicate blend of rose, vanilla, and nude musk, this fragrance strikes a modern balance between typically “masculine” and “feminine” scent notes. It’s made with only five ingredients and unfolds beautifully throughout the day as it mixes with your body chemistry.
Fragrance family: Floral
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Nude musk, sweet rose, vanilla.
What We Love: It molds to you—it smells different on everyone based on their body chemistry.
What We Don’t: It leans a bit powdery, which is heaven-sent to some but a turn-off to others.
Review for MC: "This five-ingredient fragrance is my go-to for both everyday wear and fancier events. It’s the one fragrance I get stopped on the street for. The warm, fresh scent has notes of rose, nude musk, and vanilla, and I can get a good eight-hour wear out of it—perfect for day to night. It also layers beautifully with more citrus-forward fragrances. It’s my staple, and I’ll forever use it!" —Contributing Writer Michelle Rostamian
The easy-to-hold packaging is the icing on the cake.
If you’re looking for something warm, dark, and surprisingly herbal, Side Effect Eau de Parfum by Initio Parfums Privés is the one for you. This fragrance combines rich notes of tobacco, vanilla, and rum with a slight touch of cinnamon to create a bold and sensual depth. With its luxurious, long-lasting presence, Side Effect is perfect if you want your signature fragrance to be complex, alluring, and memorable.
Fragrance family: Warm, Spicy
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Tobacco, vanilla, rum, cinnamon.
What We Love: It's the perfect scent for night, and it's proof that tobacco has the potential to mix well with gourmand notes.
What We Don’t: It may be too strong for some.
Review for MC: "I tend to switch up my fragrances every day, so while I don’t have a signature scent, per se, I do find myself reaching for Initio Side Effect whenever I go out at night. What drew me in was the brand’s rather Dionysian description of the fragrance (read: 'lifting the veil on the unsayable'), and I must admit—it makes me feel like hot stuff. This perfume mixes tobacco, vanilla, rum, and cinnamon notes that strike the perfect balance between warm, woody, and heady. It makes me smell like the most delicious cocktail, only to be enjoyed in a velvet-adorned hotel bar while wearing my most fabulous items." — Isabella Sarlija, Contributing Beauty Writer
Its gold emblem makes it look like perfume made for royalty.
Gris means “grey” in French, and it’s the perfect word to describe this elegant fragrance. It's “more than just a blend of black and white,” according to Dior's resident perfumer Francis Kurkdijian, with a captivating mix of contrasting floral and woody notes. It's both empowering and gentle at once. The fragrance has notes of bergamot, amber, patchouli, and moss (your typical earthy, woody fragrance), as well as rose and jasmine, which add a subtle sweetness.
Fragrance family: Floral, Moss
Size: 40 mL
Notes: Bergamot, amber, patchouli, moss, rose, jasmine.
What We Love: It comes in a huge bottle that will likely last ages.
What We Don’t: It may not be your speed if you tend to shy away from earthy fragrances.
Review for MC: “Call me a fragrance snob, but I don’t wear the same perfume more than once in a given week. So when I wear a scent multiple days in a row? Everyone tends to take note. The one fragrance that has made me a repeat wearer is Gris Dior, which has arguably become one of my favorite fragrances of all time. Chypre is one of the main notes in the perfume, and the combination of additional floral and woody notes makes this my perfect unisex fragrance that pairs well with everything from sweeter, more gourmand notes to darker ouds and citruses. This is easily one of my longest-lasting perfumes with over six hours of longevity, and if you’re a heavy sprayer like I am, expect even longer wear out of this one. I can’t speak more highly about this perfume if I tried.” — Ariel Baker, Contributing Beauty Writer
Its bottle is relatively slim and stores easily in most beauty collections.
Why buy a ticket to a tropical destination when you can smell like one all year round? This perfume oil is like a luxurious island escape in a bottle, with warm coconut and salted musk balancing out the tropical tiare blossom. It layers beautifully and is a great option for those wanting something long-lasting that's not overpowering.
Fragrance family: Warm, Gourmand
Size: 30 mL
Notes: Creamy coconut, salted musk, tropical tiare blossom.
What We Love: It comes in chic packaging that's travel-friendly.
What We Don’t: Since it's not a spray, you should avoid applying this to your clothes.
Review for MC: "I’m very into scent layering, and the Nest Balinese Coconut Perfume Oil may be the one perfume oil I can wear with virtually anything. It contains notes of creamy coconut, salted musk, and tropical tiare blossom, adding an elevated beachy scent that's never crazy sweet. I like to apply this perfume oil either on its own or atop an Eau de Perfume mist for a lush yet slightly floral kick." —Isabella Sarlija, Contributing Beauty Writer
The chrome dropper adds a cool modern touch.
Other Long Lasting Perfumes We Love
Glossier You is a skin-scent enhancer, meaning it's supposed to smell different on everyone, depending on their skin chemistry. "This is one of two perfumes that will never leave my roster," says Culture Editor Quinci LeGardye. "The top note of pink pepper gives a nice jolt of spice when I first spray it, and the musky ambrox and fresh iris meld together into a deep scent that lingers on my skin all day. This is my first-ever perfume that felt like it was made for me. That, and the compliments I’ll receive even on hour five of wearing, make me eternally loyal." It's *literally* named after You—a no-brainer if you're after something unique.
Fragrance family: Floral, Woody, Musk
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Pink pepper, earthy iris.
What We Love: The bottle has an indent that makes the bottle easy to hold.
What We Don’t: The bottle's pink paint can chip over time.
This is your go-to if you steer clear of anything that smells even remotely gourmand. With notes of bergamot, cedar, musk, and tobacco, Thé Noir 29 smells like what one would wear to a fancy jazz bar late at night. "One spritz of this perfume literally fills my entire room; it's that strong," explains Fashion E-Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla. "I've been wearing it on and off for years and, while expensive, I truly believe that it's worth investing in. One bottle lasted me close to a year. One spritz on the inside of my wrists leaves me with a strong but not overpowering scent. It clings to my clothes and hangs around for days even after I've taken them off."
Fragrance family: Woody
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Fig, bay leaf, bergamot, cedar, vetiver, musk, tobacco, hay.
What We Love: One spritz is all you'll need to smell good all day.
If you're looking for something you can re-apply at work without disturbing your colleagues, this rollerball is for you. "This is a roll-on scent, which I normally don’t love—they’re usually either not long-lasting enough or too oily on my skin and clothes. But this warm, subtle scent rolls on fast, dries quickly, and lasts all day," Marie Claire's Contributing Editor Katherine J. Igoe notes. "The fact that the bottle is small (but still lasts me a long time) means I can travel with it, throw it in my purse, slap it on when I need a pick-me-up. My daughter calls it 'mommy’s scent,' that’s how often I wear it."
Fragrance family: Amber
Size: 15 mL
Notes: Amber, santal, vetiver, ylang-ylang, bergamot.
What We Love: It's a great layering fragrance, but smells beautiful when worn on its own.
What We Don’t: While the packaging is small enough for travel, we'd love to see it available in a bigger size.
Beauty Editor Samantha Holender admits that her biggest fragrance pet peeve is a scent that smells delicious upon application but dwindles to almost non-existent mere hours later. "Don't get me wrong, I have a surplus of travel-friendly rollerballs on hand for midday reapplication, but on days when I simply can't be bothered, it's always D.S. & Durga's Deep Dark Vanilla Eau de Parfum to the rescue," mentions Holdender. "The intoxicating, delicious, sweet-yet-sophisticated vanilla profile stays fresh on my skin for hours. I just need one to two sprays for a trail of the notes to follow me through all my daily activities." This fragrance is unlike other vanilla-based perfumes in that it uses real vanilla absolute (not synthetic additives), as well as green vanilla leaves to help give it a sophisticated aura.
Fragrance family: Gourmand
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Cabreuva, pink pepper, orchid, green vanilla leaves, cypress, vine, dark patchouli, vanilla absolute.
What We Love: It's made with real vanilla absolute without smelling too sweet.
What We Don’t: It may be smokier than you'd expect if you're looking for a typical vanilla perfume.
As soon as the weather gets warm and the ground begins to thaw, I love getting my hands dirty in the garden. That’s why I was over the moon to discover that the newest Replica fragrance, “In the Garden,” was meant to evoke the feeling of gardening on a sunny spring day. True to form, it contains tomato leaf as a top note—a unique, herbaceous scent that immediately conjures visions of spring. Other notes include bright mandarin orange and spicy patchouli, which introduce a woody element to the otherwise earthy creation.
Fragrance family: Earthy
Size: 100 mL
Notes: Tomato leaf, mandarin, patchouli, geranium.
What We Love: This fragrance has an umami kick from tomato leaf to help round out the otherwise grassy scents.
What We Don’t: The bottle's shape is difficult to store while traveling.
This fragrance, described by Plur as “a euphoric sugar trip” that “transports you to a technicolor daydream,” is certainly one of a kind. It’s a floral, fruity fragrance that relies on bright notes like orange zest, dragon fruit pulp, marigold, and orange flower, but is balanced out by notes like patchouli prisma, glazed musks, sheer amber, and jasmine sambac. It’s the perfect fragrance to opt for when you need a bit of a pick-me-up, with a scent as invigorating and vibrant as its bright green color.
Fragrance family: Fruity
Size: 50mL
Notes: Pitaya pulp, sweet orange, fruit gummies, orange flower, jasmine sambac, marigold bloom, patchouli prisma, glazed musks, sheer amber.
What We Love: It comes in a weighty bottle that's easy to grip while spraying.
What We Don’t: It smells almost candy-like, which can be a turn-off for some.
This is a reinterpretation of the brand’s three principal notes of rose, ambergris, and frankincense. It's a lighter twist on Amouage’s moody signature scent with refreshing top, heart, and base notes that add complexity to the overall effect. You'll get a burst of pear, hazelnut, saffron, sambac jasmine, and osmanthus. Finally, Amouage’s ambergris base note is topped off with vanilla, sandalwood, cistus, and akigalawood, all adding new dimension for a memorable scent that lingers long after you’ve applied it.
Fragrance family: Amber
Size: 100 mL
Notes: Frankincense, pear, hazelnut, saffron, rose, sambac jasmine, osmanthus, sandalwood, cistus, akigalawood, ambergris, vanilla.
What We Love: This fragrance combines floral, woody, and amber scents.
What We Don’t: Its bottle design, while beautiful, can be hard to store during travel.
When I first smelled Carta’s Immortelle 43|17, the fragrance evoked a scent memory so strong that it brought tears to my eyes. My parents were both born in Croatia, and this extrait de parfum is inspired by Croatia’s Dalmatia region, specifically the immortelle plant that grows all along the rocky, sunny coast. In addition to grassy immortelle, notes of wildflower honey, caramelized orange peels, and ambergris combine to create a warm, woody fragrance that lingers throughout the day. It reminds me exactly of my father's seaside town that I grew up visiting every summer — if you want to smell like you just came back from a Mediterranean vacation, add this to your cart.
Fragrance family: Grassy
Size: 15 mL
Notes: Immortelle, wildflower honey, caramelized orange peels, ambergris.
What We Love: You only need a few dabs to smell amazing all day.
What We Don’t: The bottle comes with a glass dauber that can be hard to seal while traveling.
When Nightcap Parfum first launched, Ôrebella founder Bella Hadid admitted in an Instagram post, "I started creating this scent from the beginning, before I even had a name for my company." Ôrebella Nightcap isn’t your average vanilla fragrance — its woody, spicy twist makes the perfume feel sexy yet grounding. Nightcap includes top notes of ginger, cardamom spice, and guaiac wood, adding an immediate fresh and smoky aroma that unfolds into a lingering creamy vanilla scent. So, what makes this long-lasting? This parfum is formulated without alcohol and instead relies on a bi-phase oil formula to enhance scent longevity and nourish the skin all at once.
Fragrance family: Gourmand
Size: 100 mL
Notes: Vanilla, ginger, cardamom, guaiacwood, cistus, sandalwood, patchouli.
What We Love: Its alcohol-free formula won't irritate skin.
What We Don’t: Its bottle doesn't stand up independently, making this fragrance challenging to store.
It’s almost impossible to scroll through #PerfumeTok without coming across fragrance brand, Kayali, founded by Huda Beauty’s co-founder, Mona Kattan. Wedding Silk Santal (which sold out for over a year, BTW) is designed to evoke the romance of a wedding day. This fragrance is sweeter for a santal-based eau de parfum, but don’t let that deter you from trying it out. The fragrance opens with notes of sparkling champagne, delicate freesia, and a touch of fruity black currant while settling into a grounding and warm base of sugared musk, creamy vanilla, and, of course, sandalwood. It’s elegant, complex, and indulgent while inviting enough for daytime wear.
Fragrance family: Gourmand
Size: 50 mL
Notes: Champagne, nectarine, musk, sandalwood, praline, freesia.
What We Love: It comes in a gorgeous frosted glass bottle that's easy to hold.
What We Don’t: It may smell too sweet for some.
What Makes a Perfume Long Lasting?
- Concentration
"One thing you can control is the fragrance concentration in a perfume," explains Vittoria. Typically, an eau de toilette has a five percent or 10 percent perfume oil concentration and more alcohol content, while an eau de parfum is roughly in the 15 percent range. with less alcohol content. There are also parfum extraits, which have 20 percent to 30 percent perfume concentration.
While the higher concentrated fragrances will last longer on the skin, you also concede a bit of the perfume's projection. "The alcohol gives the fragrance a lift off the skin. So, as you increase the concentration in fragrance, you lose some of that throw. You don’t want only to be able to smell it when you get really close to the skin," adds Vittoria.
He also adds that high-concentration formulas, such as essential oils and extracts, can run the risk of allergic reaction in those who have sensitive skin, so more diluted formulas may be preferable.
- Fragrance Family
While I'll always love a refreshing citrus fragrance with notes of lemon and bergamot, according to Watteau, these light scents don't last nearly as long as woody, floral, or vanilla fragrances. "If you’re looking for what will last you longest, base notes like woods, musks, and incense are the way to go," adds Vittoria.
How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer
Spray Fragrance on Unexpected Places
Fragrance lovers have long debated where to spray their perfume—on their torso, on their neck, or behind their knees. To settle the issue, Vittoria says that perfumes generally last longest "on your clothes or your hair."
If you're looking for a spritz routine, Do recommends starting with the neck, hair, and wrists. "If you want a broader fragrance reach, extend it to your clothes and coat or jacket," he adds.
Don't Be Afraid To Reapply Your Fragrance
Vittoria discourages users from spraying a lot of perfume at the beginning of the day, hoping that will make it last longer. Instead, he advises reapplying if needed. "With a high potency eau de parfum, you shouldn’t need to apply more than once every four to six hours."
Combine Rollerballs and Sprays
Rollerballs are often smaller and more convenient for travel, but did you know they can have a different overall effect than sprays? "When you have a rollerball, typically you have an oil base of some kind, and that will last you longer," says Vittoria. Still, you won't get an excellent projection. That's where throwing a spray medium on top can help—it's the best of both worlds.
Find the Best Notes for Your Skin
Fragrance varies from person to person. "You need to learn about your body," explains Vittoria. "If an ingredient you find keeps disappearing, that’s where you play around and try something else."
You may also find that certain notes last better depending on where you are in your hormonal cycle, how much you're sweating in a given season, or what fragrances you've been layering on top of one another. Remember: it's a fragrance journey.
Meet the Experts
J.J. Vittoria is the founder of Olfactory NYC, the customizable fragrance brand. Originally from the UK, he is currently based in New York.
Berenice Watteau is a perfumer at dsm-firmenich.
Darryl Do has worked at his family business, Delbia Do Fragrances, for 20 years. Delbia Do Fragrance Lab is based in the Bronx, NYC.
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