Fragrance Facts

Unlike most products, fragrance doesn't come with instructions. You're just supposed to know things like: How much should I spritz? Why does the scent disappear? And why does something smell amazing on a friend, but like toilet spray on you? So, we rounded up your most frequent scent questions and put them to the best experts around - not only top perfumers but people who actually study scent for a living. Here they are.

Q: 'How do you make your scent last longer?' Q: 'Should you put fragrance on bare skin or after you're dressed? I've been told both.' Q: 'Why does the same fragrance smell different on me than it smells on my friend?' Q: 'What's the best way to test fragrances?' Q: 'What are some key areas on the body to spray on a fragrance so the scent is likely to last?' Q: 'Does scent ever expire? I never can seem to get through a whole bottle.'

A: 'Applying a body lotion or cream with the same scent as your fragrance followed by applying the fragrance itself will make the scent last longer without it becoming too strong or overwhelming,' says US-based Estée Lauder expert, Karyn Khoury. 'I've had people do the layers on one arm and spray the fragrance alone on the other and compare. They always see the difference in the strength and longevity with the layering technique.'

Author: Kari Molvar