Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of brands and editors Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story Ever spritz a fragrance only for it to disappear before lunch? The best long-lasting perfumes won’t quit on you. These days, we require more from our beauty products: foundations that stay in place for 12-plus hours, lipstick that refuses to budge through meals, setting sprays to lock everything in from sunrise to dusk. And the same goes for perfume . When you apply fragrance, you want it to last —to trail behind you, enchant passersby, and linger from the morning spritz to your post-work wind-down. Enter these long-lasting perfumes, which promise to stick around for whatever you’ve got going on.
Not every fragrance is a long-lasting perfume, of course. Some scents, like citrus fragrances or light florals , tend to dissipate faster than fragrances built around deeper notes like oud, sandalwood, and amber . The concentration of perfume oils plays a role too: Products labeled parfum, extrait, and absolue will typically last longer due to higher concentrations than those found in body mists , colognes, and eau de toilettes formulas. The more oil, the longer the scent lasts sans touch-ups. Because of this potency, extrait and absolue fragrances tend to be more expensive than their EDT and EDP counterparts. (The sticker shock is real.)
What makes a perfume long-lasting? What are the best tips to make fragrances last longer? Meet the experts Our staff and testers Aside from the fragrance itself, it’s key to make sure your skin is adequately moisturized; some fragrance obsessives like to apply a layer of thick, unscented body lotion or Vaseline to help “lock in” the scent, or use the accompanying fragranced body wash and body lotion for a layered effect. Hair mists have also become popular as a way to add additional fragrance to your top-to-toe beauty routine. Looking for a scent that will linger long past your initial application? Check out some of our faves for those marathon days and nights.
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Parfums de Marly
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: Perfume lovers have been obsessed with Delina for a few years now, us included; it won a Best of Beauty Award in 2024 , after all. Don’t let the pale pink bottle fool you—Delina makes a big, bold floral statement with every spritz. Rose, lily of the valley, and peony notes get a lift from bright lychee and rhubarb for that instant “pow” factor, which sparkles on skin for hours. It’s simply enchanting, and it stays that way from a.m. to p.m.
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
“This is my first Parfums de Marly fragrance and I'm in love! The fruity and floral mix of lychee, rhubarb, rose, and vetiver makes for a slightly powdery scent that's so delicate but also feels complex and elegant. Most of all, I love that the scent lingers all day. So many fragrances evaporate quickly, and by the time I get to the office, I feel like I need another spritz, but I can still smell this perfume on my work clothes at the end of the day. ” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
Key notes: rose, lily of the valley, peony, lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, cashmere wood Sizes: 1 oz, 2.5 oz Best Long-Lasting Moody Floral: Ex Nihilo Lust in Paradise Extrait de Parfum Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Ex Nihilo
Allure senior staff writer Elizabeth Gulino applying…