The habits that shorten wear
Rubbing your wrists together after spraying is the classic one. It crushes the delicate top notes and speeds up evaporation; let the scent dry on its own instead. Storing the bottle on a sunny windowsill or on a shelf in a steamy bathroom degrades the composition over months, so a drawer or cupboard is kinder.
Applying to skin that's just been washed with strongly scented shower gel creates a muddle that fades into something generic. And spraying into the air and walking through it looks lovely in films but wastes most of the fragrance on your carpet.
How many sprays is actually enough?
Two to four is the usual honest answer, depending on concentration: an eau de parfum needs fewer than an eau de toilette, and anything labelled extrait or parfum may only need one. The better test is asking someone you trust rather than relying on your own nose, because scent fatigue sets in fast and the temptation to keep topping up is how people end up wearing far more than they realise.
Should I have a different perfume for autumn and winter?
You don't need a wardrobe of bottles, but one warmer scent alongside your year-round favourite genuinely earns its place, because heavier notes perform far better in cold air. An alternative is to layer — a warm, simple base such as a vanilla or amber under your usual fragrance gives the lighter scent something to anchor to and pushes it through the afternoon.
