Samantha Holender
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.
Long-Lasting Perfumes at a Glance:
- The Best Long-Lasting Perfumes
- What Makes a Perfume Long-Lasting?
- How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer
- How We Tested
- Why Trust Marie Claire?
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 I Love: The fine balance between smoky and vibrant
What I 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." —Kayla Greaves, Contributing Beauty Writer
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 I Love: It molds to you—it smells different on everyone based on their body chemistry
What I 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!" — Michelle Rostamian, Contributing Writer
It's a minimal, chic perfume bottle that complements any vanity.
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 I Love: It's the perfect scent for night, and it's proof that tobacco has the potential to mix well with gourmand notes
What I 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 I Love: It comes in a huge bottle that will likely last ages; Can add a $10 personal engraving
What I 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, Beauty Writer
The 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.
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 former 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 I Love: The bottle has an indent that makes it easy to hold
What I Don’t: The bottle's pink paint can chip over time
Customer Review: "After using this product for over a year, I have no complaints. I feel like it lasts all day, and sometimes I find the smell on the jacket/ sweater I wore the day I had it on after days. I’m just saying, I feel like it lasts very well and even though through the night I get nose blind, I do still get compliments on how good I smell and what I’m wearing." — Sephora
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 I Love: One spritz is all you'll need to smell good all day
What I Don’t: It's on the pricier side
Customer Review: "YES it lasts over three days on my wrist and I shower daily. YES it smells so similar to the signature Edition Hotel scent. YES I couldn’t stop smelling at my wrist every a couple of minutes. YES Le Labo lab has terrible customer service so don’t buy from their website it takes forever to process the item. YES I own so many perfumes from Chanel to Dior to MANY this Noir 29 is the most unique among them ALL. YES it doesn’t smell very feminine, yet a little masculinity gives you subtle power. YES it’s so addictive." — Nordstrom
If you're looking for something you can reapply 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 I Love: It's a great layering fragrance, but smells beautiful when worn on its own
What I Don’t: While the packaging is small enough for travel, we'd love to see it available in a bigger size
Customer Review: "It’s all of these and more. I get stopped asking what scent I’m wearing. It’s not overbearing. I struggle with scent and migraines, and I love this soft oil. It’s even nice to wear at night. Day. Summer, fall. Great addition to my lineup." — Víolette_FR
Senior 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 Holender. "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 I Love: It's made with real vanilla absolute without smelling too sweet
What I Don’t: It may be smokier than you'd expect if you're looking for a typical vanilla perfume
Customer Review: "Really love this perfume, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much money on it! It is worth the money for me. It starts off smelling like olives on my skin, but once it's dried down, it is the most sultry and smoky vanilla I have ever smelled, it's truly divine, and I can't stop smelling it on myself." — Nordstrom
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 I Love: This fragrance has an umami kick from tomato leaf to help round out the otherwise grassy scents
What I Don’t: The bottle's shape makes it difficult to store while traveling
Customer Review: "From the Garden literally smells like you just brushed past tomato vines in the sun, green, earthy, and so clean in the best way. It’s not your typical floral or fruity fragrance, which makes it feel super unique and elevated. I’ve been wearing it on warm days and always get compliments. If you love natural, garden-inspired scents, this one’s a must!" — Sephora
This fragrance, described by Phlur 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: 50 mL
Notes: Pitaya pulp, sweet orange, fruit gummies, orange flower, jasmine sambac, marigold bloom, patchouli prisma, glazed musks, sheer amber
What I Love: It comes in a weighty bottle that's easy to grip while spraying
What I Don’t: It smells almost candy-like, which can be a turn-off for some
Customer Review: "When I tell you this was my first impression of Phlur products!!!!! Runnnnnm don’t walk. It smells great and fun and yet subtly sweet. This mixed with Father Figure is chef's kissssssss, and it lasts alllllll day!" — Sephora
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 I Love: This fragrance combines floral, woody, and amber scents
What I Don’t: Its bottle design, while beautiful, can be hard to store during travel
Customer Review: "This has easily become my signature scent. I bought it blindly. I got a sample of Guidance 46 and absolutely loved it. But the way my OCD is set up, I had to get the original. So glad I did. It stays with you forever. I get the most compliments when I wear it. I will forever repurchase. 46 is good, but I prefer the original one. This is a beast of a fragrance. Worth every penny." — Neiman Marcus
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 I Love: You only need a few dabs to smell amazing all day
What I Don’t: The bottle comes with a glass dauber that can be hard to seal while traveling
Customer Review: "Warm, herbal, dry, bittersweet. Makes me nostalgic for places I’ve never been. A bee buzzing in meadows of yellow flowers, rifling through papers in an old wooden chest. Intoxicating, unique, nourishing. I’ve been wearing it in the cold months (it’s heavenly on a sweater) and look forward to seeing how it changes in other seasons and climates. Can’t stop returning to it, and the bottles (both sample and full size) are a testament to the vision and ethics of the creator, artistry through and through!" — Fragrantica
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 I Love: Its alcohol-free formula won't irritate skin
What I Don’t: Its bottle doesn't stand up independently, making this fragrance challenging to store
Customer Review: "I collect perfumes and normally don't repeat buy them, but this scent was so different and addictive! The other scents I'm not a fan of, but this one is probably my favorite of all time. I usually switch off on scents throughout the week, but I've been wearing this one every day straight to the bottle being empty! I NEVER get tired of it. It has the perfect amount of spicy vanilla and ginger." — Ulta
It’s almost impossible to scroll through #PerfumeTok without coming across fragrance brand Kayali. 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 I Love: It comes in a gorgeous frosted glass bottle that's easy to hold
What I Don’t: It may smell too sweet for some
Customer Review: "Planning on getting this for my daughter for her wedding. We smelled in the store and she LOVED IT! Thought it smelled like a bride should!!! Also want to get the small ones for the bridesmaids!!" — Sephora
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.
How We Tested
Marie Claire is an expert in fragrance, having covered topics ranging from the best floral fragrances to the best citrus and gourmand fragrances. The beauty team has years of experience in the fragrance space. They have tested nearly every fragrance released over the past five years, and written content about vanilla fragrances, new fragrances for 2024 & 2025, and fruity fragrances.
Editors were quick to volunteer their favorite long-lasting fragrances. After picking the top contenders, our independent testers (plus a few Marie Claire staffers) and yours truly tested them. We individually reviewed their fragrances based on their complexity, wear, and number of compliments received while wearing.
Why Trust Marie Claire?
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
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.
