i know pH effects how long the scent of a perfume/colonge remains on
the skin, and i know different colognes/perfumes simply by their
nature (or brand) is a factor too; but i'd like to know or read
information on how to make the scent last longer (in an attempt to
overcome pH and other factors). that is, things like tricks, home
remedy-like solutions, locations, etc.

Maybe this info will be useful to you-- cheaper colognes/perfumes use
a type of molecule called esters, which smell really good (usually a
fruity type smell), but which are easily cleaved to an alcohol and an
acid (which could actually smell funny or bad) under conditions of
heat or simply with time. Therefore, your first step should be to buy
the non-cheap stuff.

There are several ways to make your fragrance last longer. You can try
"layering" your scent by applying different products of the same brand
-- you can use the fragrance bath gel (if the company has one), then
use the moisturizer, and then top it off with the cologne. For an even
longer effect, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or Eau de Cologne tend
to last longer.
Apply it on your wrists, behind your ears, on your neck, and low on
the body such as behind your knees (a little dab here, a little dab
there).
While it's good for a scent to last long, don't go overboard or you'll
end up smelling like you soaked in it for seven days.

A light spray on the hair can last all day.

Apply scent more often if you have fair, dry skin or a high-strung,
emotional personality (fragrance evaporates from these skin and
personality types more quickly). Oily skin retains scent longer --
more oil glands mean more oil joins with the perfume oils for slower
evaporation, greater durability.

Hope this helps

One of the things I was told by people who served the perfume industry
was that one ingredient made perfume last longer - ambergris. It is an
intestinal fluid generated by sperm whales, and it would sometimes
wash ashore. Another said that an extract from blubber was also used
for perfumes, but whatever the particular substance, I'm sure it was
something from whales that made perfume scents really last long when
applied. Of course, since whaling has been banned and this product is
not available anymore, so another scent-duration-lengthener would be
advised.

Hi thinkbow,

How can I keep my fragrance from going off? 

Keep your fragrances in a cool, dry and dark area as sunlight can
unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in
its box to ensure a longer shelf life.



What is shower gel?

Shower gel is very much like a soap, but in different form. It helps
your fragrance last much longer.



What is the best way to store by fragrances?

Please remember to keep your fragrance away from the window, or heat
so that the ingredients are not altered. The best place it to store
the fragrance is in the original box and in a cool dry area.



Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Perfume, and Eau de Cologne, what do
they represent?

The concentration of oils in the fragrance is the key in
distinguishing the different names. The oils in the fragrances are
called "juice." The highest concentration of "juice" is in parfum
commonly known as perfume. Then Eau de Parfum, then Eau de Toilette,
and finally Eau de Cologne. After Shave has the least amount of oils.
The higher the concentration of "juice" the longer fragrance lasts.



I can make scents last longer on by body, is that true? 
There are few things you can do to make the scent last longer. Use the
fragrance bath gel, then the moisturizer or powder, and then the Eau
de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or Eau de Cologne, will usually offer a
longer lasting result. Additionally, apply your fragrance toward lower
part of your body, on your neck and behind your ears. For a great
lasting effect, a light spray on your hair can last all day.


Best regards,
tlspiegel

It's wise to keep in mind that your fragrance may be much longer-lived
than you know. After a little while, we tend to become desensitized to
a scent that we are wearing, and it's easy to assume that the scent
has worn off. However, other people may still be able to detect it.

I suspect that many of the folks we meet in public who seem totally
drenched in cologne may have re-applied their scent repeatedly in the
mistaken assumption that it had worn off. The result can be a walking
cloud of Giorgio that would choke a skunk. ;-)