Most of us by now have acquired a 'perfume wardrobe'. Or may be you're one of those women who have worn a 'signature scent' all these years. Well: don't be surprised if gradually your favourite fragrance smells different on your skin. Or, which is very common, fades faster.....
You are not hallucinating. There's a reason. Skin tends to become drier from perimenopause onwards and that affects fragrance - because it interacts with the oil in your skin. Less oil means there is nothing in your skin for the fragrance to "grip" on to.
As a results, evaporation is speeded up, which also fast-forwards the process of the fragrance's development. So the base notes swoop in much sooner, and you'll get a more fleeting encounter with the top and heart notes.
But you should also be aware that there is another reason why fragrance may not smell on you as it once did; the formulation may have changed. New laws and guidelines governing fragrance ingredients have led many ingredients being withdrawn - either for reasons of potential irritancy or for environmental conservation reasons - which has forced fragrance brands to tweak some legendary confections.
We do suggest trying some of the tips. Then you may well find that your favourite fragrances smell 'right' on you again.
Use a pH-neutral body wash. This won't strip away your skin's natural oils, which are already in shorter supply than they were. (Many body washes trumpet their pH-neutrality on the label, but as a short cut you'll find them in ranges.)
Apply moisturiser before you apply your scent. This gives the scent something to "cling" on. On your body, use a totally unscented lotion (or oil), or the matching body lotion to your usual fragrance. (Most neck creams aren't so scented that they'll interfere with your fragrance choice, but they'll help by counter balancing dryness.) "layering" the body lotion or oil that matches your scent, actually 'time releases' the scent during the day as you warm up and cool down.
Try something new. If the advice above doesn't help with your current scent, look for something different - it could be a wonderful discovery! Don't rely on scent-strips in stores (except for eliminating things you aren't ever going to like); Its crucial to know how something's going to smell on your skin. Apply to your well-moistured pulse points, allow a few hours to develop - and don't be rushed. Which means that duty-free is not the place to find your 'signature scent'; go to a department store, an independent perfumery or a specialist fragrance store - there are more of these, showcasing fabulous 'niche' brands in which there are some truly sublime creations.