Real Talk: Do You Really Need a Fragrance Primer?

Spend five minutes on #PerfumeTok and you’ll find endless hacks promising to make your signature scent last all day. There are the classics (have you tried Vaseline on pulse points?), the questionable (layering five perfumes at once) and the new rising star: fragrance primers. These lotions and oils claim to grip perfume the same way makeup primers grip foundation, and TikTokers swear they’re game changing. But do they really work? Or are they just another layer we’re adding because our FYP told us to?

To get real answers, I turned to Dr. Addi Fadel, Global Head of Technical Development Fine Fragrance at DSM-Firmenich, who broke down what fragrance primers actually do, how they interact with perfume on a molecular level and whether they’re worth the extra spritz.

Think of a fragrance primer as the basecoat of the perfume world. “A fragrance primer is a preparatory base that’s formulated to help the skin better receive and hold fragrance, helping to stabilize the scent’s diffusion and extend its wear,” Dr. Fadel explains. In other words, it gives your skin a smoother, more balanced surface for your perfume to cling to.

Some primers are unscented and others are scented, designed to enhance or even transform your perfume through layering. But are primers actually making fragrance last longer, or just making it smell stronger upfront? According to Dr. Fadel, it depends on the type of primer. “Depending on the type, its impact on fragrance longevity can stem from hedonic layering or from a matrix effect within the primer formulation,” he says.Unperfumed primers help primarily through their cosmetic base which are primarily rich with moisturizing agents that act like fixatives. Fragranced primers, on the other hand, can boost projection or extend wear if they contain slow-evaporating ingredients that mingle with your perfume’s molecules. So yes, some primers extend longevity. Some simply give your fragrance a megaphone. And the best ones might do both.

If you’re imagining a thick layer of oil trapping perfume on your skin, you’re half right. The formula matters more than the format. “A primer’s impact on fragrance wear depends on both the perfume type and the formulation materials,” Dr. Fadel explains. Humectants, polymers and skin-conditioning agents play a major role. They create a hydrated, balanced surface that slows the escape of volatile molecules, especially those bright top notes that vanish within minutes. So while oils can help, the real magic comes from sophisticated blends of moisturizing agents and fixative-like polymers that keep scent molecules from evaporating too quickly.

If you’ve ever noticed that your favorite perfume smells one way in the morning and completely different by lunch, that’s normal. Top notes evaporate first, followed by heart notes and finally the deep musks and ambers that linger until evening. And primers subtly shift that journey. 

“Primers generally extend the drydown phase of a fragrance by influencing the volatility of perfume ingredients,” Dr. Fadel says. This is most noticeable with lighter fragrances (like citrus, aquatic or airy florals) since their fleeting top notes benefit most from a slower release. If you wear richer, base-heavy scents, a primer may not drastically alter how they evolve, but it can help them stay smoother and more balanced over time.

Additionally, primers can interact differently with top versus base notes, or with polar versus non-polar compounds in your perfume. “These interactions may influence the perceived evolution of the scent during drydown,” Dr. Fadel notes.

Fragrance primers can be more than a trend, especially when they’re formulated to work in harmony with your perfume. As Dr. Fadel explains, they offer real benefits when the ingredients and fragrance construction are thoughtfully aligned. Still, their rise is also tied to the bigger shift that wearers are all looking for products that do more.

If your perfume tends to fade fast, or you love experimenting with scent layering, a primer can absolutely elevate your routine. But if your go-to fragrance already lingers on your skin, a good moisturizer may be all you need. A fragrance primer isn’t a must-have for everyone, but it can be a smart addition. Just choose one that complements your scent and matches your scent goals.