Clean the cork with some mild dish soap and a cloth and then rinse and dry. Then heat some paraffin wax over a flame and coat the cork with a light layer of the melted wax. Then heat a butter knife and "iron" the wax into the pores of the cork. When that is done apply just a tiny bit of cork grease to the cork and put the mouthpiece on. The first couple of times the extra wax will rub off. Just wipe it off when it does. I have not had to use cork grease for over 20 years on my alto with this treatment, and it is the same cork! John

jbt I'm into long-term solutions but my cork is already compressed flat. do you need to apply the wax to fresh cork or would I be wasting my time at this late stage. in the mean time sax104's vaso is doing the trick.

You can apply the paraffin wax at any time. I would clean the cork first rubbing gently with a cloth with warm water and dish soap. Vaseline is never advisable to use on corks. It is too thin and runny especially when warm, and can soak through the cork and dissolve the glue holding it in place. When real cork grease (or paraffin wax) is so inexpensive it is foolish not to use the appropriate product IMO. John