Yes, to answer briefly. A perfume will inevitability expire once it is opened. For those of us who own a lot of expensive perfumes, this may come as a tragic realization, but it is the truth. The chemical makeup of the fragrance, the makeup of the scent, and how it has been stored, to name a few, will all affect how quickly your perfume goes bad.
Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about how long perfume and cologne lasts, how to tell if your perfume has expired and how to store it properly.
Table of Contents
Does Perfume Expire?
In fact, cologne and perfume expire. The chemical makeup of the scent, however, determines how long they last. Numerous perfumes lack a clear-cut expiration date, particularly those produced by reputable companies like Chanel or Marc Jacobs. Some will start to fade in less than a year, while others can last up to ten years. The average shelf life of a fragrance is between three and five years.
Experts claim that perfumes with stronger base notes will last the longest. These scents improve with age, according to some who compare them to fine wines. Oriental scents, such as those with patchouli and amber, are examples of scents with stronger base notes.
The mixture is frequently more volatile when a fragrance’s lighter base notes are prominent. For example, perfumes with citrus, green, or floral notes frequently don’t last as long.
How you store the fragrances will also impact shelf life. Correctly stored perfumes will last much longer than improperly stored ones (more on that later).
If your perfume does go bad, applying it might cause an unpleasant odor, skin rashes, or even, in rare instances, an allergic reaction. It’s best to test your perfume before using it if it has been around for more than a few years.
Does Perfume Expire If Unopened?
What if a perfume bottle has never been opened? Does the scent go bad if you’ve never sprayed it?
It appears that there is no set rule. Given that it hasn’t been oxidized, a perfume bottle that hasn’t been opened will likely last longer. Even unopened perfume bottles, however, eventually go bad. You must keep the bottle in the proper environment to increase its lifespan; we’ll go into more detail on this below.
How Long Do Unopened Perfumes Last?
Depending on the perfume and storage conditions, unopened bottles can last for years (from a few years to a couple of decades) when kept in a cool, dry place. When you get the “vintage” find, the top notes are frequently off. Use a bottle up once, then throw it away.
Which Perfumes Have a Longer Shelf Life?
It’s generally accepted that perfumes with heavier base notes last longer than those with lighter base notes. Strong base notes can be found in oriental, woodsy, or ambery scents. Try to finish these fragrances up quickly because lighter base notes are more volatile and don’t last as long. See how long a perfume might last in the helpful diagram we’ve included below. As you can see, a perfume with a woody note lasts a lot longer than one with a vibrant citrus scent. Notably, essential oil-based perfumes will last longer than those made with vegetable oils, which are more likely to lose their potency quickly.
How to Tell If My Perfume Has Expired?
There are a few obvious indications that your perfume is no longer fresh. Check out these signals that your scent has seen better days:
Does It Smell Different?
This is the first and most obvious symptom. Has it lost its distinctive scent and vitality, or does it still smell the same as it once did? Is there any vinegar aroma or difference in the concentration? Perhaps it has a metallic smell or is a little sour? It is important to keep in mind that over time, oxygen can change the chemicals in the perfume. A simple trick is to spray the perfume on some paper and take a sniff to see if you can smell anything off. You won’t have to spend the entire day smelling like an old bottle of perfume and you won’t have to factor in your skin’s chemistry.
How Does It Look?
Examining the perfume’s color serves as the second test. The perfume has likely expired if it appears darker than it once did.
Have a Look at the Expiration Date
The packaging for your perfume, if you kept the box, should have an expiration date, which you should check. A batch code or an expiration will typically be visible here.
Is Using An Expired Perfume Safe?
It varies overall. Some oxidization products can irritate the skin, and some perfumes may start to leave stains on clothing that weren’t there before. Always perform a patch test, such as on the inside of your wrist, to check, and if you haven’t experienced any side effects after 24 hours, proceed with caution and at your own risk. Direct contact with the decomposed compounds could trigger allergic reactions. If the juice is not staining fabric but you’re still not sure about putting it on your skin, try scenting your clothing with it
What Happens If You Use Expired Perfume?
In most cases, the worst that can happen if you spray expired perfume on your skin is that you’ll smell a little funny; it’s not the end of the world, but it’s also not the most fun either! Sometimes, but infrequently, people will experience a more obvious reaction, like skin irritations or allergic reactions. However, it’s best to test the fragrance first, especially if you discover that you have sensitive skin.
Tips for Storing Perfume
If you want perfume to last as long as possible, it’s critical that you store it properly. A fragrance should not be exposed to extreme temperature changes when being stored properly.
While keeping your perfume in the bathroom may be alluring, the hot and cold temperature swings can actually hasten the expiration of your perfume. You should keep your favorite summer scents in a cool environment because humidity can interfere with the chemicals inside.
Additionally, you should avoid storing your perfume in direct sunlight because the heat damages the chemical structure of the perfume and reduces its effectiveness.
You might believe that keeping it in the fridge is a smart move because heat degrades perfumes. The temperature change that occurs when you remove the perfume from the refrigerator, however, can be just as harmful.
In a cool, dry, and dark location, like a bedroom closet or dresser, perfume is the most stable. It’s best to keep perfume in its original bottle because air exposure can also throw off the fragrance’s chemical composition. The alcohol inside can also evaporate more quickly due to this, hastening the fragrance’s expiration.
Can You Extend the Shelf Life of Perfume?
Keep perfumes away from any sources of heat. The main adversaries of perfume are oxygen, light, and heat.
A perfume should be kept in a cool, dark location away from heat and sunlight to maximize shelf life. UV light can damage fragrances and cause formula breakdown. The ideal environment and storage location for a fragrance is the refrigerator.
Some fragrances also have a tendency to last longer than others. In general, scents with notes of spice, wood, and vanilla tend to last longer than scents from other olfactory categories. These formulas’ natural ingredients have a higher potency and structural stability.
Huclier continues by saying that because these rich base notes are less fragile, they are less volatile and have a higher resistance to oxidation.
Ways to Make Your Perfume Last Longer
Keep Perfume Away from Light
The worst place to store fragrance if you want to maintain its integrity is on your window sill, despite the fact that it may look cute to do so. According to Pallez, exposure to light will cause the molecules in a fragrance to disintegrate, making the composition unstable and prone to oxidation.
Keep Perfume Away from Heat and Humidity
Additionally, heat will change the chemical composition of fragrance molecules and break them down. Pallez advises keeping the fragrance at or below 59 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees Celsius. The bathroom should not be used to store fragrances, advises Long.
Keep Using It until the Bottle is Empty
The oxygen inside increases the likelihood of change when it is only halfway full. If you have a large perfume collection, rotate it so that the lowest juice bottles are used up first and the remaining bottles are stored in a cabinet or drawer.
Store in a Cool Place
The refrigerator is a good choice for maintaining the ideal temperature for your fragrance. If the entire family is constantly opening the fridge’s door and illuminating the interior, it is not the ideal place. The freezer might work better than wrapping your fragrance in aluminum foil. Because perfume contains alcohol, it won’t freeze and feels cool to the touch.
The Takeaway
To ensure the longevity of your fragrance, proper care is required. Additionally, by correctly applying your scent, you can get the most out of it. Avoid applying perfume to your pulse points because your body heat will cause some of the notes to evaporate. In order to lock in scent and enjoy every last drop, apply on moist, damp skin.
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