Written by Kyra Collins
Edited by CHIQIO
Keywords: perfume expiration, fragrance care, scent longevity, expired perfume signs, perfume storage
Meta description: Discover if your perfume has expired with this guide. Learn how to test the smell, check for color changes, and understand volume loss. Find out how to care for your fragrance to ensure it lasts longer and maintains its peak scent.
Perfume does eventually expire and go bad. The good news is that an open fragrance can last about three to five years with its best scent. An expired perfume can have a bland or unpleasant scent and, in some cases, might cause a reaction. High-quality perfumes can last up to 10 years and are worth testing for expiration before throwing out. There are ways to find out if a fragrance has gone bad before assuming the worst.
Test the Smell
A good indicator of a fragrance expiration is if the scent has changed or diminished. If the scent smells different than you remember, it is a sign the perfume may be expired. Perfumes with intricate scents are made with multiple ingredients, chemically made or natural. The mix of these ingredients can cause a differing smell once the fragrance has started to expire.
Change in Color
Perfumes with color can also change slightly over time. Dyes and alcohol concentrations change as the perfume ages. Perfume can become darker in color or become clearer with opacity, showing the aging of the fragrance. Take a photo of your perfume when first buying or receiving it to be able to see a change in color for later. If you do not have a photo of the fragrance early on, the color can also be compared to the product’s photos online to see a change of color or not.
Change in Volume
Perfumes can also evaporate from a high alcohol concentration. This leaves base ingredients, colors, and essential oils in the bottle but less alcohol content, therefore less perfume in the bottle. Noticing a difference in the volume of product in the bottle can also mean expiration.
Expiration Date
Although not all perfumes expire and some may last up to 10 years, every product has a required expiration date for best use since manufacturing. This can be an easy indicator if any of the other signs appear for a fragrance. Each product has a specific number with a company and the serial code or Period After Opening (PAO) number can be searched online to find an expiration date. If your memory is making it hard to see a difference in smell, color, or volume, having the expiration date can help to figure out if your fragrance is expiring or not.
How to Care for Your Fragrance
Perfumes can last longer and hold a peak scent with the proper care or maintenance. Brands will often put the correct temperature and setting to keep the perfume in for storage. It is best to follow company instructions. For general storage across multiple brands, it is recommended to keep perfumes in cool and dry places. Additionally, perfumes should not be moved from the original bottle because the original scent you purchased was curated specifically to the dimensions of its packaging.
Fragrance Storage Tips Photo Reference
Unopened vs. Opened Fragrances
Unopened fragrances last years longer than those opened but will expire too. Chemical composition and storage conditions affect the shelf life of a fragrance, both open or unopened. Ultimately, keeping proper maintenance and storage of a fragrance will increase longevity, and keeping an eye out for any of the changes listed will help indicate a fragrance expiration.
What Does Expiration Mean?
Many manufacturers will recommend tossing a fragrance if it has expired in case of irritations or potential allergic reactions. An expiration of a scent simply means the chemicals have worn out and a scent might not be as good as before. It is not necessarily bad to continue using an expired scent, but the smell may be unpleasant and there might be a reaction for some. It is best to check your favorite scent for signs of aging or expiration before tossing it out.
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