If you noticed your fairly new perfume isn’t as strong as it was when you first opened it, or it smells a little different, it’s probably because it has diluted or oxidized. This could be because you did not keep it well. So how do you store perfume to make it last longer?
If you think placing your tightly closed perfume bottles on your vanity is all you need to do to keep the smell, it’s not that simple.
You see, perfumes are lovers of the dark. The darker place it finds, the better it stays. So if you want to learn how to store perfumes properly, you should read this article.
It will show you how to store perfumes, where, and why you need to store perfumes.
How to store perfumes
1. Keep it in a dark place
This is the first cardinal rule of storing perfumes. Keep your perfume bottle in a dark place. If it can stay in its packaging and still in a darker corner of your bedroom, even better.
Sun rays break down perfume while still in bottles, and unfortunately, for some fragrances that come in transparent bottles, unlike serums or essential oils, the rays penetrate the bottles and tear down their formula.
This is a gradual process of altering its smell and texture. You might not even notice it for months when the color degradation or dilution has fully happened.
So a good place to keep it is in drawers, closets, and cabinets.
2. Store in a cool, dry place
Water, mist, or anything moist is not good for perfumes. So while storing in a dark corner, make sure the place is not too misty or humid. When exposed to water, the structure of the perfume changes, making it hard to keep its scent.
However, the bathroom should not be the best place to store perfumes. That is a place of mist, especially when out in the open.
Also, bathroom temperatures are always running hot or cold; it is never consistent. This can affect the DNA of the perfume.
To avoid this, store it in a cabinet outside the bathroom, or place it in a drawer with dry things. Keep it constantly cool and dry to keep the fragrance long-lasting.
3. Keep it tightly closed
Perfume degradation happens when your perfume is overly exposed to oxygen. And while you can’t stop it (it starts the second you open the lid for the first time), you can slow it down.
Once the first whiff of perfume gets in the air, close it immediately. This minimizes oxygen exposure and degradation.
Don’t be inattentive with how you use your perfume; be sure to close the lid lightly or click it firmly in place after every use.
4. Keep in its original bottle
Transferring perfume from one bottle to another will expose the formula, and it can lose its structure and smell. Even if the bottle isn’t pretty or you want to make it look or seem like something fancier, keep it in its original bottle.
The less transference and exposure, the better stored the perfume.
5. Keep in its perfume box
If you don’t love the idea of storing them in their original bottle, you won’t like keeping them in their original packaging either. Regardless, it must be done.
The box perfume comes in already prevents sunlight, air, and humid temperature from seeping in. It is its first protection. So if you want to store your fragrance, continuously keep it in its box.
6. Close after spritzing
This goes without saying. After you are done with your perfume, close the cap or lid and store it. Don’t forget to do this, even when in a rush. Be sure to keep it in its original cool, dry, and dark place.
You want to avoid contact with excess air as much as possible to avoid getting oxidized and degrading or discoloring.
7. Use smaller bottles when traveling
If you are on the road a lot, you need this. Rather than take the whole bottle with you, travel with a smaller bottle. This prevents drastic changes in temperature or humid climates from degrading the entire bottle.
As mentioned, transferring perfume bottles is not ideal, but this works because it’s not the whole thing. Additionally, using smaller bottles also helps travel lightly and conveniently.
8. Do not shake bottles
Shaking the perfume bottle excessively could lead to air exposure. The jolt can cause oxidation, which can make the perfume degrade without being exposed to air.
Once you notice too many bubbles while using your scents, put them down. That’s oxygen trapped in the bottle, and this could lead to a reaction from inside.
Consequently, handle your bottles lightly to avoid sudden jolts.
9. Check regularly for discoloration
Discoloration happens over time. Therefore, you will have to regularly check the bottle to see if there are any changes in color and structure. Once you notice a slight change in color or smell, it’s most likely going through degradation.
While this doesn’t mean the scent is completely gone, it does mean its shelf life is shortened and won’t last long anymore.
Furthermore, some ingredients – like natural ones – also darken perfume over time. However, this does not mean they are bad. Their consistency is still the same.
On the other hand, perfumes without natural ingredients are not supposed to discolor. When this happens, its formula structure is beginning to change.
Inspecting your bottle regularly would prevent this from happening because you will be able to act immediately when the first sign appears.
10. Buy a good fragrance
A good perfume will last long, no matter how mistreated it is. Before a good perfume starts to show signs of degradation, it’ll take a while. So invest in a good long-lasting fragrance.
It won’t always come cheap, but the longevity will make it worth it.
How to know perfume has gone bad
1. Discoloration
This is often the first sign. When you start to notice a slight change in color from clear to misty, the perfume is losing its structure.
2. Diluted scent
The smell weakens, and this causes a diluted scent. If you notice it’s not as strong as before, then the fragrance starts to smell faint, like being mixed with a liquid. The top note is the first to change, before the heart and base.
If you notice this, then it has gone rancid or is in the process of going bad.
3. Loses formula structure
The perfume doesn’t feel the same anymore. It either becomes oilier or lighter. Also, the cool feeling you get when you apply the fragrance starts to wane. This means it has gone bad, and the formula has degraded.
4. It starts to crystalize
This is noted around the bottle dispenser. If you notice crystalized forms around it, there is a possibility that it has gone bad or it is starting the oxidizing process.
Wipe the crystalized part with wet wipes and seal the perfume properly, then store in a cool, dry, dark place.
Why do you need to store perfumes?
Basically, to prevent it from breaking down and losing its fragrance and structure.
When you store perfumes properly, you are protecting their formula from degrading. If the ingredients (which are always concentrated and delicate) get exposed to aggressors, they break down and coagulate, which leads to degraded fragrance.
You do not want this because not only does it mean you will spend more getting another bottle, but it also means you might not enjoy a good scent anymore.
Therefore, storing your perfume properly would help maintain the lovely aroma you get from a particular bottle.
FAQs
Can perfume expire?
Yes, it can.
Most perfumes do not have expiration dates, but they do have a shelf life. The general lifespan for perfume is between three to four years after opening.
Therefore, you do not have to worry about your bottle of perfume meeting an early end as long as you store it well.
Can you store perfume in the fridge?
Yes, you can.
You can store perfume in a fridge as long as it is not too cold and the temperature is consistent.
People often do this to get the fragrance long-lasting on the body. However, this can also go wrong when there is a sudden change in temperature from in a fridge to a lukewarm room.
If you are going to keep your perfume or cologne in a fridge, continue to do so.
How do you store broken perfume bottles?
Transfer the perfume immediately.
The bottle is useless and would only accelerate degradation. Even if it has a tiny dent or a crack, transfer the perfume to another bottle without an afterthought.
Conclusion
The key to storing perfume to make it last longer is to keep it in a cool, dry, and dark place. Also, avoid rooms where the temperature changes, like a bathroom. Then always close the lid tightly and store immediately after spritzing.
These tips will not only keep your perfume in a normal state, but they would also preserve its long shelf life.
However, if you notice a diluted smell, discoloration, or change in formula structure, it means you are not doing a good job. Be extra careful with your perfume, and if too late, throw it away.
Thanks for reading.
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