Perfume Storage Tips: Keep Your Fragrance Fresh
Does perfume go bad? It most certainly can (kind of – we’ll explain). If you’re reading this, chances are you’re looking for ways to improve how you store your fragrances. The good news? With just a few adjustments to your storage methods, you can extend the life of your favorite perfumes. In this blog, we’ll break down the best practices for keeping your scents fresh and long-lasting.
Do Perfumes Actually Go Bad?
The short answer is yes, they do. The obvious answer is the same given this blog wouldn’t exist otherwise. But we will say, its not as dramatic as you might think. Unlike food and beverages, perfumes don’t spoil per se. But their scent compositions can change over time and not for the better. Exposure to heat, light, and air can cause the delicate chemical balance in perfumes to break down, altering the fragrance you fell in love with.
So what are we talking about specifically?
To begin, the scent will weaken. The top notes are typically the first to degrade, so the splashy pop you normally get when you first spritz will be less and less. And that ultimately will lead the overall fragrance to feel a bit unbalanced
There can also be a musty smell as the ingredients lose potency.
And lastly, color changes occur, particularly due to heavy expure to sunlight. This oxidation can make the perfume appear cloudy.
The good news is that with the right storage habits, you can significantly delay any of this happening to your favorite scents. In the next section, we’ll explore how to store your perfumes correctly to extend life.
How To Properly Store Your Perfumes
To ensure your perfumes stay fresh and true to their original scents, the proper storage is key. Here’s our most important tips.
Keep ‘Em Cool
Heat is absolutely one of the biggest enemies of a fresh scent. A high temperature can breakdown fragrance molecules and begin a process of degredation. Store perfumes in a cool environment of between 60 and 70 degrees. Don’t place them near headers, or sunny windows, or in bathrooms where hot showers may rapidly change temps.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Your fragrances don’t desire the same extended beach vacations as you do. No need to expose them to sunlight because that can not only create heat (we just discussed that issue) but also enter in UV damage risks. UV rays can lead to chemeical damage in the perfume. So drawers, cabinets, and the original perfume box are all good ways to avoid sunlight.
Seal ‘Em
Air exposure can oxidize your perfume, weakening its potency and altering the scent. Always ensure the cap is tightly closed after each use to prevent unnecessary air contact.
Stand ‘Em Up!
Just like people, good posture is key with the longevity of a perfume. Storing your perfume upright reduces the risk of liquid seeping into the atomizer and prevents evaporation. Lying a bottle on its side can also cause uneven pressure on the sprayer mechanism.
Avoid Humidity
You may enjoy the hot showers, but your perfumes and fragrances will not. Humidity damages perfumes over time. And there is no more a better environment for humidity than your bathroom.
Use Original Fragrance Box
We mentioned this one in the “avoid sunlight” section, but its worth doubling down on. The original packaging isn’t just for looks, it is designed to protect your perfume from light and temperature fluctuations. Its particularly important keep your perfume in the original box when you don’t use the fragrance all that frequently.
Fragrance YouTuber Robin James explains there’s a lot of do’s and don’ts when it comes to storing fragrances. He doubles down on our point about making sure to avoid storing on a window or under light. He also says that you shouldn’t store your fragrances in the bathroom because the humidity and heat can change the construction of the fragrance, which will affect the smell. Robin says that while the perfect fragrance person would keep their fragrances in the original box with the lid firmly on and in a dark place, he prefers to keep his fragrances out on display so he can easily see and access them.
Final Notes
Proper perfume storage makes all the difference in preserving the quality and longevity of your favorite scents. By keeping your bottles cool, away from sunlight, and sealed tight, you can ensure they stay as fresh and delightful as the day you got them. Treat your perfumes right, and they’ll reward you with lasting, vibrant aromas.