Key Takeaways:
- A perfume’s quality and longevity can be affected by exposure to light, humidity, and drastic temperature changes.
- Fragrance formulas can be impacted by oxidation.
- Extend your perfume’s shelf life by keeping it in its original bottle, storing it upright with the cap on, and placing it in a dark, cool location outside of the bathroom.
There’s no bigger bummer than your favorite perfume expiring before you get the chance to finish the bottle. Though most fragrances are designed to last for years, there are a few mistakes that can speed up the expiration process.
Proper storage is essential for preserving the look, quality, and longevity of your perfume. With a few simple changes, you can keep your perfumes smelling exactly as intended until the very last drop. As your friendly neighborhood fine fragrance experts, we know the ins and outs, and we’ve got your back.
How Should You Store Perfume?
Perfume fragrances are easily affected by environmental changes, so how you store them matters. It doesn't require special equipment or a complicated routine, just a little consistency and care.
Here are four tips to help maintain the performance of your favorite scent.
Keep It in the Original Bottle
Transferring your scent to a different container may sound harmless, but most perfume bottles are specifically designed to protect their formulas from oxidation. When oxygen reaches the fragrance, aromatic compounds can begin to degrade. Little by little, the smell of your perfume may change, sometimes becoming weaker and other times evolving entirely.
When traveling or going out for the night, you may be tempted to transfer some of your perfume into a travel-size container. It makes total sense not to want to carry a bulky bottle around, but do it sparingly. Repeatedly opening your perfume can speed up the oxidation process and alter its scent.
Better yet, invest in a travel-size bottle of your favorite perfume. Here at Snif, it’s made easy with our Mini Fragrance Bundle. Build your own kit featuring three travel-size 10 mL fragrances. And in case you’re wondering, you can select multiples of your favorite scent!
Store in a Dark, Cool Place
When it comes to storing your perfume, a cool, dry place is always best. High temperatures tend to speed up chemical degradation, and ultraviolet rays can break down fragrance molecules, so keep your bottle out of direct sunlight.
Don’t overthink it, a dresser drawer or a closet shelf are both great options. Do your best to keep the temperature stable, and your fragrance should stay in great shape.
Keep Upright With the Cap On
An easy way to maintain your perfume’s fragrance is to keep the bottle upright with its cap securely on. This minimizes unnecessary air exposure that can dull the fragrance over time. You may be tempted to spritz on your perfume and rush out the door, but make a habit of replacing the cap and putting the bottle away immediately after use to help keep the scent strong.
Don’t Keep Fragrances in the Bathroom
Although the bathroom may sound like a convenient place to keep your perfume, it’s actually one of the worst. Thanks to sinks and showers, temperature and humidity levels are constantly fluctuating in bathrooms. These changes can distort the notes in your perfume and shorten its shelf life. Do your future self a favor and keep your perfume in a bedroom or closet instead.
Keep It Fresh
With just a little care, you can enjoy your favorite fragrance for years. Keep your perfume in its original bottle, upright, tightly sealed, and stored in a cool, dry place, preferably outside the bathroom. A little attention now will save you from disappointment later.
FAQs
What’s the best way to store perfume?
The best way to store perfume is upright, tightly capped in its original bottle in a cool, dark, dry place away from sunlight and humidity.
How can I extend my perfume shelf life?
Extend your perfume’s shelf life by avoiding exposure to air, light, and temperature changes.
Sources:
Chemical Oxidation - an overview | ScienceDirect
Why Some Fragrances Change Over Time: The Role of Oxidation | Fragrance School