All You Need to Know About the Shelf Life of Perfume
                     ALL YOU NEED 
TO  KNOW 
ABOUT THE  
SHELF LIFE OF  
PERFUME
GIFTSANDTHREADS.CO
M
Have you kept a perfume with you for several years and noticed its  
potency has reduced? Or maybe it started to smell off with time? If 
so,  these are the signs of a perfume surpassing its shelf life. Now 
you may  be wondering –  does perfume expire? Yes, they do. 
However, there are  certain things to keep in mind to enhance its 
shelf life or lifespan. The  quality of perfume and how it’s stored 
have a huge impact on making a  perfume last longer.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about 
perfume  expiration and how to make it last longer.
Gifts and Thread
DOES PERFUME 
EXPIRE?
Well, by now, you know that 
perfumes  can expire or go bad. 
However, their  longevity often 
depends on the  perfume’s 
chemical composition. Most  
perfumes, particularly from 
reputed  brands like Marc Jacobs, 
Chanel, etc.,  don’t come with a 
hard-and-fast expiry  date. 
However, in general, some  
perfumes can expire within a year,  
whereas others last for up to 10 
years.
Typically, three to five years is the average shelf life of 
perfumes.
As per experts, fragrances for men and women with heavier bases are 
likely  to last longer. Some people even compare perfumes with fine 
wine, as they  notice perfumes getting better with age. Some examples 
of perfumes with  heavier base notes are those with amber and 
patchouli.
On the other hand, perfumes with lighter base notes are more volatile. 
For  instance, fragrances with floral, citrus and green apple base notes 
don’t last  much longer.
Gifts and Thread
HOW TO STORE PERFUME TO MAKE IT LAST 
LONHGereE aRre a few tips to keep in mind to make your perfumes 
last longer:
1 KEEP PERFUME 
AWAY  FROM 
LIGHT
While it may look nice to store 
your  perfume on a window sill, it 
is the worst  place to keep a 
fragrance. To preserve its  
integrity, never keep perfume on 
a  window sill. For, light can get 
into the  bottle and break down 
its molecules and  make its 
composition prone to oxidation  
and unstable.
2 STORE PERFUME AWAY  FROM 
HUMIDITY AND  HEAT
Heat also tends to break down 
the  molecules of perfume and 
alter its  chemical composition. 
Experts suggest  keeping 
perfumes below 15 degrees  
Celsius. Also, try not to keep 
perfumes in  a bathroom, as the 
place is humid and  not good for 
perfume storage.
3 USE A PERFUME BOTTLE  UNLESS 
IT’S EMPTY
When half empty, there is a 
higher  risk of oxygen 
altering the  composition of 
fragrances. If you  have a 
huge perfume collection,  
make sure to first use the 
lowest  juice bottles and 
then use the full  ones. It 
will ensure that half-empty  
bottles are not at risk of 
alteration.
4 STORE PERFUMES IN A  COOL PLACE
It is best to keep your fragrances 
in a cool  place like a fridge. 
However, experts  recommend 
wrapping perfume bottles in  
aluminium foil before putting 
them in a  fridge. Or simply keep 
it in a freezer.
Since perfume includes alcohol, it 
won’t  freeze. Moreover, it will 
stay refreshing at  such a cool 
temperature.
HOW LONG CAN PERFUME LAST IF 
UMaNnyO pPeoEplNe EhaDve? this question in mind, as a perfume bottle comes 
with no  expiration date. So, it’s hard to tell. But as per Givaudan 
perfumer Jacques Huclier,  who is behind the formation of many 
perfumes for brands like Hugo Boss, Gucci and  Thierry Mugler, a 
perfume’s unopened bottle may last for many years depending on  
how you store it.
Another best way to make a perfume last longer is to finish one 
bottle first before  starting another one. It will preserve the shelf life 
of the unopened perfume bottle.  So, you can keep it in your 
wardrobe for as long as you want.
Gifts and Threads
ARE EXPIRED PERFUMES SAFE TO USE?
It depends. Experts say that some oxidization products could irritate your skin. 
And,  some old perfumes can even start staining your clothes. Therefore, it is 
best to do a  patch test on your wrist. It checks whether or not your skin reacts 
to a perfume  within 24 hours. You can apply it cautiously at your risk.
If a perfume starts irritating your skin, do not apply it directly to your skin. 
Instead,  use it to scent the clothes only. For instance, use it to scent a scarf, 
trousers, inside  hem of a skirt or handkerchief. Hence, it is easier to use an 
expired perfume without  harming your skin.
Gifts and Threads
FINAL 
TNakinOg gToodE cSare of perfumes for women  
and men is crucial to maintaining their  
longevity. Moreover, with proper storage 
of  perfumes, you get the most out of 
your  scent. Also, avoid rubbing 
fragrances on  pulse points, as body 
heat can also  evaporate some notes 
from it. It is best to  apply perfumes on 
damp, moist skin to  lock the scent 
within the skin for a long  duration.
Shop Now