Ever since I was a child, nothing’s thrilled me more than going to the mall just to see an array of perfumes being displayed on the glass mirror behind the counter. Not only that, sometimes I would even secretly wear my mum’s perfume just to get the idea on what ‘’grown women’’ supposed to smell like. And now that I’m grown myself, I couldn’t imagine leaving the house without spritzing a good amount of perfume, no matter the occasion. In short, I am obsessed with the image of smelling good. 

However, with my current obsession of buying perfumes, and judging by the date that they were originally manufactured—not to mention the price points, it makes me wonder, does perfume really expire? I mean, if they were, how would we find out? Is it harmful to keep wearing an expired perfume? See, another 101 unanswered questions that ended up fogging our brain. I would rather be thinking about the current climate change rather than analyzing if my favourite perfume is still safe to wear. 

But it’s all good, you know you could always count on us at Beauty Insider to investigate all things that’s been bothering your mind—and simply put an end to it. Especially if it’s something to do with you feeling good and smelling good. Keep reading to find out everything you should know about the lifespan of perfume, and how would you know if your favourite scent has already expired?

(Source: Unsplash)

So, Does Our Perfume Expire? 

The short answer to it? Yes, of course. At this point in life, I’m pretty sure everything that ever exists in this world comes with an expiration date (but that’s another subject to discuss). Anyhow, according to top perfumer Clement Gavary—who is a senior perfumer at Firmenich, with over years of experience working at top brands such as Tom Ford, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani—he said, a good rule of thumb is to always toss away your fragrance after one or two years upon using. But sometimes, your fragrance can stand up to three years, it all depends on the manufacture. That is why it is vital to always keep on checking the label to make sure you’re not over-exposing to an already expired product.You could suffer from an irritation and inflammable skin problems, or worse, skin cancer. 

How To Know Your Perfume Has Already Expired? 

There are a few ways you could ‘’test’’ the expiration condition of your fragrances. Again, according to Clement Gavarry, you could simply spray your perfume into the air to see the oxidation over time. If it’s already expired, you’ll simply notice a severely reduced signature itself. Meaning, it will not smell as strongly as the first time you purchased it. But here’s another thing though, once a bottle of perfume has been opened, there’s a huge possibility that your perfume will likely be exposed to fast expiration. 

Other than that, you can also try to test it on a piece of paper. For this method, simply take a piece of paper and spray it all over to see if you could detect any bizarre appearance. If the smells manage to stick for hours, it means your perfumes are still good to use, if the smell dissolves after a few hours of spraying, it is your cue to throw away your bottle perfumes. Simple as that. Last but not least, the third and last method is just by judging using the raw of your eyes. See if you could notice a yellow-ish texture, or some shifting of colours inside the bottle, if yes it means your fragrances have run out of oxidation—again, we suggest you throw your perfumes away. Do not dwell on any expiration products. Yeah, terrible, we understand. Especially if you invested in such a huge amount of money on a specific brand. But then again, always always always check on the label. Some high-end products can even offer up to three to five years before expiration. So no worries! 

(Source: Unsplash)

Where To Store Open Bottle Perfume? 

When it comes to storing under the right conditions, another world’s trusted perfumer, Gabriela Chelariu recommends, to keep your perfumes away from any direct heat sources. Meaning, stay away from placing your perfume collection next to your window. She said, ‘’Place your perfume in a cool, dark place to keep the composure and extend the life of your fragrances. UV lights can actually harm your fragrance faster than it’s original expiration date and mess up with its formula.’’ Gabriela also suggested, to make your perfume last longer, store in a refrigerator. You’ll notice the smell is much stronger. Ooh, I am definitely going to try this. 

What Happens If You Keep Using Expired Perfume? 

There is no strong scientific evidence to prove the aftermath of using expired perfume. But, a community who strongly practiced ‘’clean beauty’’, we strongly advised that you change your perfume for a maximum of two years upon using it. Do not dwell or overexposed your skin into expired chemicals—it may lead to sensitivity, inflammation, redness or worse could contribute to skin cancer. So, the moment you start to smell the funny odour, toss them away. For the sake of your health! 

(Source: Unsplash)

How To Keep Your Perfume Longer

There are a few ways you could help contribute to the life of your perfumes. We’ll make it brief: 

1. Keep It Away From Lights 

As mentioned earlier, just as much as UV rays are terrible to the appearance of your skin, same goes to the condition of your perfumes. Never place them directly next to the window. The light will mess and break the molecules of your perfumes making it prone to oxidation. 

2. Finish Your Perfume Until It Hits The Pan

Once your perfume has gone halfway, keep on using it until it hits the pan. When the bottle is already half empty, it can increase the temperature of the oxygen inside and further build the risk of alteration. Do not leave them half empty for too long though, it may risk your perfume becoming fouly. So finish it. 

3. Store In Cool, Closed Space

Believe it or not, stacking your perfume in your bathroom is never a good idea (even as many people do this). With the combination of water pipes, heat and humidity, your bathroom (same as next to the window), is the last option to store your perfume. Instead, why not place them accordingly inside your cupboard, or their original boxes, a vanity set—anywhere that is away from direct sunlight. 

4. Place Them In Fridge

One of the most suggested methods is to place your perfume inside your refrigerator. Most top perfumers around the world swear by this method to maintain longevity. Hence, the smells are proven to be stronger compared to placing them on an open area. But hey, imagine placing your perfume inside the fridge and taking them out to use it—the cooling sensation kissing your body, the strong scent serenading your surroundings, YES! 

If you’re looking for a good or top perfumes in the market currently, or if you would like to learn more about fragrances you can read 10 Of The Best Timeless & Classical Perfumes For Women, For Every Occasion

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