The best way to keep perfume fresh for as long as possible is to hide it away — seriously. Dark, dry places are the best go-to’s for fragrance storage. The catacombs of a closet or a dark box are ideal for storing a brand new bottle of perfume.
But how long will the new fragrance last? Perfumes not only dilute and lose their flavorful allure over time, but discoloration and degradation can lead to bad-smelling perfume. If stored incorrectly, perfume can start to go bad after a few months. To combat this, here are 13 tips on how to store perfume.
-
Keep the Bottle Closed Until the First Spritz
It’s important to note that perfume will stay pristine until it’s opened. Introducing a bottle of fragrance to oxygen causes the scent inside to dilute and become oxidized. With more oxygen and less scent in the bottle, it’s only natural the smell will diffuse. The clock starts ticking after the first use, so be mindful of when you debut the new fragrance.
-
Store Your Perfume in a Dark Place
Perfume bottles can be as extravagant as mini chandeliers — when the sun hits them, rainbows and crystalline visages spray across your bedroom. However, they shouldn’t be kept as a centerpiece on your dresser.
Unfortunately, the introduction of light breaks down a scented liquid’s makeup and can melt its bottle too if it’s plastic. To avoid altering the sensitive DNA of a fragrance, store your bottle in a place free of both natural and man-made light.
-
Store Your Fragrance in a Dry Place
H2O is a force to reckon with. Similar to other substances, water damage will destroy a fragrance. Humidity affects a perfume’s make-up and can cause unwanted chemical reactions to occur.
This can be tough to avoid if you’re in a humid environment so if this is the case be extra cognizant. Have a room with a dehumidifier? This is the ideal place to store your fragrances.
-
Keep Your Perfume in the Original Box
When in doubt, look no further than the fragrance’s original box. While the cardboard may seem flimsy and irrelevant, these boxes were made to hold the aromatic elixir within.
Storing a bottle within the original box can drastically increase the life of a scent. When paired with a closet or dark cupboard, you have a fail-safe method of essence endurance.
-
Store on a Low-Level Shelf
While this may seem obvious, it’s an important tip to keep top of mind. Keeping a top-tier fragrance on the top shelf is a recipe for downfall. Spilling a bottle of perfume is sad and unnecessary and can leave a room smelling strong for weeks.
Even if the bottle doesn’t break, the turbulence upon landing can break chemical bonds and wreck a scent. Aim low when storing your perfume in a shelved area.
-
Avoid Excessive Shaking of the Perfume Bottle
While it may seem like a little shake can help jolt a perfume’s scent, it does the exact opposite. Similar to our pesky friend oxygen, agitating a fragrance introduces unwanted oxidation via bubbles into our favorite scents.
Not to mention, most perfumes are made with delicate chemical bonds and intricate mixtures that can be broken easily. The combination of shaking and easily compromised formulas can leave you with an unwanted science fair project rather an attractive accessory.
-
Keep Your Perfume in Its Original Bottle
Remember going to Grandma’s house and seeing extravagant bottles lined in front of the mirror? While they are beautiful ornaments, they are not the best for the perfume they contain.
Decorative perfume bottles are stellar bathroom decorations but can be one of the fastest ways to sour a sent. The original bottles for all perfumes and colognes are made to be airtight and have a specific spray-head to disperse just the right amount of scent and prevent contamination with air.
-
Store on a Low-Level Shelf
While this may seem obvious, it’s an important tip to keep top of mind. Keeping a top-tier fragrance on the top shelf is a recipe for downfall. Spilling a bottle of perfume is sad and unnecessary and can leave a room smelling strong for weeks.
Even if the bottle doesn’t break, the turbulence upon landing can break chemical bonds and wreck a scent. Aim low when storing your perfume in a shelved area.