How long does perfume last? Let's talk about shelf life

No matter what season it is or time of the day, no one feels completely ready without putting on their signature scent (check the best perfumes for her). Now, you might be wondering how long your favorite scent will last? Will it last throughout your hectic weekday or only stay for a few office hours? 

There's no definitive answer to how long perfumes last; it varies- on your perfume's scent and its longevity. Apart from how the perfume smells, one has many other questions when buying a new fancy fragrance bottle. We've compiled a helpful guide for you to help relieve some of your curiosity regarding perfumes' longevity and the shelf life of perfume.

How Long Does A Cologne Last In A Bottle?

If stored in the right environmental conditions, a perfume can stay in good condition for three to five years following its production date. However, this is rather a general estimation; some perfumes may even last for a longer period. Expensive fragrances from perfume specialist brands are known for their impressive longevity as they might last for up to 10 years or more!

When a perfume bottle has been opened for too long, it might start to give off an off-smell, and this is one of the first signs that the perfume has begun to deteriorate. Moreover, the composition of your fragrance also plays an active role in determining how long it will last. Perfumes with an oil composition will comparatively deteriorate after more time as compared to alcohol-based perfumes.  

The way we store perfumes is an essential determiner of their maximum shelf life. It is best not to display perfumes under direct sunlight or any significant heat source as this might dismantle the chemical structure of the fragrance as well as alter the liquid's color and consistency. To make sure your perfume lasts for a longer time, you must store it in a cool dark place. 

How Long Does It Last On Clothes?

A good cologne can last on your clothes for an entire day and even a week (check the top rated long lasting colognes). While cheap colognes tend to last for about six to twelve hours, some people claim they can smell their expensive colognes on their clothes even months later.

How Long Does It Last On Skin?

Perfumes can last on your skin for up to 24 hours; however, most famous perfumes (check the best perfumes for men) only last three to twelve hours due to their lower oil concentration. The molecular composition of cologne and the scent concentration determines how long a perfume will last on the skin. 

Even though people with oily skin are mostly struggling with their skin type, one place where oily skin is a blessing in disguise is perfume longevity. The oil in your skin tends to retain the fragrance molecules, improving longevity.

Does A Perfume Expire Or Deteriorate? 

Unlike food, perfumes don't expire that easily or quickly, they do last for about three to ten years, but a scent can become outdated. According to perfume experts, perfumes with heavier base notes like oud and amber will usually last the longest; however, some people also compare perfumes with fine wine- claiming they also get better with age. 

On the contrary, if a perfume has lighter base notes like vanilla and tonka bean, the solution is often more volatile and will expire relatively quicker. Florestal, floral, and citrus perfumes don't last that long because these soft notes are particularly sensitive to oxidation. 

When you leave them uncovered, or even if they are covered, they eventually react with the oxygen present in the air and lose their essence.

Signs Your Perfume Is Expired

There are several ways to check if your fragrance is expired or not. The most significant and initial sign of expired perfume is its immediate off smell. When you've been using a scent for years, you'll know exactly when it doesn't smell right. Moreover, if you applied it to your skin, there might have been some allergy or redness. If you're getting some skin reaction, irritation, or redness you never used to get in the first place, this is a sign that your perfume is now out of date and not fit to be used on your skin directly.

Perfumes that contain vegetable oils tend to go rancid if old and not stored properly. Rancid oils have extremely pungent and undesirable smells, which clearly indicate that the perfume is not fit for use.

Apart from the smell, the appearance of your perfume in terms of its color might also change when it's expired. Perfumes tend to develop opacity over time- become darker in color than usual, which is a clear sign of aging. 

Moreover, alcohol-based perfumes are extremely volatile, which means they begin to evaporate. If you notice strangely less perfume in your bottle although you haven't been using it, this is a sign that it is expiring. 

Does Perfume Lose Its Scent Over Time?

Alcohol-based perfumes are extremely volatile, which means they'll evaporate or lose their original scent if left uncovered for a longer period. Most perfumes, especially oil-based ones, tend to lose their scent over time because the oils tend to get rancid. 

Moreover, perfumes can also oxidize from leaving them open for too long as air gets into them and mutates their chemical structure. If you're wondering whether your perfume will lose its scent if it's all capped and stored properly, that is quite possible, but the probability is very low. 

If it is a floral, fruity (check the best smelling fruity perfumes), or citrusy scent, the perfume might lose its particular refreshing smell over time because these notes are typically soft and subtle. 

However, if your perfume is composed of amber, spice (check the best selling spicy perfumes), or oud, it won't lose its scent easily since these are relatively heavier and stronger accords. While some perfumes lose their character relatively easily, there are several expensive colognes with massive longevity and impressive sillage.

How Long Does Chanel Perfume Last Once Open?

Chanel is probably one of the most exquisite and classy perfume brands ever (check the best Chanel perfumes for ladies). While we know they surely offer a range of impressive feminine and masculine colognes, the question here is whether they last a considerable time or not? 

Chanel does not package its scents with a hard and fast expiry date; however, according to many experts- the scents have an average lasting period of three to five years once opened.

The period your Chanel perfume will last is directly proportional to its composition and accords. If the scent has floral and fruity accords in dominance, it is more volatile and lasts for a lesser time. Perfume experts claim that top accords of green notes, patchouli, aromatics, flowers, and fruits are sensitive to oxidation which is why they wave off quickly. 

However, your Chanel perfume is predicted to last relatively longer if its dominant notes comprise oud, amber, and spice, as these scents are powerful and stronger.

Can You Still Use Expired Perfume?

You might be surprised to know that most people continue using their expired perfumes without even knowing they are expired! However, some people intentionally make use of expired perfumes, too, but the question is, is it safe or not? 

If you're someone who applies perfume directly onto their skin, you should test it before using it anywhere on your body. Expired perfume can result in skin redness or skin inflammation and may cause skin allergies in severe cases. 

Out of date perfumes can cause itchy or irritated skin, which surely is something no one would want. In case of any severe skin reaction, it is best to dispose of the expired scent and consult a certified dermatologist immediately. Not only this, expired perfumes can give off undesirable solid odors that might hamper your confidence and ruin your mood.

Do Perfumes Expire If Unopened?

If you're wondering if your perfume might not lose its scent or may not expire because you haven't opened it yet, we hate to break it because that's not true. It is very much possible for the unopened perfume to go bad if it is unopened for about three to five years after its manufacturing date. 

The time duration may vary from perfume to perfume depending on the composition of the perfume oil used. Opened or not, all perfumes eventually go bad for several environmental reasons. It is inevitable to avoid heat, sunlight, and oxygen exposure. 

These factors eventually add up and cause the smell as well as the color of the perfume to alter permanently. Over time, the change will become more evident in color and smell.

Conclusion

We hope that we can see the mystery of whether perfumes expire and if you can use them. Like any other manufactured product, perfumes lose their integrity over time once they expire. While most perfumes last for a considerable time to finish the cologne, the scent may become outdated. In that case, it is undoubtedly a wise choice not to apply it to your skin.