Do Fragrances Expire? Surprising Truth About How Long Colognes Last Before Going Bad

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[fmfdocbotl]

I have oils I got about 25 yrs ago back in the Gulf. They still smell great

[beautifulday]

I have a bottle of Polo (original, green) from 2002. Still smells great - just as it is in the department stores now, but stronger.

[joebaumgart]

I'm a collector and expert with a Masters degree in Biochemistry.

Light and heat are the enemies of a fragrance. They cause the fragrance to break down at a molecular level essentially making the heart note into the top note. I keep all of mine in a designated refrigerator. If you can't afford that a closet away from any vents or a basement will do fine.

[jpjp]

I store my fregrances in a freezer located in a dark place in the ice caves of Antarctica.
Gotta go across the world every time I use it.
😉🤣😂

[frankzajac]

I thought this was a very interesting topic. Really made me think about my fragrance collecting hobby. Like you Antonio, I have over 500 different bottles, not including my backup's. I think I am going to use them more, enjoy them for what they are. I have a bottle of Acqua Di Gio from 2009, over 13 years old, and it STILL smells great! Only bad thing is the longevity seems to have died down a little.

[justinreadingbooks]

My La Nuit D L'Homme from 2010 is still a beast. I bought it for our wedding in 2011 and it smells like our wedding and honeymoon

[bernardtalbert]

The majority of fragrances will last several years as long as you storing them to avoid heat. Several YouTube fragrance reviewers have hundreds to a thousand bottles going back as far as 10 years of collecting and they rarely report any going bad. But some do actually go bad or change color. It's definitely an issue to consider if you are purchasing old discontinued fragrances which are no longer available and often sold at heavily inflated prices.

The most common sources of heat are your room temperature (e.g. HVAC setting, near fireplace/space heater), exposure to light (i.e. avoid direct sunlight) and humidity (i.e. avoid bathroom). Some people keep bottles stored in their original boxes. Some store them in a closet. Some keep them stored in a display case or bookshelf.

[paulbunyan]

I have a bottle of Burberry Brit that I bought back in 2006. Lost the cap and just had it laying around. It is potent, captivating and has gotten better with age.

[DJFAmenHeavy]

Store them correctly and most will be fine. I have fragrances over 30 years old that smell amazing still.

[mugger]

My Paco Rabane 1 Milion that i got in 2008, has definitely lost some of the high pitched sweetness and spice, but it still totally smells like 1 million and now its alittle darker i like it even better. I think most perfumes will last a good amount of time if stored well.

[a]

They have vintage fragrance stores for a reason lol. If you store it properly it will be fine

[dualityofman]

I stored my Dior Sauvage in my refrigerator for 6 months. Now it smells like bacon & eggs. I've never received more compliments.

[leelane]

I have a hand-me-down bottle of Brut that my dad bought back in the 70's or 80's...still smells fantastic. Takes me back to my childhood every time I open it up.

[timepiece_enthusiast]

Perfect topic for me right now:
I haven't worn my Dior Sauvage EdP that I bought a few years ago for quite some time since I quickly learned how mainstream this scent is as soon as I got more deeply into the world of fragrances.
I thought I'd give it a shot again, just out of curiosity because I haven't smelled it in such a long time and I was surprised by what my nose picked up. It smelled nothing like I remember, the top notes where completely gone and the whole scent just smelled like a bit of nothingness.
Like I said, the bottle is probably about 4 years old now, 100ml about 2/3 gone and it stood on a shelf close to a window in a room that get's very warm in summer when the AC isn't running, the perfect combination to kill a perfume I guess...

[amksco]

I had a bottle of gucci envy that I bought back in the day, it definitely expired lots of white flakes suddenly appeared in it recently and turned it all murky . However a bottle of issey miyake pour homme, opium for men and aqua de parma colonial bought over 20 years ago are still fighting the good fight and smell fantastic. Fantastic.

[melbert]

I have over 200 bottles stored in cupboards. They range from budget to niche in price. I have some bottles over 20yr old that are still good as new but a few 'newer' ones that are starting to turn. I blame shops for displaying them under hot bright lights. Thankfully the ones that are turning are cheap ones that i don't love or wear. 👍

[TheJoeMB]

I had fragrances for upto 10 years.
Keep them in their boxes in a drawer and they are good.
Heat and UV exposure does kill fragrances.

[jimlittle]

I store mine in a very cool area that has no sunlight or humidity. Fragrances last for many years if stored correctly.

[ryne]

I have a CK Eternity for men form 1990. Was my father's bottle which he gifted for me. It smells great, like an aged, deeper, somewhat sweeter version of Eternity.

[valentino-]

My oldest fragrance is now UltraMale from 2018 and it is still the same. I always stored my fragrances in the dark in the closet with their original packaging. After spraying, I turn the bottles and spray the remaining liquid and air out until nothing comes out anymore. I’ve also a Cartier Santos Splash EDT from the late 80‘s and didn’t smell bad. Fougere-oldschool not mine but was a present from my grandma was grandpas one of the last fragrances.