How long does it take for perfume to go bad?

Question

I sprayed on a Paul Smith perfum the other day and nearly got sick from the smell, but I've only had it about 5 months!! I've had my CK One for longer and it smells perfect. Are there certain types of perfume that go off quicker?

Answer 1

Perfumes can change their scent but they don't neccessarily "go bad" like say a carton of milk does.

Heat and light can alter the scent of a perfume or cologne best to keep your perfumes away from direct sunlight or excessive heat. Oil based perfumes last longest the less alcohol content the longer they'll last and not just on the shelf.

Oil based scents last longer on the skin as well.

My advice spray on your hair unless you wear say a lot of pomade or gel or mousse then spray on the pulse points on the wrists and neck and a bit on your clothes as well.

You can store perfumes in the refrigerator NOT THE FREEZER or in the closet. I use my cologne quite a bit (Lacoste Red) so i don't give it time to go bad.

I also recommend a light scent for work and a stronger scent for play.

Answer 2

Does Perfume Go Bad

Answer 3

Yes. Perfumes can 'go off'.

Generally perfumes are composed of alcohol, fragrance, water and frquently some color.

If you do not keep perfumes in a cool dark place - many people leave perfume bottles on a bathroom window sill for instance - then sunlight can cause chemical reactions which may affect the aroma.

Also if the bottle is not absolutely airtight then some of the alcohol constituent may evaporate - which will potentially affect the balance of ingredients and reduce the 'keeping quality'.

The 'fragrance' element of perfume is a complex combination of chemicals - essential oils, aroma compounds and fixatives, fr instance. Once oxygen in the air interacts with the oils - particularly if the 'preservative effects' of alcohol are reduced - then the oils can (as with any oil) go rancid and affect the aromatic quality.

Normally kept in optimal conditions you should expect perfumes to keep for at least a year and often they will retain their essential qualities much longer.

If you have not kept the perfume in ideal condition - maybe in a warm or light area without a well fitted top - then it may naturally have deteriorated. Alternatively - it is always possible that the bottle itself may not have been air-tight for the period it was on the shop shelf and in stock...I'd take it back and see if you can get a refund if you only bought it such a short while ago.

If you did not buy from a reputable parfumier - and especially if you get perfume from a 'cheap source' - it is even possible it is a fake...they can be VERY convincing - but almost inevitably what may 'smell' like the real thing to start with will quickly deteriorate and betray its 'false' origins...

Indeed you are advised to NEVER buy cheap/fake perfumes...they have been known to be made with heavily bacterially infected water sources, and can be a serious health risk.

I found a useful resource about fragrance and other chemical toxicity risks in your skin care cosmetics and perfumes in the complementary guide you can get at http://www.gonando.com

(Added thought: Of course - another reason that perfume that has previously smelled pleasant to you suddenly makes you feel sickly is that you might be pregnant!! In the early stages of pregnancy you sense of smell and taste can change dramatically making some things you used to like suddenly seem repellant...

And just to be clear - having seen another comment in these answers:
Perfume extract is the strongest (20-40% concentration) and most expensive - for 'dabbing' on pulse points and traditionally behind the ears
Eau de parfum (slightly lower concentrations of 10-30% strength) is more commonly marketed than pure 'parfum', less expensive than the extract but more expensive than the following lower 'strengths' perfume
Eau de toilette tends to come in larger bottles for more 'liberal' use - and yes - has more water and less perfume in it so is relatively cheaper - having perfume concentration of 5-20% depending on the brand.
Eau de cologne is the cheapest and 'weakest' option -

Perfume extract and Eau de parfum are more intense and may typically 'last' on the skin for several hours.
Eau de toilette has a shorter period of aromatic intensity but for many a good choice between cost and strength.
Eau de cologne is a relatively cheap 'spritz' - but sometimes - in cheaper makes with as low as 5% perfume the aromas are stretched 'very thin' and have poor lasting quality.)

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How long does it take for perfume to go bad?
I sprayed on a Paul Smith perfum the other day and nearly got sick from the smell, but I've only had it about 5 months!! I've had my CK One for longer and it smells perfect. Are there certain types of perfume that go off quicker?

Answer 5

different mixes of chemicals react differently, so that might be the case, but as far as I know perfumes don't go off at all... Something weird might have happened to the Paul Smith one or it might be a defect, but since everybody likes the smell of different things, who can say whether it's bad or not anyway?

Sorry for answering your question with another question! At least it's rhetorical!

Answer 6

Yeah for some reason there are some kinds of perfume that if you don't use it up in 3 months they change the smell. I think it depends of the chemicals used....

Answer 7

it might not be the perfume, you might be allegic. I used to get headaches around my fella for weeks, till he used a different smell! It was cK obsession that was making my head hurt. he had to give it to his bruv who is away at uni but when he was back for the summer he came over to see us and i got headache again.

Answer 8

thats wierd my perfumes never go bad, i mean i have one that i got years ago and it still smells the same. Maybe it depends on the quality.

Answer 9

A good tip is to keep purfume out of direct sunlight and in the box, this can keep it fresh for ages

Answer 10

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