Perfume makes the person. The fragrance you wear can reflect your character, or put on the air of a new one entirely. You can wear something elegant and potent to draw gazes around the room, or an alluring and subtle scent that will have people subconsciously leaning closer for a whiff.

Your favorite perfume is a treasure, and you want it to last—whether it’s eau fraiche or eau de cologne. Even if the fragrance isn’t too expensive (which doesn’t mean it’s not of high quality), the price adds up. You may want to use it sparingly when you can, or save it for special occasions—but how much budgeting is too much? At a certain point, saving up can backfire.

Perfume has no printed expiration date, but that’s not to say it doesn’t go off. Most fragrances will stick around for about three to five years on average—but that shelf life can be increased with a little extra care (or shortened, if you aren’t careful).

How can you tell?

If a fragrance is going sour, it may smell a bit wrong when it hits your skin. Not necessarily bad, per se, but off. You might also notice its color or consistency change slightly. Worst case scenario, it may actually cause skin irritation (in which case you should always immediately cease usage).

Fragrances are delicate concoctions—they can be negatively affected by the most benign of ingredients, from oxygen to light. The greatest enemy to perfume oils, though, is the simple passing of time.

While we can’t slow down time, we can at least impede its effects a bit. With a bit of TLC and the knowledge of what to avoid, you can keep your fragrances fresh for years to come!

#1: Keep it temperate

The art of perfumery involves a whole lot of chemistry. Knowing that, it’s no surprise that the temperature of a concoction can change some vital properties.

Introducing a perfume to heat, even if it’s just the steam of a shower, will melt your fragrance’s structure. From there, it’s just like baking: once something’s been stuck in the oven, there’s no going back.

One tip against this damage is actually to keep your perfume in the fridge, but that’s not much better. Drastic changes in temperature in general are a detriment to your fragrance. Therefore, keep your collection in a temperate place.

#2: Dim it down

In a similar vein to temperature, sunlight can also alter a fragrance’s composition. The heat from light, however mild, can slowly cook a fragrance over time, altering its color and consistency.

To protect your perfumes from both light and temperature, store them in a spot that’s dark and mild, such as a dresser drawer or a bedroom closet.

#3: Don’t air it out

If you have a particularly ornate perfume/eau de toilette bottle, you may be tempted to move your favorite fragrance into it. Though being able to apply your best scent in the most elegant manner possible sounds ideal, try to resist the temptation.

As we’ve said, fragrances are delicate; introducing your perfume to the air is only jumpstarting the process that it goes through when you wear it. After that, even sitting in a new bottle, your fragrance will be slowly oxidizing, corroding its proper scent. You’d still be able to wear it, but you’ll lose a few notes in the process.

Likewise, never shake a perfume bottle. All you’re doing is creating air bubbles and mixing oxygen into the formula. Remember, your fragrance is perfect the way it is, you don’t have to give it an extra mix.

#4: Make it last

Of course, the simplest way to boost your fragrance’s longevity is just to use less of it. We don’t mean not wearing it—just knowing how to apply it correctly so you can reapply less while still smelling fresh. By following our helpful fragrance hacks, you can keep your scent incredible all day long and avoid having to pop into the restroom to give yourself another spritz or dab your pulse points.

Keep it fresh and new with ScentBox!

Your fragrance won’t live forever, but you can at least stretch it out a little longer. If you really don’t want to run out, though, we have an easy solution! How would you like to receive deliveries of amazing new designer fragrances straight to your doorstep every month? With just a flat monthly fee that you can cancel at any time, a ScentBox subscription will keep you stocked up. And now, you know how to keep a sample size fresh for years to come.