When purchasing perfumes, many users ask:  how can I make sure the scent lasts longer when stored?  This question is a very valid one.  Maybe you only use your fragrances during special occasions, and not for every day, and over time you find that the scent may lose its potency.

The best technique for ensuring your fragrance lasts longer is to keep it hidden away.  We are not suggesting you stick it in a safe and never use it.  No, we mean keeping it in a dry, dark place—such as in a box in a closet.  This area is the perfect storage space for your perfume from the moment you get it.

The next most commonly asked question by most users is: how long will the scent last in the bottle?  Perfumes, over time, will begin to dilute and lose their scent—as well as discolor and degrade, both of which play a part in leading to a perfume taking on a bad smell.

If you fail to store your perfume properly, it can begin to go bad in only a few short months after you purchase it.  However, we have a few tips that will help combat this, and you can find them below.

Leave Them In The Dark

Many perfume bottles are as unique and extravagant as the perfume that they contain.  Much like chandeliers, when the sun touches them, rainbows and crystal reflections will play around them.  However, even though they are admittedly beautiful to look at, perfumes are not recommended to be stored on your dresser.

When stored on your dresser, your perfume is exposed to light.  This exposure will work to break down the makeup of the liquid and scent within.  To prevent the fragrance’s sensitive DNA from beginning to break down and become altered, it is best to store the entire bottle in a dark place free from all natural and man-made light.

Make Sure It Is Dry

As with all areas in nature, water is a powerful force.  Like most other substances, when going up against water, a fragrance will come out on the losing end.  Humidity can take its toll on the scent of a perfume, resulting in the occurrence of unwanted chemical reactions—that is never to the good.

If you find you live in an area with a humid environment, you must be extra aware.  If you have a room where you use a dehumidifier, this would be the ideal area to store your fragrance to prevent degrading the scent.

The Bathroom Is A No Go

Okay, we know—there are Eau de toilettes out there.  Even so, you should never store any type of perfume or fragrance in the bathroom.  Remember, for the best longevity of your scent, it needs to be stored in a dry atmosphere.  Bathrooms, as a rule, are not only humid, but they experience frequent fluctuations in that humidity.  It is best to locate a closet or cupboard situated outside of the bathroom as a choice for storing your perfume.

Keep It In Its Box

If you have any questions about how best to store your fragrance to how to store your fragrance, the original box that it arrived is the best.  The package may not look like the best option, as it may seem flimsy and unappealing, keep in mind that it was designed for the sole purpose of housing your perfume. 

Many are not aware that simply storing your perfume in its original box will significantly increase the longevity of the scent.  When the box is then placed in a dark space, such as the closet mentioned above, you essentially have the best method available to ensure your scent will last.

Avoid Shaking The Bottle

Many people shake a bottle of perfume before application, thinking it in some way gives the scent a sort of “jolt.”  However, the exact opposite is true.  Much like oxygen, the shaking of a perfume bottle will only introduce unwanted bubbles that will lead to the scent’s oxidation.

There is also the fact that scents are composed of delicate, fragile chemical bonds that create the smell, and shaking the bottle can easily break these bonds.  By shaking the perfume bottle and possibly breaking these bonds, you will find yourself with a not-so-attractive bottle of fragrance.

Keep An Eye On The Color

Although this is not so much a storage tip, it is essential nonetheless.  It is a good rule of thumb that you frequently check your fragrance for any color changes.  Discoloration is a significant indicator that the precautions we mentioned above, for whatever reason, have gone a bit sideways.  In the end, even with precautions taken, it will all depend on the fragrance’s ingredients.

The Takeaway

Good areas for storing your fragrance include:

• Bedrooms
• Closets
• Dresser Drawers
• Kitchen Cabinets
• Refrigerators

Bad areas for storing your fragrances include:

• Dresser Top
• Bathroom
• In front of windows
• Basements

When storing your fragrance a few tips to keep in mind:

• Keep the bottle closed at all times
• Do not shake the bottle
• Keep out of direct sunlight

Signs your fragrance may have gone bad include:

• Discoloration
• Diluted scent
• More Oily
• Cloudy

If you are looking to sample great smelling, premium scents, take a look at Scentbox.  We offer an economical monthly subscription plan that allows you to test a wide variety of scents and determine what works for you without breaking the bank.