How to Care for Your Fragrances

How Long Can You Keep Your Perfume, and How to Make It Last

A question I hear often: how long can I actually keep a bottle of perfume, and why does it sometimes change color over time? Here's everything you need to know about your fragrance's shelf life, and how to store it so it stays at its best.

How long does perfume last?

Perfume is a remarkably stable thing. A bottle will generally keep well for about 3 to 5 years from the date you purchased it. That said, always buy your fragrances from reliable counters or trusted retailers, so you know you're not buying a bottle that was already old before it reached you.

Why does perfume darken or change color?

With time, perfume oxidizes. That's simply the fragrance reacting slowly with air. As it does, you'll notice the liquid deepen in color. The good news is that this isn't harmful in any way; an oxidized fragrance is perfectly safe to wear. It will simply have lost a little of its original luster and spark.

Direct sunlight speeds this along considerably, so contact with direct sun is one of the main things to avoid. This is also why the bathroom isn't the ideal long term home for your fragrance. Between the shower and the sink, temperatures there tend to swing between warm and cool, and that fluctuation isn't kind to perfume over time. That said, if you're using your fragrance regularly and finishing the bottle within a year, don't overthink it. Keep it wherever's convenient. It won't go bad before you get to the bottom of it.

Some fragrances are more delicate than others. My Lily, for instance, is a fragile one, and will turn yellow a little faster than most. If you're using it within a year of purchase, this isn't something you need to worry about at all.

How to store your perfume properly

To help your fragrance last its full 3 to 5 years, keep it in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Light and warmth are what speed up oxidation, so a drawer, cabinet, or box out of the sun will treat your bottle far better than a sunny windowsill or vanity.

If you want to extend its lifespan even further, storing your perfume in the fridge is a good option. The cooler, stable temperature slows the aging process down.

Here's a tip made possible by our newest bottles: every fragrance in our collection, in both the 90ml bottle and the travel atomizer, is now refillable. That means you can keep your refill tucked away in the fridge, staying fresh and protected, while your everyday bottle sits out for use. Simply top up whenever you need to.

The bottom line

Perfume is at its best when it's fresh and ready to wear. It doesn't get better as time goes by, so enjoy it, wear it often, and let yourself go through it.