The whole perfumery is an art. Therefore, a fragrance is created with a specific composition that holds its fundamental structure.
However, I have noticed some of my perfumes looking strange even though scents don’t come with an expiry date.
If you don’t know the reason behind this, it can be scary and you might think your precious perfume has gone bad.
So, let’s find out why perfumes change color and what does it mean.
Keep reading as I promise you will have fun and be enlightened to learn about perfumes.
Why does Perfume Change Color?
Perfumes don’t have an expiration date like other cosmetic products. But that doesn’t mean your scent can’t do bad. For example, if you don’t store your fragrance correctly, it will lose its integrity and become unusable. Therefore, you must take proper care of your scents, especially if they are opened.
Is it Normal for Perfume to Change Color?
As the saying goes, ‘Nothing in Life is Sustainable’ also applies to perfumes.
Although, your fragrance may indeed last a lifetime. But your scents can only stay put if you treat them right. For instance, there are so many vintage fragrances that people collect and use.
On the other hand, you may have noticed that some of your perfumes have become darker or oilier. However, it doesn’t mean that the scent is a knock-off. In other words, fragrances should be kept in a certain way to maintain their excellent characteristics.
Therefore, the molecules inside your fragrance may start oxidizing, diluting, and eventually discoloring if they are not stored properly.
Also, check our latest post What is Fragrance-Zoning?
Here are the three major reasons that affect your perfume’s color:
Exposure to light
Sunlight is one of the biggest enemies of your fragrances. That is to say, exposure to sunlight or extreme heat can break down the molecules inside a scent. For example, perfumes have natural ingredients that react with light and produce an undesired product.
Change in temperature
When you keep your fragrance where the temperature fluctuates a lot – that messes with the whole structure of your scent. For instance, you cannot store your perfume where it’s scorching or there’s humidity. As a result, the bonds that hold the aroma break, and the scent loses its properties.
Exposure to air
The primary component used to make perfume is alcohol which evaporates pretty quickly. Therefore, once you open that scent bottle – the molecules inside evaporate as soon as they are exposed to air. Moreover, as time goes by, your fragrance will interact with the atmosphere and start getting diluted.
And the worst part is that the top notes suffer the most as they vanish – you are only left with the last two notes.
As a result, your fragrance gets deeper in color and smells more like alcohol or vinegar. Similarly, keep your perfumes from heat to stop them from oxidizing and losing their original color. Above all, you must store your perfumes properly.
For example, keep them in a dry and dark place like a closet, avoid your bathroom, don’t shake the bottle, and always keep the lid on when not in use.
Nonetheless, color changes in perfume can mean a lot of things. So let’s find out more about that.
What Does it Mean When Perfume Changes Color?
A perfume’s color can change for a lot of reasons. Meanwhile, one reason can be that it has gone bad, but discoloring can also point in another direction.
For instance, perfume may get darker with age. And it could indicate that the scent has become more robust and looks darker. So the reason is that the fragrance reacts with light and heat.
Furthermore, one of the essential elements in a scent is perfume oil– which is an extract of natural ingredients like flowers, oud, some roots, etc. Therefore, if these ingredients are in contact with heat or oxygen, a chemical reaction occurs, discoloring your fragrance.
Moreover, you may notice the juice inside your perfume bottle has gone yellowish because of oxidation.
Firstly, if you find that your perfume has changed color, that would usually mean that it’s expiring. Secondly, fragrances with a high content of natural oil over alcohol don’t go rancid quickly, even if they discolor. Finally, if a scent goes foul, it will lose its original aroma and smell like vinegar or alcoholism.
To summarize, don’t jump to a conclusion if your perfume is discolored; instead, do a smell test to ensure its usability.
Have some time to spare? Check out- What Are Perfume Flankers?
How do You Know if Your Perfume is Expired?
A perfume has a standard shelf life of 3-4 years. But it can even last 10 years if you store it correctly.
Conversely, how long a fragrance can keep it’s intrigued mostly depends on its ingredients.
For example, high-end brands use expensive ingredients and a high percentage of essential oil, making them stronger and increasing longevity. Therefore, perfumes with low oil concentrations like Eau de Toilette don’t last long– as they evaporate faster.
As a result, heavier base notes such as patchouli, vanilla, amber, jasmine, etc., last longer. And lighter base accords like citrus and floral often don’t last long.
Here are the three ways how you can know if your perfume has expired:
- Your perfume smell will be different or off.
The best and most obvious way to determine if your scent has gone bad is by sniffing it. Therefore, if you find that the aroma smells like vinegar, then that means that it has expired or moving towards it.
- Your perfume’s color is changing.
A fragrance can get darker with time, especially when exposed to heat and air. As a result, of oxidation and dilution, your scent can lose it’s initial color. So it’s an indication that your perfume is expiring.
- Check the expiration date on the packaging.
Many perfumes have some sort of expiration time from when you open them. So you can check it under the box that the scent comes in. However, a good fragrance can exceed its shelf life if stored properly – if not, then you better check the date to be sure if you can use it.
Above all, you should store your perfumes properly to maintain their traits.
Is Expired Perfume Harmful?
Well, your expired perfume can be harmful to you if you apply them. So when you are sure that your scent has gone bad, you cannot use it anymore.
Moreover, if you apply an expired scent, you may suffer from skin irritation or even an allergic reaction – especially if you have sensitive skin.
Furthermore, when a fragrance expires, it loses its beautiful aroma and smells like vinegar or alcohol. Therefore, that scent is no longer what you knew, so it’s no longer wearable. And the whole purpose of perfume is to give you a beautiful aromatic experience.
So you don’t want to stink like a dash of vinegar when you go out, right?
Most importantly, a foul fragrance can cause health hazards. Firstly, it is because expiring means that the juice has gone wrong. Secondly, there’s been a chemical reaction between the molecules inside a scent with air and hear.
Check out our Ultimate Guide on Can You Return Perfume to Macy’s?
As a result, you end up with an alien liquid. And it’s no longer the perfume you got from the store that’s approved as usable by authorities.
Similarly, many unknown reactions can occur if the expired perfume contacts your skin. For example, you may suffer from rashes or itchiness, and if it gets to your eyes while spritzing – that can be dangerous.
However, I understand that you may feel bad throwing away your perfume bottles. Well, let’s see if something can be done about that.
What to Do with Expired Perfume?
I suggest you not throw your old and expired fragrances. There are so many other uses of perfumes that can blow your mind.
And even with a perfume bottle, you can have a lot of attachment – it may be a gift, you spent a lot on it, or you have sentimental value.
As a result, you may hesitate just to throw away your precious fragrance. However, there are ways you can get creative with empty or unusable fragrance bottles.
For example, use it as a decoration piece anywhere in your house.
Perfumes mostly come in beautifully curved glass bottles. Plus, you have to hide them in a closet. But now, you can put it on a table or dresser for aesthetic purposes.
Meanwhile, if you have a scent that has become stronger with time and you no longer want to wear it – use it as an air freshener or in the diffuser.
In the end, expired or unwanted perfumes will not waste if you know the right way to use them.
Does Perfume Expire if Unopened?
The perfume you get in stores is FDA approved – meaning it’s absolutely okay to use them.
Although, it is said that a perfume has a shelf life of 3-5 years. But if you store them in proper conditions, then they can last for a decade. For instance, keep them in the dark and dry place to increase their longevity.
However, unopened scents have the advantage because they don’t interact with oxygen and get oxidized. Also, even if the bottle is unopened, refrain from excessive shaking.
To summarize, opened or unopened, you should always store your perfumes correctly so they last long.
Here’s our insight post on Is Duty-Free Perfume Really Cheaper?
Perfumes In-Check
Perfumes have a complicated structure created by mixing specific elements under certain conditions. And that makes a scent usable.
However, perfumes can act strange if they are in contact with sunlight, temperature fluctuation, and over-exposure to air. As a result, the fragrance will oxidize and dilute. Afterward, the scent will get discolored and smell sour.
Therefore, you must properly store your perfumes. For example, keep them away from the sun, such as in a dry and dark place.
In conclusion, a fragrance can last a decade if stored right, but it may expire– making them unusable.
If you have any further queries, do share them in the comment section below.
