Knowing When to Throw Out a Fragrance

Gathering your Scents – Knowing When to Throw Out a Fragrance

Fragrances, in what may be a surprising revelation to many, do not last for an infinite amount of time. Like many other things in life they will eventually go bad. They will, over time, lose their qualities and eventually turn to something you certainly don’t want to smell like. How, though, do you know when its time to toss that bottle? There are a few ways to know.

Most perfumes will last around two to three years from the day they are made, not the day you buy them. There are some clearance stores that will sell fragrances that are more than 3 years old. With that in mind, always make sure you check the date on the bottle to make sure you are getting something of the highest quality and that will last you a substantial amount of time. Also, make sure you throw out perfume you have had for more than three years. Even if you don’t notice it, the perfume has begun to lose its qualities and it not doing you any good if you wear it.

There are steps you can take to ensure that your fragrances last as long as possible. For one thing, keep the bottle some place that is cool and dark .Heat and sunlight can damage a fragrance severely so avoid all the extremes. Colognes and eau de toilettes only can be stored inside the refrigerator, and that will help them keep their freshness. Even with these precautions, however, your perfume will still last only about three years. So once the time is up, get rid of the bottle and get a new batch.

How do you know, though, if your perfume is going bad? There are a few signs to look for. First of all, note the color. If that begins to change then you have bad perfume on your hands and should toss it out right away. Also, if you begin to smell a tinge of vinegar, it is time to get rid of it (though you probably would anyway if it smells like vinegar).

Once you have opened your perfume, you should use it. The biggest problem is that many people will buy a perfume, open it, and use it once before forgetting about it. Perfume is made to be worn just like wine is to be drunk or food is to be eaten, and you should not forget that. If you open a bottle of perfume and then “save it” for special occasions you are just asking for it to be spoiled when you go back to the bottle. If that happens to you cut your losses and toss the bottle. Start over with a new one and remember that you need to wear what you buy.

Another time to consider tossing out a fragrance is when you simply don’t like it any more. That can happen since our sense of smell, like taste, change throughout our lives. If you don’t like a scent anymore, don’t keep wearing it. Remember, fragrances and smells can affect your mood, so if you wear a perfume out of obligation you may put yourself in a bad mood accidentally. Instead, toss out or give away the rest of the bottle and get something you know you will like instead. Your fragrance is very personal and it is something people will identify with you so if you don’t like how you smell you are not going to like how people are remembering you. For that very reason, sometimes it is best to start off with very small bottles of fragrance to make sure you are going to enjoy it for the long haul.

Though it may seem like they would, fragrances actually don’t last in that bottle forever. They do have a shelf life and it is one you should take head in. First of all, make sure it will last as long as possible by keeping your perfume out of extremes in temperature and away from direct sunlight. Certain types can even be kept in the refrigerator as a precaution. Even with such precautions you cannot expect any perfume to last any longer than 3 years from the day it is made, not bought. Watch for signs that perfume is going bad, which is generally just a loss of qualities and discoloration.

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