Did you know that the bathroom is possibly the worst place to store your perfume collection? Perfumes contain a high percentage alcohol, and hot and humid temperatures will cause your fragrances to evaporate quickly and lose their potency. The bathroom also exposes your fragrances to light — and both UV light and direct sunlight can cause your perfume to expire before its time.
The best-kept secrets on how to store perfume
Give your fragrance collection extra lasting power with the 6 best storage secrets.
1. Keep your cool
The optimal temperature for your fragrance collection is between 50 to 70°F. These cool temperatures keep your fragrance formulas stable and ensure their longevity. As mentioned, the bathroom is one of the worst places for your perfumes, and it is not just the heat — caused by hot showers, baths, and heaters — but also the constant fluctuation in temperature that makes it so unfavorable.
Great places for perfume storage are cool, dark spots like the inside of your dresser drawer or a cupboard. During a heatwave, you may even want to consider storing your perfumes in the fridge until things cool down.
2. Take a shot in the dark
Both UV and natural sunlight can cause your perfume formula to break down prematurely, but direct sunlight is by far the worst offender. As mentioned, a dark spot like your dresser drawer or cupboard is a great option, but if you want to display your scents outside, you can keep them in their original boxes, away from harmful light. This ensures your fragrances are protected from deterioration and have a long shelf life.
3. Keep it sealed
Another tip is only to open a fragrance once you are ready to use it. When you start using a fragrance, it gets exposed to oxygen, and the oxidation process begins. If a scent is already in use, remember to always replace the lid — this will further prevent any unnecessary exposure to oxygen and evaporation.
4. Drink up
In perfumery, alcohol is a good thing! The good news about alcohol is that it has a preservative effect. We have the Venetians to thank for this, they were the first to add alcohol to their fragrances and realized that their scents outlasted the competition. Look out for perfumes with a high alcohol percentage to reduce oxidation and give your scents a longer shelf life.
5. Longevity
If your perfume collection is your pride and joy, opt for well-crafted fragrances from luxury brands that will stand the test of time. Luxury brands may be a bit more expensive, but they use some of the best raw materials, which means you’ll get more longevity from your fragrances. Just think about that Chanel No. 5 perfume that belonged to your grandmother and still smells great after 20 years! (Find perfumes from luxury brands here: Michael Kors, Gucci, Prada, Juicy Couture, Burberry, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Issey Miyake.)
6. Travel light
The ideal solution when you’re on the road — or in the air — is travel sizes. When you use travel perfumes, your full-size bottles stay safe and sound at home, away from exposure to heat, light, and humidity. Plus, travel sizes are lighter and TSA-approved for your carry-on luggage on the plane. (Shop 1.5ml vials and travel sizes here, and read about how to store perfume for travel here.)
Iconic scents that will give you an extended shelf life
If you want a scent that lasts, try one of these iconic fragrances. Use the tips on how to store perfumes — and voila! — you have a long-lasting perfume wardrobe.
1. Chanel No. 5 EDP
Chanel No. 5 EDP is one of the most iconic fragrances on the planet and is known for its stable formula that stands the test of time. The fragrance contains a blend of decadent notes, including May rose, jasmine, citrus, vetiver, patchouli, and bourbon vanilla. The one-of-a-kind formula’s creative use of aldehydes makes it truly memorable. Chanel No. 5 EDP often comes to mind when you think about perfume storage, as this scent forms part of so many perfume collections and has been passed down from one generation to another. As most devotees will confess, when you know how to store perfumes, Chanel No. 5 will last a really long time.
2. Guerlain Shalimar EDP
Guerlain Shalimar EDP is another iconic luxury perfume that can offer a lifetime of joy if you know how to store perfume. The fragrance is an opulent mix of bergamot, cedar, iris, patchouli, vetiver, rose, and jasmine. The timeless fragrance dries down into an unforgettable base infused with incense, leather, sandalwood, musk, and tonka bean. If you follow our tips on perfume storage, you’ll get years of joy from investing in a legendary perfume like Shalimar EDP.
3. Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDP
Most of us never forget the first time we smelled Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDP. The memorable scent blends cinnamon, myrrh, opoponax, cloves, patchouli, amber, and vanilla — creating one of the most iconic amber perfumes on the planet. This intriguing scent is a must-have for any perfume collection and will bring years of joy if you know how to store perfume. The scent has a long shelf life, and if you use your knowledge of perfume storage, the perfume guarantees many happy spritzes.
4. Dior Miss Dior EDP
You can’t go wrong with a bottle of Dior Miss Dior EDP in your perfume collection. The scent is a fusion of rose, peony, peach, apricot, vanilla, and tonka bean. These iconic notes will keep their potency for yours to come if you know how to store perfumes. The fragrance was created in 1947, and decades later, it is still a bestseller. If you look after this timeless scent with perfume storage tips, it will continue to bring you joy.
* Want more tips on perfume storage? If you enjoy articles on how to store perfume, you’ll love reading Does perfume expire? Make your perfumes outlast their shelf life!
