Having a collection of colognes is a great way to make sure you have a fragrance appropriate for every occasion on hand. However a large fragrance collection can start to get expensive. It's natural to want to get the most out of your bottles and prolong their life as much as possible.
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Problems with Improper Fragrance Storage
Improper storage can actually reduce the potency of the fragrance over time, meaning that you will have to use more perfume to get the same level of fragrance. The scent also changes which can range from only slightly noticeable to rendering it unwearable.
Fragrances often change color, getting darker as they age. Fragrances heavy in citrus oils typically have the shortest shelf life so it might be worth buying smaller sizes and just expect to replace them every 2-3 years. Oriental fragrances last but tend to discolor earlier. The colognes with the best longevity are woody and floral.
3 Steps to Properly Store Cologne
1. Keep Perfumes Away from Sunlight
First and foremost, the light will degrade fragrances. It is recommended that you store them in a dark location away from direct sunlight. Ideally for the longest life, you probably want to store it in a dark cabinet.
A lot of colognes bottles have great presentation and you might want to display them on your nightstand or dresser. I'd recommend only doing that with ones that you use up and replace frequently. If it's one you want to keep for the long-haul, better store it out of light altogether.
2. Maintain a Consistent and Moderate Temperature
Temperature instability is also something that will accelerate the degradation process. As much as possible, keep your colognes in an area of your home that keeps a steady temperature. Although many men keep their fragrances in the bathroom with the rest of their grooming supplies, bathrooms are not the best place as there is such fluctuation in temperature.
I cringe every time I see someone with an expensive fragrance collection on their bathroom shelf. Although spraying cologne right out of the shower increases the longevity of the scent, try to find a place outside of the bathroom to store it.
3. Minimize Air Exposure
Those lids aren't there just to look pretty. With splash on colognes, it's extremely important to keep the lid on tight as much as possible. The air can quickly harm the fragrance so just remove the lid when you're applying it but don't leave it off for any longer than necessary.
Spray on perfumes are slightly more protected but keeping the lid on is still important if you want your fragrance to last. Similarly, don't decant your fragrances into new containers. Fragrance isn't scotch it is best left in the factory seal.
If you notice your bottle is cracked or the lid is broken you can order a decanter and transfer the cologne as soon as possible. It's not ideal but you will be able to preserve it better in a new bottle than keeping the old bottle.
Finding a good fragrance is only part of the battle. These are often expensive fragrances and as such, we use them sparingly and want them to last as long as possible. Improper storage is the main culprit behind fragrances that start to lose their potency. By properly storing your cologne is a temperature stable, dark location, you can help to ensure that you get the most life out of your favorite fragrances as possible
Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.