So you’ve invested in a new bottle of fragrance that, let’s be honest, wasn’t cheap and you’d like to preserve it as long as possible. Unfortunately, perfumes don’t come with instructions or care directions. We won’t even mention shadowing (fragrance layering), because when it comes to perfume, you’re ultimately on your own for how to wear it and where to store it. So, what are the best ways to store your fragrance and keep it fresh?
Perfume degradation starts the moment you open the box. Even though primarily decorative, perfume boxes actually serve a super important purpose in keeping the fragrance away from light, preventing oxygen from getting inside the bottle, and maintaining a stable temperature. While boxed, the fragrance doesn’t have much exposure to oxygen until the first whiff, and so any internal changes will start from there (like a wine after it is uncorked). Once opened, your best bet is to enjoy the fragrance until empty and make sure to store it properly until then.
“The most simple and practical tips are to keep your fragrance in a dark, cool, and dry place,” says Diptyque’s Eduardo Valadez. This method protects perfume from its three main aggressors: heat, light, and humidity. “A sunny windowsill or a cabinet or shelf near a heater will degrade perfume more quickly than storing in a dark, cool area,” adds Kristen Shirley, New York-based luxury expert, writer, and editor. In order to increase longevity of your fragrance, it is also best to cap it after every use to minimize oxygen exposure.