Have you got a fragrance that has been sitting there for years?  Well, if you think that scent is maturing with age (as with a bottle of red wine), you are most certainly wrong. Most fragrances have a maximum shelf life of 3 to 5 years from their production date. Perfumes will last longer than eau de toilettes as they have a higher alcohol content, and are made from higher quality ingredients. Fragrances that are a dark or opaque colour will also last much longer.

Rules for storing your perfume:
· Store your fragrance bottle in a cool, dry place.
· To extend the life of your fragrance, you could keep it in the fridge. It may be best to keep it in the door of the fridge, as food products may absorb the scent if they are too close. (Issey Miyake butter, anyone?)
· Do not keep your fragrances in the bathroom, where changes in temperature and humidity will affect the smell of the fragrance.
· Keep the bottles tightly closed- evaporation can change the scent of the fragrance.

How do you know if it’s gone off?
If it smells fine, it is fine! If the fragrance has thickened, smells strange, or has changed colour- it should be discarded.

Browse Beauty Bulletin fragrance reviews here. 

Article by Claire