Your Essential Guide to Perfume Storage

In the beauty world, perfumes are a luxury item, and finding your perfect scent requires time and investment. Once you have finally secured the fragrance that personifies your very essence, the last thing you want is to prematurely part ways. While perfumes will naturally fade over time, there are a myriad of ways to store perfume to extend its shelf life. Below, YSL Beauty will guide you through the proper storage for your perfume collection to help preserve the quality of your fragrances for years to come.

Why perfume storage matters

YSL Beauty considers perfume creation to be an artform, so we want to ensure that every precious drop is savoured. To do this, it’s important to protect perfume from its four main ‘aggressors’: heat, light, oxygen and humidity. These factors can degrade the intensity of scents and alter their colour over time. You might be able to tell if your fragrance has expired by the scent of the top notes. For example, in women’s perfume, this is most noticeable with fragrance notes like citrus, patchouli and bergamot because they develop a slightly metallic or sour odour once oxidised. The moment you open a bottle of perfume, it will inevitably be exposed to external elements like light and oxygen. However, the correct perfume storage will help minimise light and oxygen exposure, giving you years with your beloved scents.

The ideal temperature for perfume storage

Temperature plays a major role in preserving the quality and longevity of your perfume. Heat and light will evaporate the water and alcohol inside your formula, forcing your beloved fragrance into early retirement. And while the convenience of storing your perfume in the bathroom is tempting, these spaces are humid, and the temperature can wildly fluctuate. Maintaining a stable temperature is the key to perfume longevity; the recommended temperature to store perfume is between a range of 12 and 22 degrees Celsius.

The best place to store perfume

As iridescent as your perfume bottles may look against the backdrop of morning sunrise, this direct light exposure can break down the chemical balance of your fragrance. When it comes to perfume storage, opt for a cool, dark and dry place. This may include:

• A closed cupboard or cabinet
• A dark box
• A low-level drawer that isn’t regularly opened

Storing your perfume away from direct sunlight is the chief priority, but it’s important to consider the ambient temperature and humidity in your home. For instance, if you live in a very warm or humid climate, this can deteriorate your perfume – particularly during summer months. It is possible to store perfume in the fridge, as long as the bottle temperature doesn’t drop below the suggested 12 degrees Celsius.

Keep perfume upright and in packaging

There are a few more precautions you can take to preserve the freshness of your fragrance. In addition to keeping your perfume in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, we suggest keeping your bottle in an upright, stable position. If the bottle is moved around a lot or shaken excessively – say, in your handbag – it can invite more oxygen into the bottle, which disrupts the formula over time. Your original packaging can also serve as a protective shield, keeping the perfume bottle away from environmental aggressors and maintaining consistent temperature and humidity.

The shelf life of perfume

There are several factors that can influence the shelf life of a fragrance. Perfumes that have a higher alcohol content typically last longer, whereas perfumes with higher oil concentrations can degrade faster. As such, an EDP and an EDT often have different shelf lives. The type of ingredients used can play a role in perfume longevity, with some fragrance wearers noting that men’s perfumes with deeper olfactory families (like wood) can retain a lot of their initial intensity. If you love perfume but only wear it occasionally, you might consider travel or mini sizes instead – this way you won’t have to be as concerned about the life expectancy of your fragrance.

If your perfume remains upright and unopened in its original packaging, there’s no reason why it can’t last for 10 years or more. However, we firmly believe that fragrances are made to be worn. If you prioritise correct storage for perfume, you should be able enjoy your fragrances for 3-5 years before they expire.

With your newly acquired knowledge of ways to store perfume, discover which Mon Paris fragrance is right for you.