Have you ever smelled your favorite perfume and realized that it no longer smells like it did a few months ago? Or is it that the liquid has become darker in color? Time is no greatest foe of your perfume, but heat.

Perfume is a sensitive blend of water, oils and alcohol. When these become too hot, the smell breaks down. Here, in this guide, we shall elaborate on the reasons why heat is bad on your perfume and how you can preserve your bottles.

Why Heat is Bad for Your Scent

Perfume consists of chemical bonds. These bonds are like a puzzle. As the temperature increases, the movement of the molecules within the bottle increases. This additional energy is able to destroy the bonds.

With the changes in the chemical structure, the smell also changes. You may lose the fresh top notes (the smell that is first detected), or the perfume may begin to smell of vinegar or plastic. The alcohol can also evaporate quickly even when the bottle is closed in high heat.

The "Big Three" Enemies of Fragrance

To ensure you have a great smelling perfume, you need to preserve it against three things:

1. Heat: It is dangerous when it is more than room temperature.
2. Light: Sunlight plays the role of a heater, and it dissolves the oils.
3. Humidity: Moist air (such as in the bathroom) may enter the bottle and destroy the mix.

Best Places to Store Your Perfume

A lot of individuals store their perfume in a warm place, at the windowsill or in the bathroom. They are the worst places indeed!

• The Bedroom Drawer: It is a dark drawer that is ideal. It stays cool and has no light.
• A Closet Shelf: It is also more protective to keep the bottles in their original boxes.
• The Fridge (Sometimes): Some people have a fridge that is used as a skincare fridge in very hot climates. Nevertheless, a typical kitchen refrigerator may be too freezing. It is more important to be at a constant temperature rather than freezing.

Tips for Different Types of Scents

There are several perfumes that respond differently to heat. Here are some examples:

Signs Your Perfume Has Gone Bad

How do you understand whether your perfume has been spoiled because of heat? Start by checking the color. In case it was clear and now appears yellow, brown, or not so bright than it was, it has oxidized and could lose its original quality.

The second step would be to test the smell and texture. When you spray it and it smells sour, metallic or off then the fragrance is not the same. Also, observe the liquid to see whether it is cloudy or has floating bits. These are obvious indications that it is time to change the perfume.

How to Travel with Perfume

Carrying perfume is a challenge as heat is all over. Do not leave bottles in the hot cars or in the direct sun. A brief ride in a vehicle during a sunny day, where the temperature can reach above 40°C, will destroy a perfume bottle.

The solution is to use travel atomizers. Use a small amount of your favorite perfume to pour into a travel spray to use when you go on a trip. This will leave your central bottle secure at home and carry your scent with you (easy).

Conclusion

Perfume is not merely a fragrance, it is a personal statement. Heat has the ability to alter its smell, color and strength, therefore, storage is highly significant. To ensure longer life of your perfume, it is recommended to store them in cool dark environments and use travel sprays. You can use your favorite scents all day by examining the area where you keep them and observing any indicators of damage and by remembering certain storage rules. Cover your perfume and it will remain fresh, strong and beautiful in years. Contact Oud Al Meydan to get fragrances of high quality and custom labeling. 

FAQ 

1. Is it possible to keep my perfume in the bathroom?

No. The scent is ruined by the steam on your shower and the humidity.

2. Is there an expiration date for perfume?

The average life of most of the perfumes is 3-5 years when kept in a cool dark environment.

3. Why is my perfume stinking of alcohol?

When the smell is aged or stored under heat, the fragrance oils dissolve and the smell of the alcohol base is left.

4. Is it good to keep the original box?

Yes! The box saves the bottle against light and also stabilizes the temperature.

5. Does perfume get stronger when it has heat?

No. Heat causes the scent to evaporate quicker hence it may appear intense for a few minutes, although the quality is already diminishing.

6. Should we keep perfume in the car?

Never leave perfume in a car. The changes in the temperature are excessive and too rapid.

7. Will sunrays alter the color of perfume?

Yes. The color can get bleached or it may go dark due to UV rays of the sun.

8. Do costly perfumes have a longer shelf life in the heat?

Not necessarily. Even the costly Oud perfumes require the right storage in order to remain of a good quality.

9. What is the optimal temperature of perfume?

Approximately 15°C to 20°C (room temperature) is the best.

10. Is it possible to save a perfume that has been exposed to heat?

When the chemical bonds are broken, it is not possible to fix the smell. Prevention is the only way!