How to Store a Perfume and Make It Last Longer

The enemies of fragrance

Light, heat and air are a fragrance's worst enemies. Direct sunlight and swings in temperature break down its most delicate molecules, while oxygen, creeping into an opened bottle, gradually oxidises the juice over time. That classic spot on the bathroom shelf, warm and humid, is in fact the worst place to keep it.

Where to keep it

The ideal home is somewhere cool, dark and dry, well away from sources of heat and from windows. The original box shields the bottle from light and makes an excellent case in its own right. For your most precious fragrances, storage at a controlled temperature helps keep them intact for far longer.

How long a perfume lasts

Sealed and properly stored, a perfume can keep for several years. Once opened, it generally holds its character for a few years, depending on the composition: bright citrus and fresh fragrances tend to turn faster than ambery and woody ones. A darker colour or a scent that has 'gone off' are your cue that it is time to replace it.

How to apply it so it lasts

Apply fragrance to the pulse points, the wrists, neck, behind the ears and the inner crook of the elbow, where body heat releases it gradually through the day. Spray onto clean, well-moisturised skin: on dry skin a fragrance fades far sooner. And never rub your wrists together, as the friction 'snaps' the most delicate notes.

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving the bottle in the bathroom, displaying it in the sun on a shelf, wearing it only on your clothes (which never warm a fragrance the way skin does): these are the most common slip-ups. A few simple habits are all it takes to enjoy a perfume at its best, for longer.

Proper storage is as much a part of caring for the product as choosing it in the first place: it is the very same attention with which Time Gallery manages the warehousing and logistics of every beauty line.