The perfume it is without a doubt one of your favorite accessories that adds a sense of luxury to your everyday life. However, like most beauty products, perfume has an expiration date. And while its smell may remind you of good times and experiences, it may not last forever. If you’re not careful, your perfume can lose its freshness without you even realizing it. What should you look out for and how to protect it? Let’s look at the most common signs that your perfume has gone bad.

1. Change in his smell

The most obvious sign that your perfume has gone bad is of course the smell. Like wine, perfumes have a “life cycle” and their ingredients can change over time. If you suddenly notice that your perfume doesn’t smell like it did in the beginning, or that it has acquired a sour or strange smell, it is likely that it has gone bad. Notes that were once strong and balanced can lose their ‘sparkle’, giving the fragrance a more volatile or ‘musty’ smell.

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2. Discolored color

Perfumes often have a clear or very light shade. If you notice that its color has changed, clouded or darkened, it is possible that your perfume has passed its “expiry”. Exposure to the sun or to very high or low temperatures can cause this color change, but also alter its ingredients, which can affect the quality of the fragrance.

3. Particles or sediments in the perfume

Another sign that your perfume is starting to go bad is the appearance of sediment or small particles inside the bottle. Perfumes, when new, remain clear and uniform. If you notice that small particles or cloudiness appear, this may mean that the perfume has deteriorated and is no longer suitable for use.

4. It has no duration at all

The strength of the fragrance and how long it stays on your skin are important signs of its quality. If you notice that your fragrance doesn’t last as long as it used to or fades quickly, this may be a sign that it has started to lose its potency and is no longer at its peak freshness. Its ingredients may have lost their intensity, causing the scent to “fade” much faster.

5. Expiry date or PAO symbol

Several perfumes are marked with a “period after opening” (PAO), which indicates how long the perfume stays fresh after it is first worn. Typically, most perfumes last about 12 to 36 months after opening, depending on their composition. If you have exceeded this time frame, or if your perfume seems past its expiration date, it may already have gone bad.

How to extend the life of your perfume

Prevention is always better than cure, so check out some helpful tips to keep your fragrance as fresh as possible for longer:

Store it properly: Exposure to light and high temperatures can “destroy” your fragrance. Make sure you store it in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight or heat sources (such as near radiators or open light sources).

Keep it tightly closed: When you are not using your perfume, make sure to close it tightly. Continuous exposure to air can cause its components to oxidize.