Does perfume have an expiration date and what is it?
The shelf life indicated by the manufacturer is 3-5 years. According to Russian legislation, perfume products are considered expired if more than 36 months have passed since the start of use. This category includes perfumes, perfumery and eau de toilette, and cologne. The period of use begins immediately after opening the bottle.
It is important to separate the factory and actual expiration dates of fragrances. Health care organizations oblige manufacturers to indicate the expiration date of their products. It is calculated based on average indicators. Perfumes are not a perishable product and can be stored for a long time, depending on the composition. This category does not include perfumed sprays or body lotions.
High-quality perfume is stored in a glass bottle. Liquid in plastic bottles is more susceptible to chemical reactions and has a shorter shelf life. Most often, eau de toilette or perfume on tap are sold in this format.
Now let’s talk about the expiration dates of perfume products for each type separately.
Summarize
From this article you learned how long perfume, perfume, and eau de toilette can be stored after opening and whether they have an expiration date. Remember, any entry of air into the bottle destroys the compositional bouquet of odors. And for long-term storage of the product, it is necessary to keep it in a dark place. The temperature regime is stable, from +12°C to a maximum of 26°C. Humidity level within 70%.
The shelf life of fragrant water is a rather ambiguous concept. Everything depends not only on the component composition of the product, but also on the conditions in the house. If you find that the date on the packaging of your favorite fragrance has already expired, don’t worry, you can always order a new bottle from the First Customs Store. On the website 1mmtt.su you will find a wide range of products at affordable prices - from luxury perfumes to perfumes with pheromones.
Perfume, eau de parfum
Perfume and eau de parfum are different products that differ in the concentration of aromatic substances. For the first category, the standard is a content in the range of 20-40%, for the second, the most common, 15-20%. For both categories, manufacturers indicate a period of use of three years.
The actual shelf life of perfumes and eau de parfum is unlimited.
Products can be used for decades if storage conditions were met before and after purchase.
Oil perfumes are distinguished separately - they are made from base, essential oils and do not contain alcohol. Their actual lifespan is up to 4 years.
Solid perfumes made from oils, paraffin or wax do not have an expiration date.
Risks of using expired perfume
If a consumer uses low-quality and spoiled perfume, this is fraught with consequences. Very often, people, regretting the considerable expenses incurred on the purchase of expensive perfumes, do not throw them away, but continue to use them, which subsequently causes complications. Allergies may arise not only in the consumer, but also in the people around him. More often, older people suffer from this.
The main rule is that under no circumstances should alcohol evaporate from a perfume bottle. It is this that disinfects all components of the aroma liquid, and in its absence the product deteriorates. As a result, bacteria and fungi form in the liquid. The use of expired products can cause the following reactions in the human body - headache, urticaria, asthmatic syndrome, fungal disease and respiratory tract irritation.
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What perfumes are considered expired?
In fact, perfumes have a long shelf life. Among collectors, the “vintage” category is valued – fragrances released decades ago. These may be perfumes whose production has been discontinued, or the first variations of a fragrance whose formula has been changed. When stored correctly, the smell and quality of the contents of the bottle do not change.
A perfume is considered expired if its characteristics or appearance have changed for the worse. Such defects include:
- sedimentation;
- cloudiness or separation of liquid;
- significant color change;
- the appearance of a strong smell of alcohol;
- decreased resistance;
- appearance of foreign odors;
- the occurrence of an allergic reaction or burning sensation during use.
A change in color does not always mean the perfume has deteriorated. Especially if chemical dyes were used, they may fade over time, which is normal. If the transparent liquid has acquired a yellow tint, this already indicates a delay.
Often, settled perfumes or eau de parfum acquire a more persistent, rich smell. This is confirmed by the fact that, subject to storage conditions, the shelf life of the bottle significantly exceeds the actual one indicated on the packaging.
It is prohibited to use expired products, as they pose a health risk. There is a risk of headache, asthma, allergic reaction or chemical burns. Also, the smell of expired perfume changes negatively: it becomes more sour, even rancid.
The main signs that a product has expired
It’s quite simple to understand that your favorite eau de toilette is already spoiled. A sediment appears at the bottom of the bubble, having a different shade from the main color of the contents. Various air bubbles appear on the walls of the tank. The presence of turbidity may indicate synthetic essential oils included in the composition.
Any type of perfume that changes the basic color is definitely spoiled. Following this, the aroma may also change. The presence of foreign odors indicates that the product has expired. If you apply an expired product, redness and a slight burning sensation may occur where the product comes into contact with the skin.
The last distinguishing feature of the freshness of a perfume is its consistency. In spoiled aromas it is much higher - they resemble a viscous oily liquid.
The main risk of using perfume with an “end” date of use is various allergic reactions and rashes. For particularly sensitive people in your environment, using an expired product can cause headaches, severe migraines, and dizziness.
How to determine the expiration date yourself
Not all manufacturers indicate the expiration date in the usual format: month and year. The main sources of information about the product are markings in the form of stickers, seals, and engravings. Most often, information about the production date is encrypted in the batch code indicated on the packaging and bottle.
You can decode the information using specialized cosmetic websites or applications that have access to the manufacturers’ database of information and the place of production of products. If the expiration date has not yet expired, but there are doubts about the quality of the product, you can determine the expiration date by the characteristics of the liquid: uniformity, color, smell.
Domestic perfumes, in addition to the barcode, have a direct indication of the expiration date printed on the cardboard packaging. Foreign products imported into Russia legally have a Rosstandart sticker on the mica or box. It indicates the country of production, composition and how long is the safe period of use.
Do perfume products have it?
It retains the aroma for a limited period. The price and level of production depend on how long it lasts. This property is the basis for determining shelf life. The manufacturing company sets the period and storage conditions by placing this information on the packaging.
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There are two ways to determine the deadline:
By batch code
A batch code is a number or a combination of numbers and Latin letters. It stores information about the batch number, date and place of production. Unlike a barcode, the batch can be duplicated on the bottle. As a rule, this is a barely noticeable printed inscription of 5-8 characters. It can be located on the side of the bottle, at the bottom, or under the cap. It can also be a raised mark on the bottle, engraving, or, less often, a sticker. Each brand has its own code format.
You can determine the expiration date of a perfume using its batch code on specialized websites. This is convenient if the packaging with the necessary information has not been saved, since a barcode is not printed on the bottle. The brand, code, engraved or printed on the bottle is entered into the input form. Next, the system searches for it in official catalogs, and then the information received (date and country of production) appears on the screen.
Many Russian sites do not detect batch codes, giving an error: “Invalid code.” Then you should use foreign services. They work more correctly and will allow you to determine the code if the perfume is not a fake.
Also, the batch code is one of the criteria for checking the authenticity of a fragrance. The code on the bottle must match the inscription on the packaging and can be tracked in catalogs. In addition, knowing the batch code, you can select a scent from a specific batch if the formula of your favorite perfume has been changed.
By barcode
Any perfume package has a barcode applied to it. Unlike a batch code, it contains a graphic code in the form of strips of different lengths and widths, supplemented by a digital code. It contains information about the country and year of manufacture.
You can check the code using special cosmetic calculators, where the code is entered manually, or smartphone applications that scan the graphic code. If the product is original, official information provided by the manufacturer will appear on the screen.
Determining the production date or expiration date is possible only in rare cases. Unlike a batch code, the information on a barcode does not change depending on the batch, and is typical for a specific type of product as a whole.
It is recommended to check the barcode on several sites, as one service may not detect it. Information from manufacturers is stored in special catalogs that are updated regularly. The code format may also change - then the calculator will not find matches with the database.
Where to look
All reputable brands include consumer-relevant information on the packaging. They should be located on the cologne itself or its box. There are many sites on the Internet that will help you check the expiration date of a perfume using the code of a specific cosmetic brand. Using an online calculator, you can find out for what period the selected colognes retain their original properties. For the convenience of customers, special applications have been developed for mobile devices that allow you to decipher the manufacturer’s code right in the store.
How to properly store perfume
An original high-quality perfume may deteriorate before the specified period if it is not stored correctly. The following rules must be followed:
- The main enemy of perfume is direct sunlight. Radiation and heat trigger chemical reactions in the liquid. The best place for storage is a closed cabinet shelf with moderate ventilation.
- Fragrances are sensitive to temperature changes. Often, perfumes delivered by mail have a distorted scent because the package is exposed to heat or frost during transportation. Avoid storing near windows, radiators or other heating devices.
- The bathroom is not suitable for storage, as the room is characterized by high humidity. This also negatively affects the quality and shelf life of products.
- The opened bottle must be stored with the cap tightly closed. If it is absent, air penetrates inside and the oxidation process starts. The lid also protects the container from dust and debris.
Optimal conditions: dark, dry and clean place with a temperature of +20 to +25 ℃. The presence of dust and debris is unacceptable. The bottle must be tightly closed with a lid and in a fixed position, without the risk of falling. It is advisable to store it in the original packaging. It is also prohibited to store any perfume in the refrigerator.
Tinted or opaque bottles that do not allow contact with sunlight are stored longer. It is also not recommended to carry the bottle with you - constant shaking and the influence of outside temperature negatively affect the quality. To use perfume at work or on a walk, you can purchase a glass atomizer: a small container that is replenished from the main bottle using a vacuum or pressing.
Signs of spoiled perfume
Even after the formal expiration date, perfumes that have been kept in suitable conditions will most likely retain their original properties and aroma. Therefore, delay must be determined by the following criteria:
- Changing the structure of the bouquet. Some notes will become muffled, others will become more pronounced and sharp.
- Turbidity and the presence of sediment indicate spoilage. Such a product cannot be used: most likely, the conditions of containment were violated.
- Stringy, viscous consistency. Over time, the perfume thickens and becomes oily.
You also need to check the condition of the bottle. If the seal is broken, cracks or chips appear, it is better to choose another option. The aroma composition disappears under the influence of oxygen.
Interesting analogy
Why don't perfumes deteriorate, like creams or lipstick? The fact is that the composition includes a fair amount of alcohol, and it is an excellent preservative. Have you ever noticed that a bottle of wine also has an expiration date on it? But everyone knows that wine not only does not spoil over time, but also becomes tastier (ripens, as the professionals say). True, for this it needs to be stored under strict temperature and humidity conditions (at wineries there are huge cellars filled with barrels and moldy bottles). Collection wines bottled at the beginning of the last century and even earlier are often sold at auctions.
What about vintage?
Vintage perfumes exist in the same way. Bottles that are 15, 25, or even more years old are significantly more expensive. Often, over time, manufacturers change the formula of a fragrance, so only buyers of vintage perfumes have the opportunity to try its previous versions, long discontinued. A striking example of such transformations are:
- Chanel No. 5 first copies and new versions;
- Yves Roche Ispahan 1977 and modern interpretations;
- Jean Couturier Coriandre original and current versions.
