If you have an expired perfume or body spray you can recycle them instead of throwing them away and wasting money. Using expired perfume on your skin may or may not be harmful, but the fragrance may have lost its potency and may not smell as strong or pleasant as when it was fresh. Although the expired perfume may not have the same longevity as when it was new, it may not last as long on the skin. In this article, we will discuss what to do with expired perfume and creative ways to make sure your old perfume does not go to waste.
How to check if your perfume is expired
There are a few ways to check if your perfume is expired, start by:
Checking the expiration date
Many perfumes have an expiration date printed on the bottom or back of the bottle while some are written boldly on the box it came in. Before buying a perfume it is best to check for the expiration dates if and when it will expire.
Smell the fragrance
Spray or apply a small amount on a cloth or test paper instead of your body and check if it smells different than what you remember or weaker. If the scent is weak or has changed, then there’s a likely chance that it’s expired.
Check the colour
You can also know by checking the colour of the perfume through the perfume bottle. If the colour of the fragrance has changed, it may be expired. This method may only work if the perfume bottle is transparent.
Check the consistency
If the consistency of the fragrance has changed, for example, if it has separated or become thicker, then it’s very likely it may be expired. If you don’t find any of the above, you can check online for the shelf life of the brand you have, it’s usually between 2-5 years.
It’s important to note that, even if a perfume is expired, it may not be harmful to use. However, it may not have the same strength or longevity as when it was fresh.
What To Do With Expired Perfume
Expired perfume may not smell as strong or last as long as fresh perfume, but it can still be used. Here are a few ways to use expired perfume:
Mix it with lotion or body oil
Dilute the perfume by mixing it with a moisturizer or carrier oil, such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. This will help to make the scent last longer and also moisturize your skin.
Use it as a room freshener
Place a few drops of expired perfume on a cotton ball or piece of paper and put it in a small dish or container. Place it in a room to freshen the air.
Use it as a fabric freshener
Spray a small amount of expired perfume on a cloth or piece of clothing to refresh the fabric and add a nice smell.
Use it as a hair fragrance
Spray a small amount of expired perfume on your brush or comb and then run it through your hair to add fragrance to your hair.
On Your Handkerchief
You can do this simple trick while doing your laundry. Apply or spray an amount of expired perfume on your handkerchief and while your clothes are being washed in the washing machine, the handkerchief will get mixed together with your other garments in the process and make the scent nice. You can also use that same handkerchief in your purse, drawers, or storage to make the smell nice.
As Car Air Freshener
This is another great way of what to do with your expired perfume. Instead of buying a new car air freshener or other car air freshener garget, you can reuse them by spraying the expired perfume on the old air freshener cardboard or as a refiller. And if you don’t have an old one lying around, you can do it yourself by making use of cut-out cardboard or business card. Spray the perfume and hang it on your car mirror or keep it at the side of your car door pocket.
Apply to Your Curtains
You can do this in two ways during laundry or by applying it directly to your curtains. Just spray or apply the Expired Perfume on the curtains while it’s in the washing machine to fuse them into the curtains or spray it directly to your curtains while hanging. Either way that works for you.
Conclusion
Expired perfume can still have a pleasant scent, but the fragrance may have lost some of its intensity and may not last as long. If the fragrance is still pleasant to you, you can continue to use it. However, if the fragrance has changed or become unpleasing, it should be discarded.
Perfumes can also lose their effectiveness over time, so they may not be as effective in masking odours or providing a pleasant scent. Additionally, old perfumes can sometimes develop mould or other harmful microorganisms, so it is best to dispose of them if you notice any signs of spoilage.
It’s important to remember that expired perfume may not be as effective as fresh perfume, and its scent may have changed over time. It’s also important to do a patch test before using it. But it’s best to use fragrance before its expiration date for the best results.