How long does cologne last before it expires?

[Ryuker]

I just bought a bottle of polosport somebody didn't want very cheaply, However he mentioned it was a few years old.....which reminded me I heard the maximum date for cologne lasting is 3 years.....well, what happens after that point? I have a really bad sense of smell so I'd never know when It would go bad.....

Is 3 years a accurate date? Does it vary depending on cologne? Does it slowly lose effect after that or just turn putrid?

[Sandalwood]

It will depend on how you protect your fragrances from light and heat. But here I've heard of people claiming that they keep fragrances from the 60's and still in good condition.

[myaccolades]

It depends on how it's stored.

If in a cool, dark environment - it can last years.

I think if kept in a chilled environment like a fridge, it'll last virtually indefinitely.

[Vibrant_Violet]

Great info! (this is why I love basentes.net!) Most colognes I have, I used them daily and they go away pretty quickly, so it does not matter how long they last. But I have a few items they are sort of hard-to-find or discontinued products and was wondering how long they actully last in my fragrance cabinet and what would be the best way to keep them in a good condition. So, do you recommend I should keep them in a refrigerator? How long do they stay in a good condition if they're refrigerated? Thanks!

VV

[myaccolades]

Yup, a fridge would work wonders in keeping fragrances. Not only does it keep it cool, it's in a really dark environment too.

Well it depends on the fragrance. Different chemicals break down at different rates so there's no general value of time as to how long fragrances last.

Like I said earlier, if kept in a fridge (which is very close to optimal conditions, I'm assuming), a fragrance should last virtually indefinitely.

[Ryuker]

For keeping it in the fride, any particular temperature? I wouldn't want it too cold and I'm using a small refridgerator in my dorm....which chooses coldness on a 1-10 scale. Is there too cold?(aside from freezing the stuff ice cold)

[dcampen]

If all you have is a small fridge in your dorm and you don't have a large collection that you are going to be keeping for decades then I would suggest that you don't even bother. Just don't put the bottle in the window sill to bake in the sun and it should be good for another several years.

[myaccolades]

omg. dcampen, I misread what you said and I thought you said

"Just put the bottle in the window sill to bake in the sun" and alarms went off in my head and I was like WTF.

Then I reread it and felt stupid :-[

Even in freezing temperatures, fragrances that are alchohol based SHOULD be okay but.. I wouldn't warrent on that because even though the alcohol doesn't freeze, the perfume that's in the alcohol might be damaged through extreme temperatures. I'm sure that normal operating temperatures should be adequate.

Remember, most people just store their fragrances in a closet or a drawer without cooling and their fragrances are fine for many years. This means ANY type of cooling provided is already really good and should add many years to a fragrance - that is if the fragrance is stored in the cooled environment for all those years.