Perfume does not usually have a fixed expiry date, but it does change with time. Alcohol-based perfumes kept closed, cool and dark often stay close to how they were made for many years; bottles exposed to heat, light and air can turn within months. The signs are a sour, sharp or vinegary opening, missing fresh top notes, or a much darker colour. A perfume that has changed is usually still safe to wear if it causes no irritation, but it may not smell as intended.

Why perfume changes

Fragrance materials react slowly with oxygen, light and heat. The most fragile are the fresh top notes — citrus oils above all — which can oxidise into flatter or sharper-smelling substances. Heavier materials, such as woods, resins and musks, are generally more stable. That is why an aged perfume often loses its opening while its base remains recognisable.

How long does perfume last?

There is no single answer, and anyone who gives one precise figure is guessing. Broadly:

  • Unopened and well stored: often many years.
  • Opened and well stored: commonly several years; fresh citrus perfumes tend to change sooner, rich woody and amber ones later.
  • Badly stored (heat, sun, bathroom): sometimes within months.

How you store it matters more than how old it is. See How to Store Perfume.

The signs a perfume has turned

  1. The opening smells off — sour, vinegary, metallic or sharply alcoholic — though the rest seems normal.
  2. The fresh notes are gone — a perfume that once opened with sparkling citrus now starts flat.
  3. The colour has darkened markedly. Many perfumes darken gently over time without spoiling, so colour is a clue, not a verdict.
  4. The texture or clarity has changed — cloudiness or sediment that does not clear at room temperature.

If a perfume smells only slightly different, it may be your nose or the conditions rather than the perfume. See Why Does My Perfume Smell Different Now?.

An old perfume is rarely dangerous. It is simply no longer quite the perfume someone made.

Is expired perfume safe?

Generally, an aged perfume that still smells acceptable and causes no reaction can be worn. Oxidised fragrance materials can, however, be more likely to irritate or sensitise skin in some people. If an old perfume causes redness or itching, stop using it. If you have sensitive skin, it is reasonable to be cautious with bottles that have clearly turned; spraying them on clothing rather than skin, or using them to scent a room, is an alternative.

What about the symbol on the box?

Many cosmetics carry a small open-jar symbol with a number, such as "36M", meaning the product is best used within that many months after opening. In the EU this "period after opening" symbol is required for many cosmetics, but rules allow it to be omitted for products not expected to deteriorate after opening, and many perfumes do not carry one. Where it appears, treat it as the maker’s guidance, not a cliff edge. RUŌOD Lab explains the labelling rule for brands in Perfume Expiry Dates and the PAO Symbol.

Can you revive an old perfume?

Not really. Lost top notes cannot be put back. You can, however, wait a few minutes after spraying before judging it — sometimes only the opening has turned, and the heart and base are still lovely.

Vintage perfume

Collectors buy decades-old perfumes, because formulas change and old versions are no longer made. Vintage bottles vary enormously with their storage history; the top notes are usually the first casualty. If you buy vintage, expect some change and judge it on the heart and base.

Common questions

Does unopened perfume expire?

It changes more slowly when sealed and kept cool and dark, but it is not immune to time, especially if stored warm.

Why did my perfume turn darker?

Some materials, such as vanilla-like ones and certain naturals, darken naturally with age and light. Darkening alone doesn’t mean it has spoiled.

Can old perfume cause a rash?

It can in some people, because oxidised materials may be more irritating. Stop using it if your skin reacts.

Further reading

To keep a perfume as it was made for as long as possible, see How to Store Perfume, and for wearing it well, How to Make Perfume Last Longer.