Calculators
Work out how much good life is left in your bottle
Perfume does not spoil on a fixed date, but it does change. Light, heat, air and time slowly rearrange a fragrance until the bright top notes thin out and the base turns sour or metallic. This calculator estimates how much usable life a bottle has left based on its age, concentration, storage and how much liquid is still inside.
Concentration
Where it is kept
Fill in your bottle's details, then press "Check my bottle".
How to use the perfume shelf life calculator
- 1
Enter the year you bought it
Age is the base of the estimate. If you are unsure, most bottles carry a batch code on the underside or the box that can be checked online to find the production year.
- 2
Say how it is stored
Storage matters more than age. A bottle kept in a dark drawer will outlive an identical one sitting on a sunny windowsill by years, and a steamy bathroom shelf is the worst place of all.
- 3
Set how full the bottle is
The empty space in a bottle is full of air, and oxygen is what dulls a fragrance. A bottle that is nearly finished ages considerably faster than one that is still sealed or mostly full.
- 4
Read the estimate as a range
The result is a window, not a deadline. Use it to decide which bottles to wear through this year and which can wait, rather than as permission to throw something away.
Why this matters
Most fragrances stay reliably good for three to five years unopened and two to four once in regular use. Richer concentrations with woody, resinous or amber bases can last considerably longer, while citrus and aquatic structures are the first to fade because their brightest materials are also the most volatile.
The clearest sign a bottle has turned is the first spray: a sharp alcohol hit that does not settle, a sour edge, or a flat opening that jumps straight to the base. If it still smells like itself after ten minutes on skin, it is fine to wear regardless of how old it is.
Frequently asked questions
- Does perfume expire?
- It degrades rather than expires. Most bottles stay good for three to five years unopened and two to four in regular use, and heavier woody or amber scents often last longer than that.
- How can I tell if my perfume has gone off?
- Spray it on skin and wait ten minutes. A sour or metallic note, a sharp alcohol smell that never settles, or an opening that has simply vanished are the usual signs. A slight darkening of the liquid on its own is normal.
- Is it safe to wear old perfume?
- Generally yes, though a degraded fragrance is more likely to irritate sensitive skin. If a bottle smells off, spray it on clothing instead of skin, or retire it.
- What is the best way to store perfume?
- Upright, in its box, in a cool dark cupboard away from radiators and windows. Bathrooms are the worst place because of repeated heat and humidity swings.