Do Fragrances Expire? Surprising Truth About How Long Colognes Last Before Going Bad

Summary

This video delves into the intricacies of cologne longevity, emphasizing that despite the 'best before' dates, a fragrance's lifespan is influenced by its chemical composition, storage conditions, and exposure to oxygen. The video guides viewers on how to extend their cologne's life by proper storage and usage, and discusses the surprising longevity of certain fragrance types like leather and wood scents. It also touches on the concept of vintage fragrances, suggesting that with proper care, some can last a decade or more.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The expiration of cologne depends on three main factors: chemical composition, exposure to oxygen, and storage conditions.
• 📊 Fragrances with delicate top notes like citrus, fresh, aromatic, floral, and green scents tend to have shorter longevity.
• 🍂 Spicy, fruity, and some aromatic fragrances have decent longevity, lasting longer than the more delicate scents.
• 🌲 Deep, rich, and heavier fragrances like sweet, vanilla, amber, and wood fragrances generally have longer lasting power.
• 🔒 Storing fragrances properly can significantly extend their life, with recommendations to keep them in a cool, dark place, away from temperature fluctuations.
• 🚫 Exposure to direct sunlight and temperature changes can negatively impact the longevity of fragrances.
• 🔍 To check a fragrance's longevity, look for a PAO (Period After Opening) number or use the batch number to find the manufacturing date on the manufacturer's website.
• 🧪 The alcohol content in a fragrance plays a crucial role in its longevity, as it helps to preserve the scent by reducing oxidation.
• 💧 Higher alcohol to fragrant oil ratio in a fragrance can lead to longer-lasting scents, as it better protects against oxygen exposure.
• 🚫 If a fragrance starts to irritate the skin or its top notes change significantly, it may be a sign that the fragrance has gone bad.
• 🔗 For more detailed information and additional tips on fragrance longevity and care, visit realmanrealstyle.com.

Q & A

What is the expiration period for cologne after it is purchased?

The script humorously suggests that cologne expires three years, two days, nine hours, and fifty-three seconds after purchase, but it also states that the actual longevity depends on factors such as chemical composition, exposure to oxygen, and storage conditions.

What factors affect the longevity of a fragrance?

The longevity of a fragrance is affected by three main factors: chemical composition, exposure to oxygen, and storage conditions.

Why do some fragrances have a longer lifespan than others?

Fragrances with heavier, richer notes like vanilla and amber tend to last longer than lighter, fresher ones like citrus or floral fragrances.

What is the significance of the alcohol content in a fragrance in terms of longevity?

A higher alcohol content in a fragrance helps to keep oxygen at bay, which can extend the fragrance's lifespan because it reduces oxidation.

What is the PAO number and how does it relate to fragrance longevity?

The PAO number stands for 'Period After Opening' and indicates how long a fragrance is expected to last after it has been opened, generally about 30 months on average.

How can you check the manufacturing date of a fragrance using its batch number?

You can check the manufacturing date of a fragrance by entering the batch number on the manufacturer's website or using specific websites that have calculators for this purpose.

What is the best way to store fragrances to maximize their longevity?

The best way to store fragrances is to keep them in a cool, dark place, away from temperature fluctuations and direct sunlight.

Can vintage fragrances still be good to use despite having an expiration date?

Vintage fragrances can still be good if they have been stored properly, in a cool, dark place, and not exposed to air, even if they are past their expiration date.

How can you tell if a fragrance has gone bad?

A fragrance may have gone bad if it shows a change in color, develops crystallization, or if the top notes change significantly. It may also irritate the skin upon application.

What is the role of oxidation in the degradation of fragrances?

Oxidation plays a significant role in the degradation of fragrances as it can cause the fragrance to break down over time, especially when exposed to air after the bottle is opened.

What advice does the script give for using up a favorite fragrance before it goes bad?

The script advises to use up a favorite fragrance rather than saving it, as the fragrance will start to degrade once the bottle is opened and oxygen is introduced.

Outlines

00:00

🕒 Understanding Fragrance Expiry

The paragraph discusses the expiration of cologne, highlighting that regardless of the price, a cologne expires three years, two days, nine hours, and fifty-three seconds after purchase. It emphasizes that the longevity of a fragrance depends on three factors: chemical composition, exposure to oxygen, and storage methods. The speaker introduces a chart to illustrate how different notes degrade at varying rates and teases the revelation that Eau Fraiche might last the longest. The paragraph also touches on the concept of PAO (Period After Opening), which typically indicates a 30-month lifespan for fragrances post-opening, but notes that this is not universally applicable. The speaker advises looking up the batch number on the product's box for a more accurate manufacturing date to predict the fragrance's longevity, considering individual storage conditions.

05:01

🍾 The Role of Alcohol in Fragrance Longevity

This section delves into the historical use of alcohol in fragrances to preserve the scent by preventing oxidation. It explains that a higher alcohol content in a fragrance can extend its life by keeping oxygen at bay. The speaker challenges the common belief that more potent fragrances, like Eau de Parfum or Parfum, last longer, arguing that lighter formulations like Eau Fraiche or Eau de Toilette might have better longevity due to less fragrance oil exposure to oxygen. The paragraph also addresses the impact of using and storing fragrances, suggesting that as the fragrance level in the bottle decreases, more oxygen can enter, accelerating oxidation. The speaker advises using up favorite fragrances to enjoy them at their best, rather than saving them for too long, which can lead to degradation.

10:05

🔒 Storing Fragrances for Optimal Lifespan

The final paragraph focuses on proper storage as a key to extending a fragrance's life. It suggests that exposing fragrances to temperature fluctuations and sunlight can negatively affect their longevity, recommending keeping them in their original boxes and in a cool, stable environment, such as a refrigerator. The speaker also warns against storing fragrances in cars due to temperature extremes. Additionally, the paragraph provides tips on identifying if a fragrance has gone bad, including changes in top notes, color, and the presence of crystallization. It also mentions skin irritation as a potential sign of fragrance degradation. The speaker invites viewers to share their knowledge and experiences in the comments and promotes a related video on how to make fragrances last longer and a website, realmanrealstyle.com, for further information on style and fragrances.

Keywords

💡Cologne

Cologne refers to a category of fragrances, typically lighter and more refreshing compared to heavier perfumes. In the video, the speaker discusses the longevity and expiration of cologne, emphasizing that regardless of the price, it should be discarded after a certain period to ensure quality.

💡Expiration

Expiration in the context of the video refers to the time after which a cologne or fragrance is no longer considered fresh or safe to use. The speaker humorously suggests that a cologne expires exactly 'Three years, two days, nine hours, and fifty-three seconds after you buy it,' but later explains that the actual longevity depends on various factors.

💡Chemical Composition

Chemical composition is the blend of different chemical substances that make up a fragrance. The video explains that certain accords or notes in a cologne can affect how quickly it degrades, with more volatile or delicate notes like citruses typically not lasting as long as heavier, deeper notes.

💡Oxidation

Oxidation is a chemical reaction that occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen. In the context of the video, oxidation is a key factor in the degradation of fragrances, as the alcohol in cologne helps to prevent oxidation and thus prolong the fragrance's life.

💡Alcohol Content

Alcohol content in fragrances serves as a solvent and preservative. The video suggests that a higher alcohol content can help extend the life of a fragrance by reducing the impact of oxidation, as alcohol helps to keep oxygen away from the fragrant oils.

💡Eau Fraiche

Eau Fraiche is a light, refreshing, and typically less concentrated form of fragrance. The video points out that Eau Fraiche might last longer than more concentrated forms like Eau de Parfum or Parfum due to its higher alcohol content, which protects the fragrance from oxidation.

💡Storage

Storage refers to how a fragrance is kept when not in use. The video emphasizes the importance of proper storage to extend the life of a cologne, suggesting that keeping it in a cool, dark place away from temperature fluctuations and direct sunlight is ideal.

💡Batch Number

A batch number is a unique identifier for a specific production run of a product, which can be used to determine the manufacturing date. The video mentions using the batch number to look up the manufacturing date of a fragrance, which can give an indication of its remaining shelf life.

💡Vintage Fragrances

Vintage fragrances are older, sometimes discontinued perfumes that may have unique or historically significant scents. The video discusses the potential longevity of vintage fragrances if properly stored, despite having an expiration date.

💡Scent Triggers

Scent Triggers are fragrances designed to evoke specific moods or states of mind. The video ends with a mention of a project called 'Mission Fragrances,' which creates Scent Triggers aimed at helping men reach peak performance by leveraging the power of scent.

Highlights

Cologne expiration is determined by chemical composition, exposure to oxygen, and storage methods.

Fragrances with delicate top notes like citruses, fresh, aromatic, floral, and green fragrances tend to expire sooner.

Spicy, fruity, and some aromatic fragrances have decent longevity.

Sweet, vanilla, amber, and leather fragrances with earthy and tobacco notes last the longest.

Wood fragrances, including agarwood and sandalwood, generally have good longevity.

Vintage fragrances can last if stored in cool, dark places without exposure to air.

Alcohol content in fragrances helps preserve them by keeping oxygen at bay.

Eau Fraiche and Eau de Toilette may last longer than Eau de Parfum or Parfum due to higher alcohol content.

Fragrances should be used up to prevent oxidation as air exposure increases when the bottle is low.

Sealing fragrances in their original packaging can potentially extend their life.

Storing fragrances in a refrigerator can help maintain their longevity.

Avoid storing fragrances in areas with fluctuating temperatures, such as bathrooms or cars.

Fragrances going bad may show a change in color, become darker or opaque, or exhibit crystallization.

Irritation on the skin can be a sign that a fragrance has expired.

PAO (Period After Opening) numbers provide an average lifespan of about 30 months for fragrances.

Batch numbers can be used to look up the manufacturing date of a fragrance for a more accurate expiration estimate.

Fragrances that have been stored properly and unopened can last beyond their expiration date.

Mission Fragrances are designed to help users reach peak performance through the power of scent.

Transcripts

So the question is, when does your favorite  cologne expire? Well, the answer's easy.  

Three years, two days, nine hours, and fifty-three seconds after you buy it, it has expired.  

Seriously. Doesn't matter how much you paid for  that stuff, you need to throw it out. Actually,  

you need to send it to me, my address,  down in the prescription of today's video.

But seriously, gents. It's a good question  and one that unfortunately is a little  

bit hard to answer because it depends  on three things. The first factor is  

chemical composition. As you can see from  the chart right here, certain accords,  

certain notes are going to go bad sooner than  others. Next up, we've got exposure to ox oxygen.

Yes, oxidation is a real thing. And when  it comes to fragrances, believe it or not,  

the alcohol content has a huge effect on how  long a fragrance lasts. And on a side note,  

I think a lot of you guys are gonna  be surprised as to which fragrance  

type actually last the longest.  Eau Fraiche, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Parfums.

Make sure you stick around for the answer.  And the third factor affecting longevity is  

how you store the fragrance, which I'll talk  about at the end of this video. How to pack,  

how to store your fragrances so that they  last longer than average. Now, some of  

you guys watching me say, well, isn't this simple?

Don't fragrances have an expiration date on 'em?  And the answer is yes and no. So some fragrances  

will have a PAO number, and that stands for a  period after opening. And in general, a fragrance  

on average is gonna last about 30 months after  opening, and you're gonna find this on a variety  

of beauty products sold to both men and women,  but not every product out there has a PAO number.

Now, a more accurate way is to actually  look at the bottom of the box and to grab  

the batch number. Then you're gonna have to  take this batch number and look it up. You  

can either go to the manufacturer's  website, there are certain websites  

that they have little calculators here.  You're gonna need to choose the brand.

You're gonna enter that batch number and they  will. When it was manufactured. Now the problem  

with this system is it doesn't take into account  the three factors I talked about at the beginning,  

which again is gonna be chemical composition,  exposure to oxygen and how you store it. I mean,  

cuz imagine these scenarios, when I look  at the batch codes, both of these say they  

should last three months, but one of these  you kept in cold storage, never opened up.

It was something that it's a darker, deeper.  Heavier fragrance versus this one was really  

lightweight. You actually used a lot of  it. So it opened up a lot of room in the  

bottle for oxygen to get in there and  you stored it on a shelf exposing it to  

light. It's safe to say that although, you  know, each should have a three, you know,  

30 month lifespan, uh, there, this  one's probably gonna last a lot longer.

Now, today's video, I'm not gonna break into  chemical composition, but in general, we're gonna  

find that fragrances that. Really delicate top  notes, and by delicate I mean they're volatile.  

They're projecting off. They don't usually  last that long, so we're talking citruses. It's  

gonna be fresh fragrances, aromatic fragrances,  floral fragrances, green fragrances in general.

These are not going to last as long. Next up,  we've got spicy fragrances. Fruity fragrances  

and some aromatic fragrances are gonna have  decent longevity. All factors being the same.  

They are gonna last longer than a lot of the  other fragrances I just talked about. Next up,  

we're starting to get into the  deeper, heavier, richer fragrances.

These are gonna be sweet. They're gonna have  vanilla, they're gonna have amber. These  

fragrances are going to last a lot longer than any  of the afor. And finally we've got our leather,  

earthy fragrances, fragrances that have  tobacco. These are gonna be the longest  

lasting fragrances. In fact, if you take  care of these, you can easily get 10 years.

And let's not forget wood fragrances. Now,  

wood fragrances come in a wide variety. There's.  Agarwood, there is sandalwood, but in general,  

wood fragrances are gonna have good longevity as  well. Now, I know some of you guys are thinking,  

why Antonio? I looked up the batch code  and this fragrance has an expiration date.

Then why are people buying vintage fragrances?  So you do need to be careful when you're buying  

vintage fragrances, especially ones  again, that have the very. Top notes,  

but again, if it is stored in a cool  area, if it's not exposed to light, if  

it's not opened, then all of a sudden you  actually can get really good longevity.

Yes, it's got an expiration date on it, but so  does salt. And salt as far as I know. Last, I mean  

pretty much, you know, it's a mineral. It lasts  for, uh, forever, pretty much. Now fragrances  

aren't gonna last forever, but they have  found. Oils in tombs and they found, you know,  

these things, some of 'em are hundreds of years  old and people still wear some of these things.

Yeah. Crazy as it sounds. So, let's now  talk about oxidation. In case you don't  

know. The reason that we use alcohol  in fragrances is because it does a  

great job of keeping oxygen at bay. I  think it was the Italians or you know,  

the Spice Traders that figured out that if you  didn't. That those fragrant oils correctly.

And that was a big trade back in  the day. Uh, very valuable. I mean,  

you go back and you look at the birth of  Christ, what was actually presented, Fraco,  

sensee, merr, you know, these type of smells  and spices, but transporting these things  

in oil was very common. The problem was,  is that oils. Could go bad very quickly.

So what they found is if you actually  mix them in with alcohol, they're gonna  

last a lot longer. And what's interesting is the  higher percentage of alcohol to the fragrant oil,  

the longer it's gonna last because it's gonna keep  basically the oxygen at bay. So that's when I was  

talking about the beginning of this video, believe  it or not, an Eau Fraiche or an Eau de Toilette is going to,  

in theory, last longer than an Eau de Parfum  or a Parfum, because even though those.

Stronger, deeper, richer, heavier  because they have more fragrant oil  

in them. More of it is gonna be exposed  to oxygen whenever you start using the  

fragrance. And that takes us to the next key  point is when you start using the fragrance,  

all of a sudden you're pushing this down  and more oxygen is gonna make its way in.

To the bottle. Now this fragrance right  here, as you can see, it is mostly full. Like  

most of the fragrances in my collection,  despite me using two every single day,  

testing them out, I have, you know, like 500  bottles. So I'm not able to get through them  

all. But whenever it starts to go down,  you're gonna find that it's that exposure,  

more oxygen being in the bottle, that  it's going to start the oxidation process.

And so if you've got a favorite  fragrance, my advice is to. all  

the way down to the bottom. Don't think  that, oh, I've got a quarter of it left.  

I want to save it. I don't wanna use it.  That's a mistake because as you get less  

and less of the fragrance in the bottle,  it is going to go bad sooner and sooner.

I know it's a horrible thing to think,  especially when you've got some of your  

favorite bottles out there, you've spent a  lot of money on. My advice is just to wear it,  

love it, remember it, and enjoy it  for what it is. A work of art that  

you can wear on your body. So can  you make a fragrance last longer?

Opening it, keeping it sealed in the package.  I think the answer is yes. I haven't actually  

seen any tests that can prove this. It just makes  sense though. Um, you know, right here you've got  

so many things that are preventing oxygen from  getting in there. A lot of times when they're  

manufactured, even small manufacturers, they've  got a way basically to suck out the oxygen.

I, at least I've heard, um, again, even, you know,  it's one of those manufacturing secrets a lot of  

companies keep under wraps. But in general, the  big thing, you need to worry. Is as it goes down,  

more air getting in there. So once you start to  use, that's really when the clock starts. But uh,  

yeah, a 10 year bottle that hasn't  been touched is still sealed.

Would I take a chance on it? I wouldn't pay  extra for it. Um, and I know some people love  

their vintage fragrances because things like oak  Marsh, you can't get anymore in the fragrance,  

but to me, I'm perfectly happy with  what I have available. There are,  

you got tens of thousands of options. Um, but.  You gotta be careful with those older fragrances.

Some of 'em, yeah could go bad even if they're  sealed. Cuz let's just face it after 20 years,  

you know that air does get in there and  there's always probably a small amount  

that's in there reacting with the chemicals.  Now over the last few years here at Realman,  

real styles, many of you guys have  noticed we've gone deep into fragrances.

And that's because I kept finding all  this research pointing out how you can  

condition yourself when you smell certain  scents to actually go into a state of mind,  

how certain. Would actually affect your  memory. They would affect the way you feel,  

your emotions and how basically  scent had a direct link to the brain.

So leveraging all that information, we  created a set of unique Scent Triggers,  

specifically designed to help you reach  peak performance. The mission fragrance  

set is designed for men that want to get  unstuck, that want to be more focused,  

that want to use the power of scent to  unlock their minds. If you can't tell.

This is a passion project, a really interesting  project we've been working on now for over a  

year. So, gents, if you wanna learn more  down in the description of today's video,  

I'm linking over to Mission Fragrances,  where you can get more information,  

where you can enter your email address and  we'll send more information your way on how.

To leverage the science of scent and how to  possibly grab your own mission, fragrance,  

scent. So now let's talk about storage. And  I know a lot of you guys want to keep this  

on the shelf. If you want to show, Hey, I've  got the money, or I just like the simply the  

look of the bottle. But whenever you leave  it out in the open, especially if it's in  

your bathroom where the temperature goes up, the  temperature goes down, that's not a great thing.

It is going to affect the longevity of the  fragrance. And the biggest culprit here again,  

is gonna be sun. Direct sunlight not a  good thing. And in case you're wondering  

the best way to store your fragrance, so it  doesn't go bad. You give it its best life,  

I'm gonna recommend putting it right back in  the box and putting it in your refrigerator.

Yes, you heard me right? But,  uh, I don't do it. So, you know,  

but you hear people that are a little  bit, you know, hey, they treat it like  

wine. They love their fragrances and  their collection. They've maybe got,  

I don't have room in my fridge. I mean, I've  got 11 people in my house. Um, but in general,  

if you keep it under a temperature of about 60  degrees, That's what the companies say in general,  

will make sure that it lasts a bit longer,  but you're keeping the temperature down.

You're keeping that temperature steady, which  I think is really important, and you're not  

exposing it to hot temperatures.  So storing fragrances in your car,  

not a great thing. If you're gonna  do that, just get a travel. Atomizer,  

um, that right there, all of a sudden, boom,  you can carry just enough for that week.

And you yes, cuz your car gets hot, it gets  cold. And that's what you don't want to do to  

your fragrances. Now gents, if you've enjoyed  this video, if you like the infographics,  

all the details we go into, you gotta go check  out my website, realmanrealstyle.com. Over  

on the website, I've got tons of infographics  articles, usually when I make these videos.

I create a support article, which goes  into more detail down in the description  

of today's video. A link over to realmanreal  style.com where you can get more information.  

If you wanna just learn more about style,  you wanna learn more simply about, you know,  

sports jackets or fragrances. Now, how  to tell if a fragrance has gone bad.

Well, first up, You're gonna notice maybe a  change in the top notes. This fragrance right  

here with choros, nah, it's not gonna, this  stuff is gonna last. This is gonna be more  

animalistic. These are heavier, deeper notes,  but on lighter fragrances, it is something  

you may notice. You know, it just doesn't, I  don't get that grapefruit at the top anymore.

Another thing you may notice, especially if it's  a clear bottle, you may see a change in color  

fragrances when they start to go bad, usually  get a little bit darker, more opaque in color.  

Sometimes you can also see crystallization in  there, and that's not a good. I've also heard  

some people say that they know a fragrance has  gone bad when it starts to irritate their skin.

I'm not sure exactly why it  would do this. If you do know,  

let me hear from you down in the comments blow and  if you've got something to add to today's video,  

like, Antonio, you missed this. Guys, I  want to hear from you. I know we've got  

chemists out there, scientists that  have better explanations than I do.

What? Come on. I read a whole book on  this, but, uh, I don't know everything  

and I love hearing from you guys Again,  wanna hear from you down in the comments,  

but if you ever find a fragrance is irritating,  you. Do not wear it on the skin. You could  

probably actually wear it on the body if  you really like it and you know, test it.

But yeah, if it starts to irritate  you, some people say that is a sign,  

it's gone bad. So what video to watch  next? How to make sure your fragrance  

lasts all day. Seriously, guys, if you got  a weak fragrance, you're like, Antonio,  

how do I get this thing to project more? How do  I get it to last one day, two days, three days?

Guys, I got you covered in this video  right here, it's a. Go check it out.

Just about started my office on fire .