When a perfume/cologne goes rancid, is it very obvious?

[raccoon]

And about how long do they usually last before that happens?

[azmouse]

1. I have perfumes that are at least 6 yrs old

and they are still fine. The scent doesn't seem to last as long as it used to but it still smells good.

[Karenca]

2. it is obvious. You'll know.

But they can last many, many years if you keep
them out of direct light and in a cool place.

[NewWaveChick1981]

3. Yes. It's painfully obvious.

I've heard that most fragrances have a shelf life of about two years, but I think that's industry propaganda that keeps you buying more perfume. I've had bottles of perfume that have lasted six or seven years without turning. If you store them in a temperature-constant place, they're less likely to go bad.

If you notice a weird smell (kind of vinegar-y), it's bad. Also, if it doesn't smell like it once did, it's bad too.

[Karenca]

4. Your right about industry propaganda---

The perfume industry might soon start issuing
expiration dates on the bottom of the bottles.

People will start throwing their fragrances away after 12 months --
and the manufacturers profits are going to soar.

[NewWaveChick1981]

6. Yep...

:grr: That makes me so angry too... The same thing applies to skin care and makeup. I've had a jar of night cream for about two years past the supposed "expiration date", and it's just fine. I've had several lipsticks for eight or nine years, and they're in no danger of turning bad either.

[Karenca]

8. Yes -- I used to

replace products faithfully when the date was expired.

The only items I do throw out after a short time is:

Mascara (I once got a TREMENDOUS infection) 3-6 months
Sunscreen. (Very careful, 'cause I never used to wear it and I had skin cancer about 10 years ago). 1 year or 1 month past exp.

[NewWaveChick1981]

13. I totally agree with you on that...

I always err on the side of caution with both mascara and sunscreen. :) However, stuff like powder blush and eye shadow can last me forever, so unless there's another reason to get rid of them, I don't. And I keep other things until they've turned.

[youthere]

5. Very obvious. Sometimes it will smell like BO.

Or vinegar. Or ammonia. You'll know.

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Yeah...

It starts wearing studded leather jackets, bowler hats and singing like Joe Strummer if he had been fucked up on heroin all week.

[Patiod]

9. I've had bad luck with perfumes going bad quickly

I'm guessing that the bathroom is the wrong place to keep them.

[Karenca]

11. The bathroom is the worst place to keep them. nt

[Little Wing]

10. I've had a bottle of Preffered Stock in my car all winter

I'll check it out during lunch, the bottle itself is from 1991, so we'll see how well it ages.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Different perfumes respond differently to aging. I have some Bill Blass

Men's cologne 100 Strength that is still delicious after thirty years. Bill Blass is gone, but his memory lasts forever. The company abandoned this product and Revlon (where it was made) will not divulge its formula. Too bad.. it was a great scent.

Most perfumes will look pretty much the same... but the smell may change or diminish. Trial and error are the keys.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. A VERY LONG TIME!

Yes, you'll know. However, it's extremely rare. A few reasons.

Most of the natural oils in perfumes are very long chain aliphatic and highly substituted allyl aromatics. They are susceptible to decomposition through bacterial growth at a very low rate, unless in an actual treatment system, like when it goes down the drain.

Secondly, most of these oils are dissolved in other inert oils and alcohol. The alcohol is a complete biocide. No known bioform grows in alcohol.

Also, since the vast majority of these fragances have loads of saturated hydrocarbon chains, they are not terribly susceptible to oxidation, which is what causes rancidity in natural oils. And, the presence of the alcohol limits it too, since the alcohol will absorb some oxygen to become acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate. (Both are volatile organics that are very low toxicity and have a somewhat pleasant smell on their own.)

Lastly, they're in glass, and UV does not pass through glass very well, so the bond rearrangements that need to occur to cause rancidity by-products aren't very well catalyzed.

How's that?
GAC

[raccoon]

15. You're sure you're not the Gilligan's Island Professor?

You sure sound like him! :-)

[ProfessorGAC]

17. When TBS Did That Remake. . .

. . .boy i wanted that role. My bachelors and my first advanced degree are in chemistry. Yeah, i'm a geek. But, i do play guitar pretty well. So, i've somewhat de-geekified.
GAC

[Karenca]

18. My words exactly!

Not really, J/K. ;)

That was great, Prof!

[raccoon]

16. Thanks to everyone for the info! nt