Vintage

  • expired perfumes,  Perfumes,  Vintage

    How To Store Perfume Bottles

    Properly storing perfume bottles is pretty essential if you want to enjoy your favourite scents for as long as possible. Perfume isn’t just another beauty product; every bottle is a blend of chemistry and artistry that deserves careful attention. I’m always surprised by how many people stash their perfumes on sunny windowsills or in steamy bathrooms without realising this can ruin them. Here’s what I’ve learned about keeping those eye-catching bottles and fragrances in top shape.

    A neatly organized perfume collection with bottles arranged on a wooden tray in a softly lit, cozy room

    Why Perfume Storage Matters

    Storing perfume bottles correctly is crucial because the ingredients in perfumes are sensitive to air, light, and temperature fluctuations. Perfume isn’t like a bottle of wine that gets better with age. It breaks down more quickly when exposed to excessive light, heat, or air. I’ve seen favourite perfumes lose their beautiful scent or turn strange colours just from sitting out on a dresser for a few months. If you’re buying fragrances you love (or spending big bucks on fancy bottles), it makes sense to protect your investment so they last longer and still smell great.

    When perfume isn’t stored right, a few things can happen:

    • Smell fades or changes: The notes can break down, leaving a fragrance that smells musty, sour, or entirely different from its original scent.
    • Colour shifts: Oxygen and light can make the juice turn yellow or brown, even if it’s supposed to be clear.
    • Bottle buildup: If lids aren’t on tight, or if perfumes get too warm, there can be dried residue or leaking that makes the whole bottle sticky or gross.

    If you love the design and artistry that go into perfume bottles, taking care of them not only maintains the scent but also the look. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate how much a well-preserved collection can add to any beautiful space.

    Best Places to Store Perfume Bottles

    After trying out various setups at home, I’ve found a few spots that help keep perfume bottles in optimal condition. Here are my top suggestions:

    • Bedroom drawer: Drawers block out light, help keep a consistent temperature, and protect against bathroom steam. I keep a few favourites wrapped in a soft scarf in my top drawer.
    • Bedroom closet: If you have space on a shelf, tucking perfume bottles between shoes or behind outfits helps keep them out of sunlight and heat.
    • Dedicated cabinet: I’ve seen serious collectors use glass front cabinets or mini display cases with doors. These look attractive and still provide reasonable protection if you position the cabinet away from any windows or vents.

    Any spot that is cool, dark, and dry will help perfume last longer. Avoid placing bottles near a window, on a radiator, or in a bathroom where the temperature and humidity fluctuate throughout the day. In small apartments, even a box under the bed can work if that’s your only cool, dark space.

    Related Article: Alcohol-Free Perfume For Women

    Main Enemies of Perfume (and How to Fight Them)

    Perfume’s biggest enemies are light, heat, and air. Here’s how they work, and how to keep them from wrecking your signature scents:

    • Light: Sunlight, especially direct sunlight, can break down perfume molecules fast. I keep my expensive bottles far away from windows and never leave them out on a vanity if the sun hits that spot during the day.
    • Heat: Perfume likes a steady temperature. Fluctuating or high heat (such as in a bathroom or near a heater) accelerates the breakdown of a fragrance. I’m careful to avoid storing my perfumes anywhere that gets warm; even a kitchen shelf near the stove is risky.
    • Air: Oxygen causes perfumes to oxidise. That means the perfume can start smelling flat or strange. Always pop the lid or cap back on tightly and never leave bottles uncapped for an extended period.

    Some people store perfumes in their fridge, which protects against light and maintains a steady temperature, but unless you’ve a dedicated beauty fridge, I find this approach tricky. Perfumes can absorb food odours, and the refrigerator can get too humid. If you live in a very hot climate, however, a fridge might be preferable to an overheated room.

    Tips for Long-Term Perfume Storage

    If you collect perfume or want your bottles to last for years, long-term storage is a worthwhile consideration. Here’s a routine that’s worked for me and other fragrance lovers:

    1. Keep bottles in original boxes. Packaging isn’t just for aesthetics; it protects against light and temperature fluctuations. If you’re not displaying the bottle, pop it back in the box after each use.
    2. Avoid opening too often. The more you open a bottle, the more air gets in. Only remove the cap or spray when you plan to use it.
    3. Use a decant for daily wear. If you have a perfume you wear every day, transfer some to a small travel spray or decant bottle. That way, the main bottle stays sealed longer and is exposed to air less often.
    4. Stand bottles upright. Lying bottles on their side can cause perfume to seep into the cap or leak, especially with splash or dab-on bottles.
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    Perfume Display Stand

    Keep the storage shelf away from direct sunlight

    Avoiding Common Storage Mistakes

    I’ve seen some perfume disasters from these classic mistakes, so here’s what to avoid:

    • Leaving bottles on a window ledge where they get direct sunlight
    • Storing in a bathroom, where heat and moisture creep in
    • Using bottles as decor right next to a heating vent
    • Forgetting to close the bottle tightly, which lets air inside

    All these slip-ups accelerate the ageing process for perfume and can completely ruin a once-beautiful fragrance.

    Handling Vintage and Rare Perfumes

    Some bottles are truly collectable, or maybe you inherit a rare bottle from a relative. If you’re holding onto vintage or rare perfumes, proper storage is even more crucial. I always recommend these extra steps:

    • Store out of the box, but inside a fabric bag or pouch to protect the bottle’s label and finish while still blocking out light.
    • Label bottles with the date you got them, especially if you start a collection. That way, you can keep track of the age in case you want to sell or trade it later.
    • Avoid shaking or disturbing old bottles too much. Fragile corks and caps can become loose over time, allowing air to enter the bottle.
    The Fragrance Shop

    I’ve found it super rewarding to store older and rarer bottles carefully—not just for the scent itself, but because they often increase in value when kept in good shape. For really special bottles, you might even want to research their history or keep a little journal with information about each one. This small habit adds depth and value to your collection.

    Related Article: Vintage Perfume

    Travel and Perfume Storage On the Go

    Taking perfume with you can be a challenge, as travel bottles are often jostled, subjected to pressure, and exposed to sudden temperature fluctuations. Here’s how I keep my favourite scent safe while travelling:

    • Decant into a travel spray. I never pack full-size bottles; instead, I transfer a little into a 5- 10ml atomiser or spray bottle.
    • Wrap in soft cloth or bubble wrap. Padding cuts the risk of shattering glass in your bag or suitcase.
    • Pack in a zipper bag. If the bottle leaks, the rest of my bag stays safe.
    • Never leave perfume in a hot car. Summer heat can cause perfume to spoil quickly if left inside a parked car.

    Keeping your everyday scent fresh while travelling is possible with just a little prep. I also suggest bringing a cotton pad or two to wipe down bottles if they get sticky, and noting the expiration or opening date to avoid any surprises later on.

    Related Article: Duty Free Perfume

    Practical FAQ on Perfume Bottle Storage

    Here are some questions I frequently hear, along with simple, practical answers from my own experience.

    Question: Is it okay to keep perfume in the bathroom?
    Answer: Bathrooms tend to be warm and humid, which is tough on perfume. A dry bedroom drawer or closet is ideal for maintaining a long-lasting scent.


    Question: My perfume turned yellow. Can I still use it?
    Answer: Colour changes mean the perfume has started to oxidise or break down. Sometimes it’s still safe, but if it smells off or different, it’s usually best to toss and replace.


    Question: Should I refrigerate perfume bottles?
    Answer: For most people, regular room temperature in a dark place works great. If you live in a very hot area, consider investing in a mini fridge specifically for your beauty products—just be sure to keep perfume away from food.


    Question: What’s the best way to display perfume bottles?
    Answer: If you love seeing your bottles, set up a shelf or display case away from windows and heat sources. It’s also smart to rotate the bottles you display, keeping the rest in their boxes or a dark drawer.


    Question: Do rollerballs and sprays need the same care?
    Answer: All perfume formats benefit from cool, dark storage. Sprays are usually better sealed than dab bottles, but I still keep both out of direct light and heat.

    Everyday Care for Perfume Bottles

    Keeping perfume looking and smelling fresh doesn’t require a lot of effort. Here are the main habits I always stick to:

    • Always recap bottles right after use
    • Dust bottles and boxes from time to time, especially if stored in the open
    • Keep a small group of seasonal favourites accessible, with the rest tucked away
    • Do a sniff check. If something smells off or different, replace it before it disrupts your daily routine.

    Paying a little attention to how you store perfume bottles makes a huge difference. Not only does it preserve your favourite scents, but it also protects the appearance of those beautiful bottles and packaging. With a few tweaks, you’ll notice your fragrances hold up much longer, and your collection will always look and smell amazing.

    Related Article: Expired Perfume

    Did You Know?

    We sell FM perfumes, which are a more affordable alternative to high-end designer fragrances. With FM, you can enjoy luxurious scents without the hefty price tag, meaning it’s easy to replace your favourite bottle whenever you need to, without breaking the bank.

    Please take a look at our online shop here.

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  • Perfumes,  Vintage

    Vintage Perfumes For Women

    There are so many perfumes on the market today; we have been using them for many years. Let’s take a look at ten vintage perfumes for women. Perfume dates back to 1371, when we saw the first modern alcohol-based fragrance for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary.

    There are many collectors of vintage perfumes; this is another one and the world’s most expensive perfume to add to the collection.

    Those who collect such fragrances find how scents have changed over the years intriguing.

    Vintage perfume for women
    Vintage perfumes are still popular today.

    They will also know that some ingredients, such as oakmoss, a species of lichen used in various fragrances, have been restricted in recent years.

    Some have been banned as they are no longer considered safe in perfumes, so other fragrance notes have been sourced instead.

    If you have a collection of vintage perfumes in your wardrobe, keep hold of them. Perfumes dating back to the 1950s such as the iconic bottle of Chanel No.5 are well worth keeping. Perfumes dating before 2000 and familiar brands are still worth keeping as they can be sold and money can be made from them.

    We all have memories created by the perfume we used to wear. Some may still wear the same scent today, especially if it’s their signature fragrance.

    Such perfumes bring special events to life, including happy and sad memories, and some lots are still on the market today to keep those memories alive. Some may see vintage perfumes as something our Nan used to wear—that strong and overpowering scent that lingers for hours and in every room. Many are delicate but unforgettable fragrances.

     

    Vintage perfumes for women

     

    1. Shalimar By Guerlain

    The oldest perfume and an oriental fragrance was created in 1925 by the perfume house Guerlain, called Shalimar. It is named after the Garden of Shalimar and its history of being created by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal as a romantic gesture.

    Its scent is still sold today and has fragrance notes of rose, tonka bean, jasmine and bergamot.

    With base notes of musk, vanilla, and sandalwood, this bottle contains a beautiful combination of strong and elegant fragrance notes.

    Vintage perfumes for women
    Shalimar, by Guerlain

     

    2. Anais Anais L’original By Cacharel

    Launched back in 1978 and named after Anaitis, the ‘Goddess Of Love‘, this fragrance is still trendy today and was the first fragrance produced by Cacharel.

    It was a fragrance created to attract teenagers with its floral and youthful scent.

    Fragrance notes of sandalwood, honeysuckle, orange blossom, lavender, lemon and bergamot certainly caught the younger generation’s attention. With its floral, pretty bottle, most teenagers owned a bottle of this distinctive scent.

    vintage perfumes for women
    Anais Anais by Cacharel

     

    3. Opium By Yves Saint Laurent

    There won’t be many who haven’t heard of Opium. Launched in 1977 and created by Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac, this perfume has strong oriental notes and a distinctive fragrance. With top notes of plum, cloves, pepper, jasmine, coriander, bergamot, citrus, and West Indian bay, this spicy perfume should be worn with minimal application.

    Added to the fact that this bottle is very distinctive, it’s possibly one of those perfumes that will go down in history. Nowadays, we also see Black Opium on the market.

    With notes of pear, pink pepper, orange blossom, vanilla, patchouli, cedar, and cashmere wood, it’s just as powerful as the original. If you like potent scents that make a statement and can carry off such an iconic scent, take a look on Amazon.

    Vintage perfumes for women
    Opium by Yves Saint Laurent

     

    4. L’air Du Temps By Nina Ricci

    We rarely hear of Nina Ricci’s perfumes, but they are one of the most popular of the 20th century, alongside Chanel No. 5.

    Launched in 1948, this floral/ spicy perfume with its unique glass dove cap contains stunning jasmine, rose, sandalwood and amber notes to capture the sense of being ‘free‘.

    It was created in the wake of World War II by the French perfumer Francis Fabron in collaboration with Nina Ricci. Roughly translated from French, it means ‘the trend we have now/something in the air’. With its brightly coloured box and elegant bottle, it does suggest summer, blue skies, and open spaces.

    Vintage perfumes for women

     

    5. Youth Dew By Estée Lauder

    This fragrance, created in 1953, started as a bath oil. Women felt confident using it every day, and so it soon became a popular product as a fragrance.

    In the 1905s, perfume was only bought as a gift from a husband or partner and not by women. Estée Lauder created this elegant bottled fragrance, and women soon fell in love with its spicy, amber, rich floral, and woody notes.

    As men loved its scent, it became one of the sexiest fragrances ever created and still captures the hearts of many women today. Women will have heard and used the cosmetics we see in-store and online today, made by Estée Lauder, and Youth Dew is the first fragrance she created.

    It’s a true classic. If you’re a lover of rose, lavender, jasmine, spices, and patchouli notes, take a look at eBay.

    Vintage perfumes for women

    6. Mitsouko By Guerlain

    This is another vintage perfume by Guerlain, and on first impression, this bottle looks a little masculine. Launched in 1919, Mitsouko captures this bottle’s chypre and fruity fragrance family. It also has a combination of beautiful notes.

    With jasmine, rose, cinnamon, amber, peach, lilac, oak moss and bergamot, this fragrance was inspired by the story of impossible love between Mitsouko and a British officer. With such a combination of scents, it’s not your average daytime perfume, but it has heavy base notes of amber, oak moss, and cinnamon. It’s not the cheapest fragrance on the market either, but it’s well worth trying if you get the chance, purely for such beautiful fragrance notes.

    vintage perfumes for women

    7. L’Heure Bleue By Guerlain

    Another fragrance created by Guerlain, this one was launched in 1912 and contains beautiful notes of coriander, bergamot, violet, cloves ylang-ylang, jasmine, orchid vanilla, Sandalwood, musk, and tonka bean. In its distinctive bottle, it is classed as one of Guerlains’s best classic fragrances. According to Vogue, it is a symbol of royalty, as it is one of the Queen’s favourite scents, alongside Floris, white rose EDT.

    Vintage perfumes for women

    8. Apres L’Ondee By Guerlain

    Jacques Guerlain created this perfume in 1906, with its combination of violet, orange blossom, and spicy Anais notes. Apres L’onee (April shower) is a springtime fragrance after a rain shower.

    This scent captures the freshness that reaches our noses as the rain hits the countryside, and then the sun comes out to warm the scent of the wet leaves again. Guerlain showcases many perfume fragrances and has a history of being one of the world’s most incredible perfume houses.

    Vintage perfumes for women

    9. Tabu By Dana

    Tabu was created by the French perfumer Jean Carles and launched in 1932 by a company also associated with Nina Ricci and Christian Dior.

    It’s not the most elegant bottle for a female perfume, with a simple design, an almost ‘old’ and ‘heavy’ appearance, and a dark bottle, but its fragrance notes make up for it.

    A mixture of patchouli ( and a high dose at 10% ) combined with clove, bergamot, orange, Coriander, rose, ylang-ylang, Sandalwood, musk and amber gives us a heavy oriental scent and one of the world’s first most robust.

    Vintage perfumes for women

    10. Arpege By Lanvin

    This fragrance, named after the musical term ‘arpeggio,’ was released in 1927 and is a classic among some of the world’s most famous perfumes. Similar to Chanel N0.5, Arpege is very much a flower perfume. It contains peach, orange blossom, honeysuckle, iris, rose, vanilla, musk, geranium, Sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver. It is quite a simplistic bottle with a black base and gold cap. Paul Vacher and Andre Fraysse created it.

    Vintage perfumes for women

    Do you own a vintage perfume? I’d love to hear which one you have! If you have any inquiries about finding the right scent, drop your comment below.

    Look at our perfume and beauty resources page if you prefer more recent fragrances.

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