So many times we’ve heard that perfumes and other cosmetics have shelf lives, that is, the length of time they can retain their potency after their lid has been opened. Some people argue that perfumes don’t scent the same after a while, as the concentration seems to reduce. Sometimes this is true whilst at other times our noses and olfactory senses have simply gotten used to the perfume scent.

It may not seem so but perfumes expire. They have expiration dates or POA (period after opening) on their cartons that state when they would become obsolete. When this happens, you may find the perfume bottle rather swollen or the liquid in it becoming darker or with an opaque consistency. The smell might also have a significant change and the potency highly reduced.

Notably, you can enjoy your perfumes for 3-5 years before they expire. Most perfumes last that long and that is a good time to run through a bottle except you are a perfume collector and you have a ton load of perfumes.

Using expired perfumes may sometimes have negative effects like causing skin rashes, hives, bad smells and in some cases, extreme skin reactions. It is advisable to regularly check your perfume expiration dates or you can similarly note them under the bottle with a permanent marker. Try running through bottles that are nearly expired or giving them out so you don’t waste your money.