If your cologne is left in freezing cold temperatures for months or years, then it\u2019s possible that your cologne would be damaged.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter pulling it out of the cold temperature, you can allow it to go up to room temperature, let it rest for a couple days, and then test it to see how it looks and smells before using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Cologne Go Bad in High Humidity Conditions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When the air is excessively moist, having high amounts of water vapor, those conditions create humidity. It\u2019s basically moisture in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humidity, or moist air can create all kinds of damage, think mold and fungal growth. But in terms of cologne, humid conditions have been found to break down chemical bonds, causing the cologne to deteriorate faster. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis chemical reaction can reduce the potency of your cologne, <\/strong>meaning you\u2019ll likely to spray it on in larger quantities just to get the same fragrant effects as you did prior to its exposure to humidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is why you should avoid storing your cologne in the bathroom, unless it is somehow stored in a place where it\u2019s shielded away from the humidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if you can\u2019t avoid the humidity? Some geographical areas are naturally humid, and it would be difficult to prevent your cologne from being exposed to those conditions. In this case, you might want to run a dehumidifier in the area where you store your colognes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s understandable that you may not be able to operate the dehumidifier all day. If you\u2019re able to run it during the times of day when humidity is at its highest though, that could go a long way towards preserving the original state of your cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Cologne Go Bad in The Car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Storing your cologne in your car may not be such a bad idea, but it depends on the temperature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your car is parked in direct sunlight or high humidity, that could damage your cologne over time.<\/strong> Be sure to place your cologne in the coolest part of your vehicle if you have no choice but to store it there when it\u2019s hot or humid outside. Placing the bottle underneath a seat, so that it\u2019s shaded or in your trunk, would help protect the fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAvoid placing the cologne on your dashboard or another spot where it would be exposed to direct sunlight and high heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your car temperature is fairly cool, and it\u2019s sheltered in a garage or covered by a port, then you likely won\u2019t experience any problems with your cologne.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nExcessive shaking can be a problem if you\u2019re driving off-road or extremely bumpy road conditions. Constant shaking or vibrating over and over again can damage the scent molecules in your cologne because they begin oxidizing as more and more air is introduced to the cologne.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSo cologne won\u2019t necessarily go bad in your car, but you have to be mindful of temperature and environmental conditions if you want the cologne to last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Cologne Go Bad if Unopened?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leaving cologne in its original packaging actually helps to preserve it over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll be protecting it from direct sunlight, and you\u2019ll avoid exposing it to air. You\u2019d also be keeping its cap on while left unopened, which preserves its scent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If stored in proper conditions, unopened cologne would smell just like new once you begin to use it. But if you’ve kept it in its original packaging for longer than five years, you will want to test it to determine whether or not it’s gone bad. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDoes Cologne Go Bad if You Leave the Top Off?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If cologne is exposed to air over a long period of time, it will eventually go bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaving the cap off of your cologne bottle will cause the ethanol and water to evaporate. <\/strong>This process would happen more quickly than expected if the lid is off for weeks and months at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEventually, you\u2019ll notice that nothing but thick, concentrated fragrance remains. But it\u2019s likely that the scent will have changed. The sticky mess that\u2019s left behind can\u2019t be used, and will have to be thrown out. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe only exception is if there\u2019s an atomizer\/sprayer on your cologne bottle. If you\u2019re missing the lid of the sprayer, then the cologne will still evaporate, but at a slower rate. You can also hamper the process by keeping the container in a dark, cool spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if you\u2019ve misplaced your top, you\u2019ll want to get a replacement in order to be able to continue using your cologne before it goes bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Cologne Go Bad Over Time?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cologne can typically last up to four years. But if there\u2019s concern, look at the bottom or back of the original packaging to see if there\u2019s an expiration date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No longer have the original packaging? If the cologne has gone bad, you might notice that the color is off. Typically it\u2019s significantly darker than the original color.<\/strong> If it was a light amber, it might begin to look dark brown. Other times, it might shift to a different hue altogether, like going from deep blue to green.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you decide to use your cologne after four years or after its printed expiration date, then it may not smell the same, either.<\/strong> As cologne ages, it can mellow out a bit, similar to fine wine. So that\u2019s normal. But if it\u2019s gone bad, the smell won\u2019t be something you\u2019d want to wear<\/strong>. It might be more of a stench than a fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition to a change in smell, you might find that the cologne begins to irritate your skin<\/strong> as it ages<\/strong>. If this happens, you should immediately discard the cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCologne formulas vary, though, some of the more expensive colognes can last longer than four years. It\u2019s been said that colognes with high concentration of fragrance last longer. But even premier colognes by Clive Christian are suggested to be used within three to five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Was this list helpful to you? The nature of a fragrance is to change over time. But the rate at which this happens partially depends on you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nProper storage can prolong the use of your cologne<\/strong>. Keeping it in a cool<\/a>, fairly dark place away from direct sunlight, humidity, high heat or extreme cold, helps preserve your cologne for years to come<\/a>. You\u2019ll also want to avoid fluctuating temperatures back and forth between hot and cold temperatures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour cologne will eventually go bad, but if you protect it in ways outlined above, you\u2019ll get better use out of it prior to its date of expiry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you found this article helpful, please share it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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