We all know how expensive cologne is, so of course, we’re careful with it, making sure not to drop the bottles or forget them at our girlfriend’s house or whatever. But a major concern I’ve come upon recently just as summer is coming up here is whether or not my nice new cologne will evaporate, especially if I leave it in a hot car?
All colognes can evaporate. Cologne is usually 60-75% alcohol and 2-4% perfume oil, and the rest is distilled water. All of these liquids can evaporate, especially alcohol. Heat, such as from a hot car, will speed up this process. Cologne is at greater risk if it has a low-quality seal.
It might be the case that all colognes can evaporate, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing that can be done about this or that this just an instant process, and if you make a mistake, it’s all gone. You’re still in control here. Read on to find out how this issue affects you and how you can counteract it.
How Does Cologne Evaporate?
The major cause of cologne evaporation is not actually heat, brightness, or humidity, or anything else you’d normally associate with a hot car. Rather, the quality of the cologne bottle’s seal is the deciding factor here and something you should look out for when purchasing cologne.
A poor-quality seal and atomizer won’t be airtight, and so cologne can leak out through it, either as a liquid or as an evaporated vapor. All liquids do naturally evaporate over time, but a good seal will simply catch the evaporated liquid and keep it in the bottle, which can last for decades if stored correctly.
How Can I Stop Cologne Evaporation?
Store Cologne Properly
The key to stopping your cologne from evaporating is proper storage. Firstly, let’s just get it out there that storing cologne in your car is a bad idea, regardless of whether or not it’s hot out. This is because the heat does speed up evaporation, and bright light and humidity can be a problem as well. Depending on where you parked your car, those can also be factors.
Instead, the cologne will last the longest if kept in its original bottle in a cool, dark, and dry area. Your closet is ideal for this, as is another shelf out the way of direct sunlight. If possible, keep the original box as well. Furthermore, make sure to store your cologne upright so no liquid leaks out if you forget to seal it properly.
Do not put your cologne in the fridge; the temperature changes can damage it more than bright light or heat otherwise would. Similarly, avoid putting it in the bathroom, even in a cabinet, because the high humidity will affect it as well.
Buy Quality Cologne
Furthermore, stop buying cheap, low-quality cologne. Not only does it make you smell bad, but those are also exactly the types of cologne with poor seals or atomizer that will result in leakage. Even if stored properly, there is still a risk that evaporation can take place. However, it is a myth that these colognes will evaporate faster for other reasons; all colognes, regardless of quality, have roughly equal alcohol percentages.
If you want to use a separate atomizer (spray device), select a quality model from the start. Add in the risk already involved in transferring the liquid to the atomizer from the bottle, and a poor atomizer can seriously deplete your cologne. This is especially the case as you’ll likely be carrying it around on your person, which shakes it and aerates the cologne and further decreases its quantity and quality.
Also, although a top-shelf cologne might last longer overall, this is not an issue when it comes to storage. The seals and atomizers on all decent colognes are reasonably equivalent.
This is especially the case for contemporary colognes. Modern proofing innovations such as wax or cellophane further prevent leakage and evaporation, so you don’t have to cough up for the absolute best if this is a concern of yours. Likewise, many more affordable brands also simply have good fragrances in their own right.
Problems with Cologne Evaporation
Cost Factor
The first problem with cologne evaporation should be obvious. You will run out of cologne faster. Not only is this an inconvenience, especially if it’s right before a date or job interview, but there’s also a cost factor. Cologne is expensive, and as much as I like the stuff, I don’t want to spend my full paycheck on replacing my cologne because it evaporated.
Scent changes
Additionally, if your cologne starts to evaporate, its scent can be ruined. This is because the ratio of alcohol to perfume oil and water is precisely worked out for each cologne, and evaporation will offset this balance. Alcohol will evaporate faster and make this unbalanced scent more noticeable.
Furthermore, evaporation will remove prominent top notes scents. These top notes are sensitive but powerful elements of the perfume oil that make your cologne stand out and are typically fruit scented. These fragrances in the cologne will evaporate first, but don’t let that stop you from buying a citrus-forward cologne, as correct storage negates this.
Note that evaporation might technically make your cologne stronger, sure. It will also make it smell worse. Keep in mind, though, that a significant portion of your cologne needs to have evaporated before this can become a concern.
What about Non-Alcoholic Cologne?
If you’ve ever been to the Middle East, you’ll realize the men there like to wear cologne just as much as they do here. However, Middle Eastern colognes do not necessarily contain alcohol due to it being forbidden in Islam.
Now, due to its zero-alcohol content, halal cologne does not evaporate nearly as quickly as other cologne, although it still can, so don’t get too eager to leave it in your hot car. Conversely, it can expire slightly faster due to being non-alcoholic. I strongly recommend trying a bottle if you can find it, though.
Will My Cologne Expire, Though?
Yes, all colognes will eventually expire, even if stored correctly. This isn’t to say that storage is unimportant or that effect, though; just the opposite, in fact. Like with evaporation, keeping your cologne out the way of heat and light will make it last longer. Rather, the perfumed cologne uses many natural ingredients, and these will go off over time no matter what.
Although cheaper cologne typically uses more synthetic ingredients, I still cannot recommend it. It, too, will expire over time regardless and not necessarily any slower either. Also, cheap cologne won’t smell nearly as good even while its fresh. Nevertheless, it will take a while before a cologne’s normal expiry becomes noticeable though.
How Long Does Cologne Last?
Unfortunately, colognes don’t typically have expiration dates printed on the bottles. If yours does, check that first. If yours doesn’t, though, read on.
See, unopened colognes have variable shelf lives. This largely depends on quality, with high-quality colognes normally lasting longer. Here, this shelf life can range from anything from three years to decades. Five years is a good rule of thumb, though responsible storage will impact this.
Once opened, you can expect a standard bottle of cologne to remain fresh for about two years. Ideally, don’t open more than one bottle at a time, especially if you spray your cologne on your clothes as well as your skin. Rather, finish one bottle first before moving on.
How Can I Check If My Cologne Has Gone Off?
The easiest way to check if your cologne has expired is simply to smell it. If it smells off, there you go; your cologne has gone off. Pay specific attention to a vinegary smell, though, as that generally indicates that most of the perfume oil itself has expired. Otherwise, it is generally an issue of impact, and a stale cologne will usually just smell weaker and less impressive than a fresh bottle.
Otherwise, or if you aren’t sure, check the color. Discoloration is a good way to tell the freshness of a cologne, as an expired cologne will have its ratios of alcohol, perfume oil, and water affected in some way. I don’t advise pouring any cologne out the bottle for this, though. Typically, expiration will just make cologne appear either lighter or darker.
Conclusion
Most concerns with your cologne, be it evaporation or expiry, can be solved if you store it responsibly. Even if you do leave your cologne in a hot car, don’t panic. Evaporation takes time to occur and isn’t an immediate or catastrophic process. Still, make store your cologne in a cool, dark, and dry space for the best results.