According to Martin Ruppmann of Germany’s cosmetic association, an open bottle of perfume lasts for approximately 36 months. After that, the color and scent of the perfume can change. In addition, perfume with higher alcohol concentration helps it last longer than those that do not contain any alcohol. For instance, some summer fragrances that contain no alcohol can only be kept for a year.

In one of my previous article, I recommended that perfumes should be tightly closed after usage and kept in the fridge for preservation. This helps extend the perfume’s life span. Unfortunately, I don’t know if this method will help the perfume last beyond the 3 years suggested by Ruppman. It is problem for me because I have enough perfume to last me a lifetime.

Therefore, if you only use perfume occasionally, it’s probably better to purchase them in smaller amounts.

Source: The Earth Times

1. Google it. It is very likely that the marketing crew is running a campaign for the new perfume. What do they do? Offer visitors free samples through the mail. All you need to do is fill out your mailing address, and it usually arrives in your mailbox within two weeks. This is a very easy way to get your hands on the newest fragrance samples. Recently, I acquired YSL’s Elle and Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. by using this method.

2. Go to the department store. If you are uncomfortable disclosing your home address, you can always go to department stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales. Or you can try beauty specialty stores like Sephora. These retailers often carry the newest fragrances, and will normally have a tester for every individual perfume. If you want to keep a small vial of the perfume, ask the customer service reps. Most of the times, they are willing to give you one if it’s in stock and you appear sincerely interested. I’m sure they will try to introduce you to some of the new perfume selections in attempt to make a sale, but these situations are inevitable.

3. Contact the manufacturer. I haven’t personally tried to obtain free perfume samples through the manufacturer given that I was successful using the former two methods. However, if all else fails, it is an option. From what I’ve read from other perfume sites, the manufacturer is usually willing to provide a sample. Since I have not tried it, I cannot speak from experience.

4. Purchase at discount. Department stores charge retail prices, which is the main reason perfumes can get expensive. Fortunately, there are many discount perfume stores both online and offline. Some of the stores inlcude: Perfume Emporium, Perfumania, FragranceX.com, and StrawberryNET.com. These stores offer perfumes at a lower price. Although you will end up spending money, at least you will not need to pay the full price. During holiday seasons, discount perfume stores have special promotions such as ‘buy one get second for $9.99′, or ‘buy two get one free.’ Although the deals are offered on selected items, but there are usually a wide range of fragrances you can choose from.

5. Buy from eBay. Maybe. It gets hectic trying to find which seller to buy from on eBay because many of them are listing the same items. Sometimes the shipping costs are so high you might as well buy it from a retailer. However, you never know when you will find a good deal, so it’s not a bad idea to give it a try. Just make sure you read the seller’s feedback profile, ensure they have at least 25 satisfied customer reviews, and always, always contact them if you have any doubts about the product.

6. Ask for a present. I know this sounds bad because you are essentially asking someone to buy it for you. But if somebody just happens to ask what you want for your birthday or Christmas or Valentine’s Day, you might as well ask for the perfume you’ve been yearning for for the last few day(s) or week(s). This not only helps you get the fragrance you want, but also helps your giver resolve the ‘what gift should I give him/her?’ situation. Not too bad, right?

1. Maintain its natural fragrance
2. Create a fuller and long-lasting scent

An example of layering perfume might start with a body wash or bath/shower gel, then put on matching body lotion/cream or body spray afterwards. At last, apply perfume or eau de parfum from the same set. Make sure scents from different product lines are not combined.

If you have fair and/or dry skin, you will need to reapply the perfume more often than those with dark and oily skin. Also note that perfume scent lasts longer when it’s hot, and less during cold weather. You should also vary the fragrance you use from time to time because it is medically proven that scents effects emotions. Perhaps you can try a new scent every season. Be sure to store your perfume in its original container and tightly sealed. It’s also a good idea to store it in the fridge between uses. It delays the oxidation process and helps to preserve the scent.