Perfume longevity can be viewed from two perspectives: how long the scent lasts on your skin after application, and how long the perfume remains good/unexpired in the bottle.
- How long perfume lasts on skin depends largely on its concentration:
- Parfum (extrait de parfum): 20-30% fragrance oils, can last up to 24 hours.
- Eau de Parfum (EDP): 15-20% oils, typically lasts 6-8 hours.
- Eau de Toilette (EDT): lighter concentration, lasts about 4-6 hours.
- Eau de Cologne and Eau Fraiche: lighter still, last 2-4 hours or less.
- Other factors influencing longevity on skin include skin type (oily skin holds scent longer than dry skin), body temperature (higher temps can cause faster evaporation), and how much perfume is applied.
- As for unopened perfume, it can last for many years if stored properly (cool, dark place). Typically, unopened perfume can last 3-5 years or more, sometimes even decades. Once opened, it is best used within 2-3 years as exposure to air and light causes the scent to degrade and change.
In summary:
- On skin: from 2 hours (light cologne) up to 24 hours (parfum).
- Unopened in bottle: several years (3-5 on average, potentially longer).
- Opened bottle: best used within 2-3 years for optimal scent quality.
