Fragrance: Storing

If you look after your perfume correctly, it will stay fresh and last longer.

The lifespan of an unopened fragrance will vary according to its strength and quality, but like most cosmetic products, it will be good for at least three years as long as it's kept well away from heat and light.

Don't store your fragrance in the bathroom, opened or unopened. Fluctuating temperature and humidity levels here will degrade your scent in no time.

Try not to expose your fragrance to the air any more than necessary. Once opened, the ingredients will gradually oxidize and deteriorate.

Stick to one or two scents at a time, so that you use them up quickly, or buy smaller sizes of a wider variety if you like to match your mood.

Some experts recommend keeping fragrance in the fridge (although you may be in trouble with the rest of the household if you spill any).

If you like to buy larger bottles of fragrance, keep them boxed in a drawer, and use them to fill an ornate purse-spray as and when required. This limits their exposure to air, heat and light, the arch enemies of fragrance.

Avoid using a scent that smells vinegary, is darker or more orange than usual, or has a sticky feel to it. If so, it is probably out of date.