Can You Leave Perfume in the Car?

So you want to smell good for every occasion? There’s a better way to achieve that than leaving perfume in the car.

Published Categorized as Fragrance
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It’s convenient, we know. If you leave a bottle of your signature scent in the car, you can spray it on whenever the opportunity requires it, whether that’s arriving at work, carpooling the kids to school, or going out on a “we should do more of these” date night with hubby or wifey at some fancy place.

And yet, when you consider that perfume is made up of oil dissolved in alcohol and water—both of which evaporate in the heat—you can’t help but wonder: Is it really a good idea to keep a bottle of it in the glove compartment of your car?

This question comes up particularly often in the heat waves of summer, when leaving the car out in the sun for a few hours is enough to turn it into a Gozney pizza oven on wheels. So, today, I will give you my take on it.

It’s not a good idea to leave perfume in your car, even if it’s in the confines of the glove compartment. High heat and exposure to sunlight can cause the perfume to spoil quickly, altering its scent and affecting its longevity.

What if it’s cold outside?

High heat is a lot worse than freezing cold. So, if you keep a bottle of perfume in the car in fall or spring, you have nothing to worry about. As long as you put it in the glove compartment where it’s shielded from sunlight.

In winter, ask yourself the question, “how cold exactly is it?” If we’re talking about below-freezing Minnesota winter, leaving a bottle of perfume in the car is almost guaranteed to shatter it. This is because the juice will freeze and expand, causing the glass to crack.

It’s a gamble, if you get my drift. And perfume, especially good perfume, is too expensive a possession to gamble with.

The fragrant molecules that make up a fragrance are volatile by nature; otherwise, the olfactory receptors in your nose wouldn’t be able to detect them. In other words, it is imperative that you treat them with the care and attention that they deserve.

If you want that bottle of perfume to last long, be sure to protect it from sunlight and moisture. Standard-size bottles should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as a walk-in closet, wardrobe, or dresser drawer; travel-size sprays should be carried in your handbag or purse.

So here comes my best advice to even the most over-spraying wearer: instead of keeping perfume in your car, buy a conveniently sized 0.33-0.5 fl oz (10-15 ml) travel-sized spray or a decant—and carry it with you wherever you go.

That way, you can visit the men’s or ladies’ room to freshen up as necessary, and you won’t have to worry about your favorite fragrance spoiling in the heat.

By Simona

Fragrance addict. Makeup lover. Confidence coach for women. Co-founder of Sterlish.

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