How long do you keep perfume for?

[PatrickGammon]

I'm off work at the mo and decluttering my bedroom. Found some perfume I was bought as a Christmas present 15 or so years ago. It's one I asked for from my parents.

It still smells the same as it should and I've loads left as hardly worn it (heavy, evening scent). Does perfume expire? Should I get rid? It was fairly expensive.

Thanks

If it smells ok (and you'd know if it didn't) then I'd wear it..perfume does go off though.

eBay sells them, so I don't see why not

Perfume can go off but if it smells OK, it's probably fine.
I try to use mine fairly quickly now after trying to keep a bottle for special occasions and then finding it smelt awful when I actually wanted to use it.

The scent does change as different chemicals oxidise. But I have Guerlains and Chanels that my grandmother bought in the 1940s that I still wear: they most likely don’t smell the same as they did 80 years ago - but then nor do newer formulations of the same fragrances. If they still smell good to you then wear them. If you’re planning to sell them then advise buyers how long they’ve been opened so people know not to expect the exact same fragrance as they just tested in store last week.

I have a bottle of perfume that is over 30 years old and belonged to my mum. Still smells the same!

Thanks all, they do still smell nice so I'll keep them. I'll try to use them more frequently given the advice here.

Vintage perfumes can be worth quite a bit of money so check it out before you discard it.

They lose some of the top notes like aldehydes and some do go off but it depends.

If it's gone off it gets a horrible oakey smell. My mum had a habit of buying perfume from car boot sales and got a completely rancid bottle of Lola by Marc Jacobs. It just smelled of rancid oak but my mum hadn't even noticed!
If your perfume smells the same, use it! It's mostly alcohol so perfectly safe