Time to Bin That Stale Aftershave, Mate
Let’s face it — most blokes are still spraying themselves with aftershave they got three Christmases ago from an ex. But newsflash: that bottle might be more chemical soup than signature scent by now.
Summer’s not just about sun, beer gardens and regrettable tan lines — it’s also the season to give your fragrance stash a once-over. According to the experts at http://PerfumeDirect.com , a whopping 87% of people are still dousing themselves in scents older than 2020. That bottle on your steamy bathroom shelf? It’s probably turned.
And get this — 78% didn’t even know perfume has a bloody expiry date. Yep, just like milk… only more expensive and less obvious until you reek like a damp towel in a nightclub loo.
“Perfume doesn’t last forever,” says Jonny Webber, scent guru at Perfume Direct. “Heat, sunlight, and dodgy storage can nuke your cologne way before the typical three-to-five-year lifespan. Sometimes in under a year.”
Younger guys – yeah, we’re looking at you Millennials and Gen Z – are the worst offenders. With ‘fragrance wardrobes’ full of half-used bottles (some worth over £200), they’re hoarding aftershaves like NFTs. But if that fancy bottle is just full of sour booze now, it’s not exactly turning heads for the right reasons.
How to Tell If Your Aftershave’s Had It:
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Smells like metal, damp laundry or vinegar? Bin it.
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Gone dark in colour? Chuck it.
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Faint as a whisper or just smells of neat alcohol? You know what to do.
How To Store Your Scents Properly (So You Don’t Smell Like Regret):
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Keep it cool and dark – Think drawer or wardrobe, not the shelf next to your sunlamp.
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Stable temperature – Your cologne isn’t a ski lodge, it hates hot/cold mood swings.
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Lid on tight – Oxygen is the enemy. Leave it open, it spoils.
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Box it up – Yep, the packaging isn’t just for show. It protects the juice inside.
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Keep it upright – Sideways = leaks and broken sprayers. No thanks.
What Not To Do:
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Don’t store it in the bathroom. Heat and humidity = scent death.
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Avoid sunny windowsills. That bottle of Tom Ford is not a plant; it doesn’t want “light.”
And While You’re At It… Bin That Man Drawer Full of Expired Moisturisers
Still slapping on moisturiser from 2022? Using last summer’s SPF? That stuff's probably doing more harm than good. Expired products can be completely useless — or worse, start hosting their own bacteria raves. Think skin irritation, breakouts, and eye infections. Nice.
Jonny says liquid or cream stuff needs binning after 6–12 months. Powders can last a bit longer, but always check the little open-jar icon on the packaging — if you can still read it.
Final Word:
If it smells off, looks wrong, or you can’t remember who gave it to you — chuck it. Then store your new bottles like a grown-up. That way, you’ll keep smelling like a boss, not like a bottle of regret.