Perfume evaporation

[BigPurseSue]

I didn't wear much perfume during the pandemic because I was going into medical facilities everyday, and we weren't going out much. So it's been a few years since I wore perfume. Tonight I was dusting off my dresser and noticed that my two bottles of Chanel Chance have significantly evaporated. In fact there's barely any left in one bottle. The tops were on tight. What the heck? I'm really bummed because I think Chanel has changed the formulas since I bought these bottles.

Meanwhile I have a couple bottles of Karl Lagerfeld's Chloe from the '80s that are still mostly full.

Has anyone else experienced evaporation from Chanel bottles? And is there anything special you do to prevent evaporation from any perfume bottles?

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

I have noticed evaporation of perfume, but mostly only from tiny decant purse sprays (when I have sprayed from a larger bottle to a smaller purse-sized spray for example). The larger bottle is fine, it's usually the little decants that evaporate if they are not used up soon. Also, I have noticed evaporation with some vintage extrait/parfum bottles which don't have a spray mechanism. This can be quite disheartening, as vintage extraits are very expensive and also hard to find.

None of my Chanel bottles seem to be evaporating though, and some are quite old. Typically, it is relatively rare to experience evaporation from manufacturer sealed spray bottles, purse sprays or samples (as compared to decants), although of course it does happen now and then. The notable exception would be bottles with the interchangeable bulb spray attachment (don't know what they're called). With those kind of bottles, it is often recommended to remove the bulb spray mechanism and just replace with the cap when not in use, to prevent evaporation.

Sorry to hear that your Chance bottles are evaporating. I would suggest using them up at this point. Perhaps one spray a day (at least, this way you can enjoy the fragrance even if you're not going out). When I notice any of my perfumes evaporating, I just put them into active rotation, and try to use them up. Also, I have a suggestion -- you mentioned your dresser, and if you're placing them out on the dresser, it's possible that exposure to light might speed up the evaporation process, so I would move them into a dresser drawer, or a darker location. I don't think this will stop the evaporation process, but at least it might slow it down.

 

[BigPurseSue]

I have noticed evaporation of perfume, but mostly only from tiny decant purse sprays (when I have sprayed from a larger bottle to a smaller purse-sized spray for example). The larger bottle is fine, it's usually the little decants that evaporate if they are not used up soon. Also, I have noticed evaporation with some vintage extrait/parfum bottles which don't have a spray mechanism. This can be quite disheartening, as vintage extraits are very expensive and also hard to find.

None of my Chanel bottles seem to be evaporating though, and some are quite old. Typically, it is relatively rare to experience evaporation from manufacturer sealed spray bottles, purse sprays or samples (as compared to decants), although of course it does happen now and then. The notable exception would be bottles with the interchangeable bulb spray attachment (don't know what they're called). With those kind of bottles, it is often recommended to remove the bulb spray mechanism and just replace with the cap when not in use, to prevent evaporation.

Sorry to hear that your Chance bottles are evaporating. I would suggest using them up at this point. Perhaps one spray a day (at least, this way you can enjoy the fragrance even if you're not going out). When I notice any of my perfumes evaporating, I just put them into active rotation, and try to use them up. Also, I have a suggestion -- you mentioned your dresser, and if you're placing them out on the dresser, it's possible that exposure to light might speed up the evaporation process, so I would move them into a dresser drawer, or a darker location. I don't think this will stop the evaporation process, but at least it might slow it down.

Thank you so much for all the insights Purses & Perfumes! I did put the bottles in the drawer of my dresser for safe-keeping. They weren't sitting in the sunlight, but still, there was light and that may have contributed to the evaporation.

That's really interesting that small purse-sized bottles often evaporate. I have a small bottle of Pacifica French Lilac which doesn't have a cover over the spritzer. It was sitting out in the light with the Chanel bottles but doesn't appear to have evaporated (alas, I don't like it much). It did turn colors into a very dark amber.

I have lovely crystal decanter-style perfume bottles from my mom but never put perfume in them because I'm worried about evaporation.

Thank you for your thoughts on this!

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Thank you so much for all the insights Purses & Perfumes! I did put the bottles in the drawer of my dresser for safe-keeping. They weren't sitting in the sunlight, but still, there was light and that may have contributed to the evaporation.

That's really interesting that small purse-sized bottles often evaporate. I have a small bottle of Pacifica French Lilac which doesn't have a cover over the spritzer. It was sitting out in the light with the Chanel bottles but doesn't appear to have evaporated (alas, I don't like it much). It did turn colors into a very dark amber.

I have lovely crystal decanter-style perfume bottles from my mom but never put perfume in them because I'm worried about evaporation.

Thank you for your thoughts on this!

You're welcome! I would suggest using up those Chanel Chance bottles because in my experience, once they start evaporating, they will sadly continue to do so. Vaguely, I remember reading somewhere that using parafilm or plumber's tape and wrapping it tightly around the neck and just below the nozzle area might help slow down the evaporation process. I have never tried it, but just thought I would mention it incase you want to give it a go.

Also, to clarify, not all small, purse-size bottles are prone to evaporation. It's specifically some small (and large) decant bottles that I have had difficulty with in terms of evaporation. Decants are where the perfumes are transferred from a larger bottle into a smaller spray or splash bottle. In the perfume community, people often do it to share a fragrance with friends. You can also buy decants from some places. I have made decants for friends or family, usually by spraying from a large bottle into a smaller bottle, sometimes using a perfume funnel. I do caution them to watch out for evaporation, and to use it up soon when I share a decant. Funnily enough, not all decants evaporate either, but they are just more prone to it, and it may have something to do with how tightly they're sealed.

On the other hand, I have a handful of small purse sprays sealed directly by the manufacturer (where I can't open or unscrew the cap) that are still going strong after many years (Houbigant Fleur d'Oranger parfum, vintage Estee Lauder Private Collection parfum spray, Chanel No. 19 parfum spray and Yves Rocher Rose Absolue). I also had Pacifica Tahitian Gardinia in the bottle with no cap, (which I think can be opened if you want to pour out the perfume) which was fine for many years but I eventually gave that one away.

Your crystal bottles sound lovely! I would be tempted to use them since there is something so beautiful about applying perfume from a gorgeous crystal glass bottle, but completely understand the concerns about evaporation.
ETA: Apologies for such a long-winded response! Hope you can slow down the evaporation process and enjoy your perfumes.