As a general rule, the expiry date of the perfume is three years from the date of manufacture. The shelf life of a perfume will be reduced if it is left exposed to direct sunlight or if it is not properly stored. Chanel perfumes usually have a shelf life of 3 to 5 years when open or unopened. This shelf life may be longer under the right storage conditions (if they are not open), but not according to official Chanel data.
But the good news is that, on average, an open fragrance can last about two years. In general, it is recommended to spray the perfume directly onto the skin, since in doing so, the fragrance molecules in the perfume interact with the skin's natural oils. The decision to spray perfume on clothes or skin depends on your general preferences and the type of perfume you use. Below, three of the country's top perfumers share everything they know about the shelf life of perfume and how to tell if your favorite scent has expired.
If your Chanel perfume has been open for several years, you may want to consider changing it, as over time the scent will start to change and potentially become less pleasant. According to Givaudan perfumer Jacques Huclier, who has created fragrances for brands like Gucci, Thierry Mugler, and Hugo Boss, an unopened perfume bottle can last several years, depending on how it's stored. Actually, many Chanel perfumes don't have an expiration date printed on the bottle because they don't expire. These are manufacturing dates, but there is no expiry date printed on most Chanel perfumes because they don't expire quickly.
This decay can cause perfumes to clump together and separate, causing an undesirable perfume experience.
