Unopened Cologne from 2002

[ChicagoRon]

How long would it be worth buying? Limited edition, so I know it was bottled in '02. I love the scent, and I believe they have no intention of making anymore. however, due to it's ltd. edition run, it's fairly pricey, and I'm not sure if it's worth the money after all those years.

 

[fredrik80]

Assuming it has been stored in its box (or actually i mean not exposed to sunlight/strong lighting, and in a normal temperature) it should be no problems. Light and heat are what destroys a fragrance, or rather makes it go bad sooner than expected.

I also stock up on hard to find fragrances when i find a good deal

 

[robin]

^ Oxygen exposure also degrades fragrances.

 

[andrebaron]

don't worry--you're fine--just buy it and use it. I have several old colognes from the 70's that are still outragous.

 

[teflondog]

Out of curiousity, what cologne is it? I have bottles of DK Men and Aramis Havana, which have both been discontinued for many years now. They still smell great.

 

[ChicagoRon]

Ted Baker Global. I was in the NY (soho) store last week and saw two left. In the paris store, they looked at me cross-eyed when I asked if there was any left. I boght a bottle of the new x/o, but it pales in comparison.

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by teflondog

Out of curiousity, what cologne is it? I have bottles of DK Men and Aramis Havana, which have both been discontinued for many years now. They still smell great.
In the last year I, too, have bought and sold a number of bottles of DK Men, which was discontinued in 1997. The most important part of the equation is the box, as this blocks light. A lot of hoopla is made about temperature, and one should take reasonable care, but sunlight is the biggest enemy of fragrances. A friend of mine (and T-dog's) bought his wife a bottle of Chanel no. 19. She left it on a table in reach of direct sunlight. Within a week it was useless. This is why many hardcore fragheads actually keep the cardboard packaging, and store the bottles inside of those, inside a cupboard or even a fridge, rather than displayed out on the dresser. This box-business is for NIB bottles. Of course, if it has been opened, especially if its a splash rather than a spray, oxygen-exposure could have reared its ugly head.

 

[teflondog]

Originally Posted by Joel_Cairo

In the last year I, too, have bought and sold a number of bottles of DK Men, which was discontinued in 1997. The most important part of the equation is the box, as this blocks light. A lot of hoopla is made about temperature, and one should take reasonable care, but sunlight is the biggest enemy of fragrances. A friend of mine (and T-dog's) bought his wife a bottle of Chanel no. 19. She left it on a table in reach of direct sunlight. Within a week it was useless. This is why many hardcore fragheads actually keep the cardboard packaging, and store the bottles inside of those, inside a cupboard or even a fridge, rather than displayed out on the dresser.

This box-business is for NIB bottles. Of course, if it has been opened, especially if its a splash rather than a spray, oxygen-exposure could have reared its ugly head.

This is sound advise. Furthermore, you should also avoid storing your fragrances in the bathroom (the rapid temperature fluxes caused by the bath/shower could result in degradation of the cologne).

 

[ChicagoRon]

Originally Posted by teflondog

...you should also avoid storing your fragrances in the bathroom (the rapid temperature fluxes caused by the bath/shower could result in degradation of the cologne).


I live alone, and generally I keep my bathroom door open. Still a risk? Also, when degradation starts, does it result in no smell at all, or the scent doesn't last as long?

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

I live alone, and generally I keep my bathroom door open. Still a risk? Also, when degradation starts, does it result in no smell at all, or the scent doesn't last as long?

topnotes (the first smells, often citris) are the most volatile. They are thin and short lived, by their very chemical nature (there's really no fixative strong enought to make citrus notes last for hours), but once a cologne has "gone off", the topnotes will be basically gone. If you spray something on, and it immediately smells like it should at hour 2 or 3, it's gone-off.