I'm not there yet, but there may come a point when I feel the need to buy multiple bottles of something to protect myself against Scentageddon. I understand that colognes can lose potency after prolonged storage. Just out of curiosity, what can one do to prevent or minimize that?
Storing Hoarded Cologne
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The best you can do for fragrances is keep them away from light and heat. But I wouldn't worry too much about fragrances going bad in any way. I haven't had any trouble with that and I've had individual bottles for years.
As far as I know, storing your Precious Potions away from heat & light is the best course of action. You might also want to go the extra step of putting them into a wine refrigerator (@ a setting of approx. 55° F) but as long as they're away from light & heat, this probably isn't necessary.
Also, bear in mind that scents containing a high proportion of natural essences may, MAY, tend to weaken/turn more quickly than those containing primarily synthetics. Then again, they may not.
Also, bear in mind that scents containing a high proportion of natural essences may, MAY, tend to weaken/turn more quickly than those containing primarily synthetics. Then again, they may not.
They say fast variations in temperature are bad for scents. So I suppose one could store scent in a sealed insultated "Igloo" cooler to mitigate that, even if one were not going to invest in a an actual cooler such as a wine cave.
All of this is reminesent of what is said about storing wine, except for scents were are not attempting to let them age and evolve, we are just looking to preserve them. Thus, I think the best thing to do probably is to store full unopened bottle that are being stashed for the future at the back of a regular refridgerator. I do not think getting pretty cold once and then coming back to room temperature somewhere way down the line is going to hurt them much, and I highly suspect that the even lower temperture would help preserve them all the more than wine cave temps.
I would not go so far as advocating the freezer because I do not know what changes the freezing process with crystalization and such might cause scents. But I suspect that a scent that is largely alcohol and oils can get pretty cold and not be too harmed, so long as the temperture is not brought up and down repeatedly.
But what the heck do I know!
All of this is reminesent of what is said about storing wine, except for scents were are not attempting to let them age and evolve, we are just looking to preserve them. Thus, I think the best thing to do probably is to store full unopened bottle that are being stashed for the future at the back of a regular refridgerator. I do not think getting pretty cold once and then coming back to room temperature somewhere way down the line is going to hurt them much, and I highly suspect that the even lower temperture would help preserve them all the more than wine cave temps.
I would not go so far as advocating the freezer because I do not know what changes the freezing process with crystalization and such might cause scents. But I suspect that a scent that is largely alcohol and oils can get pretty cold and not be too harmed, so long as the temperture is not brought up and down repeatedly.
But what the heck do I know!
I use to store my EdT in the bathroom until I heard that temperature variations and humidity was bad for them. So, I moved them to my dresser where the temperature and humidity is more stable. Then I heard that light is bad for them, now I store them on my dresser out of direct sunlight. I would prefer to store them in the frig but seems like a little overkill to me.
So, which is better:
a. In the bathroom cabinet where there are temp and humidity variations?; or
b. On the dresser where the temp is more constant and out of direct sunlight?
So, which is better:
a. In the bathroom cabinet where there are temp and humidity variations?; or
b. On the dresser where the temp is more constant and out of direct sunlight?
I store mine in the walk-in closet; I usually apply in there, too. Dark 99% of the time. Hardly and temperature or humidity variation. Never had a problem with scents turning while in there.
I keep mine in a drawer. I always keep them in the boxes too, unless they're testers 
Same here.
I store tobacco that I "cellar" in an insulated cooler, just like the ones the keeps your beer cold. The objective is the mitigate wide variations in temperature. However, I not sure if this is applicable for fragrances and aftershave. As other have said, heat and light are the main enemies and if you can minimize that, then you'll go a long way of preserving those beloved scents. You can take heart in the fact that it will take years for most fragrances to degrade. Those essential perfume oils will last a long time.
I'm on the fence with this one, watching the replies. I have a pretty big collection now, and here in Los Angeles, there is some fairly extreme heat in summer.
I don't know if I want to go down the "wine cooler" road....
I have had one Creed go bad on me. After about 7 years, a BdP just sort of died. Lost all of it's middle and basenotes.
I don't know if I want to go down the "wine cooler" road....
I have had one Creed go bad on me. After about 7 years, a BdP just sort of died. Lost all of it's middle and basenotes.
I keep mine in a drawer. I always keep them in the boxes too, unless they're testers
I keep my Bel Ami in the drawer. I heard a nasty rumor that they would be discontinuing that one; although, they denied it on a recent trip to the Dallas Hermes boutique. I'm still skeptical.
I have my soaps and Cologne in drawer with long johns ect. No light and stable temps.
I store all the AS, Witch Hazel and Colognes in the refrigerator of the bottom shelf of the door. They stay nice and cool, out of sunlight and are not susceptible to changes in temperature. They are always at a nice stable temperature and sealed so evaporation is not a factor at all. A nice cool splash in the face early in the AM 
or in the Heat of Summer is quite refreshing.
Tutti Frutti, Cheers
or in the Heat of Summer is quite refreshing.Tutti Frutti, Cheers
I think the OP was really asking about "reserve" bottles of scent--exttras in case of Scentageddon--not about bottles in active rotation/use or even in semi-active use. For that particular storage question, unless someone thinks that degree of cold is harmful to scents, I am thinking in the back of the fridge, out of the way, in the original box and original plastic, if possible, and regardless, maybe another layer of plastic, is the way to go.
For me, since I do not have a scent cave or anything like it handy, I think I will still with have the scents in actual rotation out on the shelves in my bathroom, in semi-dim and indirect light because what they are surrounded by. Other scents in less active use I am keeping in their boxes on the same shelves. That should completely obviated any problems of light and mitigate changes in temperature, but keep the scent handy in case I want to bring it back into active rotation. I guess the bottom line is that I am willing to take some chance on deterioration in order to keep things convenient. But if I were stockpiling flacons of Tabarome and Windsor for the future, I would do a whole lot more to protect them than I do!
Humidity, except to the extent it affects temperature changes or the fact that high humiidity could harm labels seems like a none issue for scents to me. For tobacco, of course, humidity is key. Folks think it is important for wines to keep the coaks from drying out, but I suspect that is really a non issue, and you do not want a cellar to be too moisture or the labels will start falling off and/or growing mold, but I do not think one is reallly going to have that problem with scents.
For me, since I do not have a scent cave or anything like it handy, I think I will still with have the scents in actual rotation out on the shelves in my bathroom, in semi-dim and indirect light because what they are surrounded by. Other scents in less active use I am keeping in their boxes on the same shelves. That should completely obviated any problems of light and mitigate changes in temperature, but keep the scent handy in case I want to bring it back into active rotation. I guess the bottom line is that I am willing to take some chance on deterioration in order to keep things convenient. But if I were stockpiling flacons of Tabarome and Windsor for the future, I would do a whole lot more to protect them than I do!
Humidity, except to the extent it affects temperature changes or the fact that high humiidity could harm labels seems like a none issue for scents to me. For tobacco, of course, humidity is key. Folks think it is important for wines to keep the coaks from drying out, but I suspect that is really a non issue, and you do not want a cellar to be too moisture or the labels will start falling off and/or growing mold, but I do not think one is reallly going to have that problem with scents.
I keep mine in a drawer. I always keep them in the boxes too, unless they're testers
Precisely what I do for all frags not in my current rotation. Some I have had for years and years without problem. I have, however, noticed that florals tend to fade if left out in the light. But it takes a long, long time.
I have a small table set up in a walk in - ideal for frags, watches and a knife or two. The overspray makes everything smell good as well.
Mine are stored in the dark in a bathroom cabinet that is built into the bathroom wall (old house with heavy stone walls and plaster walls on the inside, cabinet is about 10 inches from an outside wall). The temperature is pretty well all year round the same, not too much fluctuation. I don't think that humidity has anything to do with it, as the bottles are always closed (most of them are atomizer bottles, except maybe one or two that are shakers). I have had some scents for many years stored this way and did not sense a change in it.
For long-time storage, I would keep it in the box, and then put it in double, closed plastic bags and stored it in one of my basement rooms - this one was built as a bomb shelter (yes, the house was built during the cold war times). This room, our walk-in clothes storage for the off-season clothes, is all year round the same temperature as it is pretty much all underground and has no heating, but a dehumidifying unit. Temp is about 55-60 in the winter and max 65 in the summer.
For long-time storage, I would keep it in the box, and then put it in double, closed plastic bags and stored it in one of my basement rooms - this one was built as a bomb shelter (yes, the house was built during the cold war times). This room, our walk-in clothes storage for the off-season clothes, is all year round the same temperature as it is pretty much all underground and has no heating, but a dehumidifying unit. Temp is about 55-60 in the winter and max 65 in the summer.
