Why Fragrance Experts Say You Should *Only* Buy Travel-Size Perfume Bottles

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It should be no surprise that many perfumes have a cult-following for their fragrance and gorgeous bottles—which is reason enough to splurge on full-size formulas. But, while some perfumes are worth the three-figure price tags for their stunning vessels that are true works of art, some fragrance experts say, “Girl, don’t do it,” and recommend travel-size perfumes instead. 

Best Travel-Sized Perfumes at a Glance

• Lancôme La vie est belle Eau de Parfum (0.3 oz), $35
• fine’ry. Not Another Cherry Mini Purse Spray Perfume (0.33 oz), $13
• Maison Francis Kurkdjian Discovery Fragrance Set (0.07 oz), $60
• TOCCA Florence Eau de Parfum (0.33 oz), $30
• Being Frenshe Fresh Cashmere Vanilla Roll-On Fragrance (0.84 oz), $15
• Glossier You (0.27 oz), $32
• Sol de Janeiro SOL Cheirosa ‘62 Eau de Parfum (0.27 oz), $26
• Merit Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum (0.32 oz), $34
• PHLUR Vanilla Skin Eau de Parfum (0.32 oz), $29
• LoveShackFancy Forever in Love Eau de Parfum with Green Pear & Gardenia (0.34 oz), $32
• Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Springtime In A Park Eau de Toilette (1 oz), $85
• Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Mini Perfume Spray (0.23 oz), $15 

“Travel-sized perfume is a great way to test a fragrance before investing in the full-size option,” says MarieAnna Ferdinand, EVP Fragrance Development of Tru Fragrance. “Additionally, if there are several fragrances that you know you love, buying a travel-size version allows you to collect multiple of your favorite scents while spending less out of pocket.”

But the convenience and testing aren’t the only reasons why buying a full-size perfume bottle isn’t always recommended. Just like tubes of mascara, perfume can actually go bad a lot faster than we thought. So, buying smaller bottles ensures you don’t end up with dusty half-filled bottles on your vanity.   

Does Fragrance Expire?

According to Ferdinand, fragrance can expire, which is another reason to purchase a travel-sized perfume bottle, especially if you’re someone who tends to hold onto half-filled bottles for years and years. “Typically, fragrance is good for 24 months,” she explains. “After that, you may note a change in the olfactive character of the fragrance.” Exposure to light and changing temperatures (especially heat) are some reasons why perfume can go bad. 

To prevent full-size bottles of perfume from going bad, Ferdinand says to store fragrances out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place. “Personally, I store my fragrances on the open shelving in my closet,” she adds. 

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Lancôme and Target are STYLECASTER sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

The Best Travel-Size Perfume