Buying a perfume for smelling good and then ending up smelling like alcohol isn’t a great experience at all. Last year, I bought perfume from a local shop and I have to say, the tester smelled amazing! However, the bottle I got started smelling like an alcohol swab within 3 days. That’s when the question rose: Why does my perfume smell like alcohol?
The possible answer to the perfume smelling like alcohol could be
- You bought a counterfeit perfume.
- Your perfume is near expiration or you have bought vintage perfume.
- You kept perfume in the light and at high temperature.
- You bought a low quality impression of a high end perfume.
- You bought a highly synthetic perfume
- See if you are Anosmic. This could happen if everyone around you finds the perfume to be great. However, you keep on smelling alcohol or soapy notes.
- Avoid buying perfumes on a very large scale. Perfumes on huge sales are usually near expiration. Checking the expiration date might be a good strategy if you want to escape regret later.
- Check MFG as well. The Manufacturing Date will give you an idea of the perfume’s condition as well. Don’t buy the perfume if MFG is too old.
So, I did some research, and here are all the reasons why your perfume might end up smelling like alcohol.
7 Reasons why your perfume smells like alcohol
There are a couple of reasons why your perfume might end up smelling like alcohol. So yes, it may be possible that almost all apply in your case. However, it is not a compulsion. So, keep evaluating what your reason might have been.
1. Heavy Alcohol Concentration
All perfumes are made of two essential ingredients: essential oils and alcohol. Plus, perfume makers love to play with the concentrations of these components. At times, alcohol concentration can be a little higher than expected. That’s when alcohol’s scent eventually overpowers the original fragrance.
You will notice this in cheap perfumes, especially. Below, are different concentrations that can be found in perfumes. For a much clearer understanding, check out my article on EDP, EDT, and EDC- A Game of Concentrations.
| Perfume Type | Perfume Concentration | Alcohol Concentration |
| Eau Fraiche | 1-3% | Very High |
| EDC- Eau De Cologne | 3-5% | High |
| EDT-Eau De Toilette | 5-15% | Medium |
| EDP- Eau De Parfum | 25-30% | Fair |
To avoid getting an alcoholic touch to your scent, I would suggest you go for EDT or EDP.
2. Your Perfume is About to Expire
Another common reason behind why your perfume might be giving off an alcoholic tinge is expiration. Perfumes that have expired or are about to go stale often start to smell this way. In this case, there is only one thing that you can do- buy a new bottle or get a refill from Sephora.
Here’s the reason why it happens. The scent oils begin to lose their freshness. Alcohol, therefore, steals this chance to show what it’s got to the fullest.
3. Buying Perfume from a Fraudulent Retailer
Buying perfume from the right place is more important than you think. Sometimes, we end up purchasing counterfeit versions from fake retailers. To avoid this, you should check out our guides on Fake vs. Real perfumes.
Always make sure that you are buying your scent from authentic websites and well-reputed sellers to avoid a scam.
4. You May be Anosmic
Did you ever hear dozens of people praising a perfume and buying it? However, when you bought an identical bottle, it only smelled of alcohol and a few other base notes.
This may have happened because you have anosmia. People with anosmia are unable to smell certain types of smells. Therefore, there is a chance that you may be anosmic to the heart note of the perfume.
However, visit a physician for confirmation. Plus, most probably this is very unlikely to be your case. Check this article by Yale Medicine on Anosmia to get a better idea of what it is.
5. Scent Notes are Volatile
Some scent notes are more volatile than others. Volatile liquids evaporate at room temperature as well. Therefore, always keep the cap of your perfume bottle closed. Perfume oils can easily evaporate, leaving behind an unlikely smell.
So, if your perfume smells like alcohol, this can also be one of the reasons.
6. Sharp Smell of Synthetic Ingredients
Synthetic ingredients are chemicals with aroma. They are formed mainly from petrochemicals or turpentine. Now, some perfumes have a high concentration of these synthetic aromas. As a result, they eventually start to smell like alcohol. Hence, if you don’t want that to happen, always test your perfume or look for some reviews online.
7. You Just Received your Package
This can also be one of the reasons why your perfume doesn’t smell as great as you thought. Perfumes that have just been shipped need some time to settle. During the transportation process, their contents get all mixed up and displaced. So, give your perfume some time to breathe before splashing it all over your body.
By now, you have a pretty clear answer to ‘Why does my perfume smell like alcohol?” But, there is another free tip- Do not accept your package without reading the MFG and EXP dates. That will save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Parting Thoughts- Why does my perfume smell like alcohol?
Getting a perfume that ends up smelling like alcohol is not a great experience at all. However, it is completely avoidable. All you need to do is follow my easy 5 advice and that’s it! You will never get another alcohol-smelling perfume again.
However, if your perfume is near the expiration date or has already expired, then I am afraid nothing can be done. In that case, I will suggest you get a refill from Sephora or purchase a new perfume online.
