Donating Cologne: Is It Possible And How To Do It?

It's common to have cologne or other beauty products that you no longer want or need. Instead of throwing them away, you may be able to donate them to someone who will appreciate them. Many people suggest donating to a homeless shelter or an organisation that helps people get back on their feet. Toiletries are always in high demand for shelters and employment programs. You could also donate to a women's shelter, a charity store that benefits women re-entering the workforce, or a local thrift shop that donates proceeds to a good cause. If you're in the UK, Give and Makeup is a charity that supports women and children who have been victims of domestic violence and accepts secondhand makeup. In the US, Project Beauty Share collects personal hygiene and beauty products and distributes them to women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty.

Can You Donate Cologne?

Where to donate cologne

There are several places where you can donate your cologne. Here are some options:

Women's Shelters

Donating to a women's shelter is a great option, as suggested by multiple sources. Women's shelters often accept gently used fragrances and other beauty products. They may be particularly appreciative of such donations, as these items can boost the confidence of individuals staying at the shelter, especially those seeking employment or trying to get back on their feet.

Homeless Shelters

Similar to women's shelters, homeless shelters may also accept cologne donations. These donations can be beneficial to individuals seeking employment and trying to rebuild their lives.

Charities

Some charities, such as AM Vets, accept donations of fragrances. However, it is important to check with the charity beforehand, as some charities may toss perfume due to sanitation concerns. One such charity is Give and Makeup, a UK-based organization that supports women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. They accept secondhand makeup but specify that donations should be items you would feel comfortable giving to a friend.

Local Organizations

Reaching out to local organizations, such as transitional houses, can be a great way to find a place to donate your cologne. These organizations often support individuals facing challenges such as leaving an abusive relationship, and they may be grateful for fragrance donations.

Online Platforms

Online platforms like Olio can be a good option for donating cologne. Olio has a non-food section where users can offer items they no longer want, and someone in your area may be interested in your cologne.

Friends and Family

If you have friends or family members who might enjoy your cologne, consider offering it to them. This can be a way to pass on a sophisticated fragrance to a younger relative or simply give someone a scent they will enjoy.

Other Options

If you are unable to find a specific place to donate your cologne, there are alternative ways to dispose of it responsibly. You can regift it, sell it on platforms like Mercari, or get creative and use it for other purposes, such as scenting letters, freshening up your car, or making scented lotions.

How to prepare cologne for donation

Firstly, it is important to note that not all charities and organisations will accept used colognes and perfumes. It is always best to call ahead and check if they will accept your donation.

If you are looking to donate cologne, it is best to ensure the bottle is at least half full, and the packaging is intact and presentable. Sanitize the bottle by wiping it down with a cloth soaked in sanitizing alcohol.

Next, you will need to prepare the cologne for shipping, if you are donating to a charity that is not local to you. Ensure the lid is tightly closed and wrap the bottle in bubble wrap. Place it in a cardboard box with some packing material, such as newspaper or packing peanuts, to ensure it does not get damaged in transit.

If you are donating to a local charity, you can simply place the bottle in a bag and drop it off.

Some charities that accept donations of cologne and other toiletries include women's shelters, homeless shelters, and organisations that support people seeking employment. You can also try local thrift stores, which may sell your donated cologne to raise money for a particular cause.

There are also online platforms, such as Glambot, that will buy your unloved cologne, sanitize it, and sell it for you. The money can then be donated to a charity of your choice.

Finally, you could consider offering your cologne on a free/sharing Facebook page or group, or on a platform such as Olio, where someone in your local area may want it.

Charities that accept cologne donations

There are several charities that accept cologne donations. These include:

Beauty Bus

Based in Santa Monica, California, this charity delivers support to terminally ill patients and caregivers through beauty, providing bags of products and at-home services. They accept new, sealed products that are at least six months from their expiration date but do not take razors, extractors, perfumes, deodorant, or makeup bags.

Give and Makeup

This UK-based charity supports women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. They accept secondhand makeup (except for lip glosses and mascaras, which must be new).

Project Beauty Share

This organization collects personal hygiene, cosmetics, and beauty products and distributes them through nonprofits serving women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty. They accept lightly used products from specific categories, such as powder eye shadows, powder blush, bronzers, highlighters, and pencil eyeliners and lip liners (only the kind that can be sharpened).

Share Your Beauty

Share Your Beauty aims to put a bit of sparkle and dignity back into the lives of women and teens in crisis. They accept new, unopened, and unexpired cosmetics, hair and skin care products, nail polish, perfume samples, and personal care items.

In addition to these organizations, you can try reaching out to local homeless shelters, women's shelters, or organizations that assist people in finding employment. These groups often accept toiletries donations, which can include cologne. It is always a good idea to call ahead and confirm that they will take your donation.

Local donation options

If you have cologne that you no longer want, there are several local options for donating it. Firstly, you could try contacting your local women's shelter. Women's shelters often accept donations of toiletries and cosmetics, and there may be one in your area that would be happy to receive your cologne. Another similar option is to donate to a local charity that supports people seeking employment, as these organisations often distribute toiletries and cosmetics to those in need. You could also try contacting local homeless shelters or organisations that help people get back on their feet, as suggested by someone on a Reddit forum.

If you are based in the US, there are a few organisations that may accept donations of cologne by mail. These include Beauty Bus Foundation, Give and Makeup, Project Beauty Share, and Share Your Beauty. However, it is worth noting that Beauty Bus Foundation does not accept donations of perfumes. Therefore, it is important to check the guidelines of each organisation before sending in your donation.

Before donating, it is a good idea to ensure that your cologne is in good condition and has not expired. You may also want to sanitise the bottle and packaging to make it more suitable for donation.

Online donation options

There are several online platforms and charities that accept donations of new and gently used colognes and other beauty products. Here are some options to consider:

• Give and Makeup: Based in the United Kingdom, this charity supports women and children who are victims of domestic violence. They accept secondhand makeup, but specify that if you would be embarrassed to give it to a friend, you shouldn't send it to them. You can ship donations to: Give and Makeup, P.O. BOX 855, London, W4 4AW, United Kingdom.
• Project Beauty Share: This organization collects personal hygiene, cosmetics, and beauty products and distributes them to non-profit organizations serving women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty. They accept gently used products from specific categories, such as powder eye shadows, powder blush, bronzers, highlighters, and pencil liners. For skin and hair care products, they accept gently used items in pumps, tubes, and bottles, while products in tubs or jars must be new. You can ship donations to: Project Beauty Share, 2718 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202, USA.
• Share Your Beauty: This charity aims to bring sparkle and dignity to the lives of women and teens in crisis. They accept new, unopened, and unexpired cosmetics, hair and skin care products, nail polish, perfume samples, and personal care items. You can ship donations to: Share Your Beauty Family-to-Family, PO Box 255, Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706, USA.
• R/MakeupExchange: This is a subreddit that allows you to swap beauty products with strangers. You can list the products you want to swap or sell and specify what you are interested in receiving in exchange. You can also proactively contact others who have products you want and offer to trade directly.
• Glambot: Glambot is a company that buys your unloved or unused products, sanitizes them, and then sells them. They have strict policies to ensure customer safety, including requirements for expiration dates, packaging, and remaining product quantity. They also have specific categories that are only accepted from beauty industry professionals. Check their website for the full selling policy and a list of accepted brands.
• Facebook groups and local online forums: Consider joining local Facebook groups or online forums where people offer free items or are interested in swapping products. You can also create a post to offer your cologne for donation.

Before donating, it is important to ensure that the cologne is gently used, with some life left in it, and sanitized. It is also a good idea to contact the organization beforehand to confirm that they accept such donations and to understand any specific guidelines they may have.

Frequently asked questions