Seamus Hammond
Many people like to wear perfume and jewellery together to feel confident and look good. However, it is important to know that perfumes can damage jewellery. The chemicals in perfumes, such as ethyl alcohol, oils, and colourants, can react with the metal alloys in gold jewellery, causing it to lose its sheen, erode metal coatings, or become discoloured. Similarly, silver jewellery can turn black or green when exposed to perfume. Diamonds and other natural gemstones are also prone to damage due to the essential oils in perfumes, which can give them a dull, yellow hue and reduce their brilliance. Pearls are the most susceptible to damage from perfumes and can easily lose their shine and texture. To avoid damaging your jewellery, it is recommended to apply perfume to the skin and let it dry before wearing jewellery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Damage to jewelry | Loss of sheen, erosion of metal coatings, discolouration, dull layer, corrosion of metal alloys |
| Ingredients causing damage | Oils, synthetics (including ethyl) alcohol, color dyes |
| Jewelry types affected | Gold, Silver, imitation jewelry, gemstones, pearls |
| Preventative measures | Apply perfume on skin and let it dry before wearing jewelry, clean jewelry regularly, store pearls in dry zip-lock bags |
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What You'll Learn
Pearls are very susceptible to damage from perfume
Pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. It is recommended to wait at least 10 minutes, or even 30 minutes, after applying perfume before putting on your pearls. This will reduce the contact with the chemicals and minimise the risk of damage.
To protect your pearls, it is best to keep them in a soft-cloth pouch or a soft-lined jewellery box. They should be stored separately from other jewellery to prevent scratching. Pearls should also be wiped with a damp, soft cloth after wearing to remove any harmful build-up of compounds.
It is important to note that storing pearls in an airtight environment, such as a zip-lock bag, is not recommended. This is because pearls contain trace amounts of water, and storing them in an airtight environment will cause them to become brittle and damage their lustre.
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Gold jewellery can be damaged by perfume
The synthetic materials and chemicals in perfumes, such as ethyl alcohol and colourants, can corrode these metal alloys, leading to tarnishing, discolouration, and even surface damage over time. This can cause the gold jewellery to lose its sheen, creating a dull layer and making the jewellery appear discoloured. The extent of the damage will depend on factors such as the quality of the gold, the composition of the perfume, and the frequency of contact with the jewellery. For example, gold jewellery with low-quality gold plating or made of coloured gold may be more susceptible to damage.
To prevent damage to gold jewellery, it is recommended to apply perfume to the skin and allow it to dry before putting on the jewellery. This simple step can help reduce the negative impact of perfume on gold jewellery and maintain its lustre and appeal.
Additionally, it is important to note that other types of jewellery, such as pearls, silver, and diamonds, are more susceptible to damage from perfumes than gold. Pearls can suffer discolouration, loss of texture, and shine when exposed to perfumes. Silver jewellery can also react with the chemicals in perfumes, resulting in a greenish hue due to the oxidation of copper present in sterling silver. Diamonds and other natural gemstones can be affected by the essential oils in perfumes, leading to a dull, yellow hue and reducing their brilliance. Therefore, it is advisable to take extra care when wearing these types of jewellery with perfume.
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Silver jewellery can be tarnished by perfume
Silver jewellery is susceptible to tarnishing over time. This is because silver is a metal that reacts to both oxidation and chemicals. When silver is exposed to sulphur in the air, it forms a dark oxide layer, resulting in a tarnished look. Similarly, when silver jewellery comes into contact with the chemicals and moisture in perfumes, it can corrode and discolour.
The essential oils, ethyl alcohol, and colourants present in perfumes can react with the silver, causing it to lose its sheen and become dull. The perfume can also start to corrode the copper used in sterling silver jewellery, leading to a green discolouration. This is due to the fact that sterling silver is made up of 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent copper. When the copper comes into contact with the chemicals and moisture in perfumes, it reacts and turns green.
To prevent silver jewellery from being tarnished by perfume, it is recommended to apply perfume to the skin and let it dry before putting on jewellery. Alternatively, you can put on your perfume first and then wear your jewellery, ensuring that the jewellery is the first thing you remove at the end of the day. This will help to reduce the contact between the jewellery and the chemicals in the perfume.
It is also important to properly care for and clean your silver jewellery to prevent and remove tarnishing. Regular cleaning, at least twice a year, is recommended, and there are several methods for cleaning silver jewellery at home. One method is to use a light wash by combining dish soap and warm water and then soaking the jewellery for 15-30 minutes. Another method is to use a soft toothbrush dipped in a solution of six parts water and one part ammonia.
Additionally, proper storage can help to prevent tarnishing. Silver jewellery should be stored in a room-temperature, dark, air-tight place, such as a jewellery box or anti-tarnishing bag. It is also important to ensure that silver jewellery does not come into contact with chemical products, chlorine, sweat, or water, as these can contribute to tarnishing.
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Diamonds can be dulled by perfume
Diamonds are one of the hardest natural materials in the world, forming under intense heat and pressure over millions of years. Given their strength and resilience, it is understandable that people assume diamonds are impervious to damage from something as seemingly innocuous as perfume. However, this is not the case.
Diamonds can, in fact, be damaged by perfume. The essential oils in perfume can build up on diamonds, causing them to take on a dull, pale yellow hue that is difficult to remove. The chemicals in perfume reduce the brilliance of diamonds, diminishing their inherent shine and potentially impacting their value. The oil residue can also discolour the jewel mountings, affecting the overall appearance of the piece.
To avoid this, it is recommended to apply perfume to the skin and allow it to dry before putting on diamond jewellery. This minimises direct contact between the perfume and the diamonds, reducing the risk of damage. If your diamonds have been affected by perfume, a solution of six parts water to one part ammonia, applied with a soft toothbrush, can help restore their sparkle.
While diamonds are indeed precious, their association with eternity, permanence, and immutability is a carefully crafted illusion. The diamond industry has historically relied on the perception of rarity to maintain high prices. However, diamonds are abundant, and the criteria for selecting gemstones are arbitrary and subject to change.
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Costume jewellery is more likely to be damaged by perfume
Perfumes contain various chemicals and compounds, including alcohol, that can react with the metal components of costume jewellery. This reaction can lead to tarnishing, discolouration, and even surface damage over time. For example, sterling silver jewellery can turn green when exposed to the chemicals and moisture in perfumes due to the copper content in sterling silver. Similarly, silver jewellery can also be affected, turning a brown or black hue.
The impact of perfume on costume jewellery may depend on the quality of the jewellery and the composition of the perfume. However, it is generally recommended to avoid spraying perfume directly onto costume jewellery or any jewellery type to prevent potential damage. Instead, it is advised to apply perfume to the skin and let it dry before putting on jewellery, reducing direct contact between the chemicals and the jewellery.
Additionally, it is important to note that while pure gold is relatively inert and less prone to reacting with chemicals, gold jewellery is often made with alloys that can react negatively to perfume. This can lead to discolouration or a loss of sheen in gold jewellery.
Overall, while perfume may not have a direct impact on all types of jewellery, it is best to take precautions to minimise potential damage, especially to costume jewellery. Applying perfume before putting on jewellery and allowing it to dry can help reduce the risk of damage. Regular cleaning and proper storage of jewellery can also prolong its lifespan.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, perfumes can damage gold jewelry, especially if the perfume contains chemicals or substances that react with the metal. The impact of the perfume will depend on the quality of the gold, the composition of the perfume, and how often the jewelry comes into contact with the perfume.
Yes, silver is known to oxidize quickly. The chemicals present in perfumes can cause silver jewelry to turn a brown or black hue.
Yes, diamonds and other natural gemstones are prone to damage due to the essential oils contained in perfumes. The build-up of these oils on diamonds may result in a pale yellow hue that is difficult to get rid of and can reduce the value of the diamond.
Yes, pearls are very susceptible to damage from perfumes. Perfume can cause pearls to suffer discoloration, loss of texture, and loss of shine.
It is recommended to apply perfume to the skin and let it dry before putting on jewelry. Avoid spraying perfume directly onto jewelry, and if possible, put jewelry on before applying perfume.
