Understanding The Sour Notes In Your Cologne

There are many reasons why your cologne might smell sour. Firstly, cologne can go bad over time, especially if it is not stored properly. Heat, humidity, and light can cause cologne to break down and change its composition. Additionally, skin chemistry can affect the way cologne smells, and factors such as stress, diet, medication, and age can alter how a scent interacts with the skin. Certain notes or chemicals in the cologne may also not work well with your body chemistry, causing it to smell sour. Furthermore, layering your cologne with other competing scents or wearing it during the wrong season can also affect how it smells.

Cologne has been stored in a hot, steamy bathroom

Storing cologne in a hot, steamy bathroom can cause it to smell sour. Heat, humidity, and bright light can break down cologne faster than anything else, causing the top notes to become musty and the overall composition of the scent to change through oxidation. This is likely to happen if your cologne is stored in a steamy bathroom, as the steam will contribute to the humidity.

Therefore, it is recommended to store cologne in its original box in a cool, dry place, such as a nightstand drawer, rather than in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Keeping it in its box will also protect it from bright light, which, as mentioned, can cause the scent to break down.

If you notice that your cologne has changed colour (usually becoming darker), smells sour, or requires you to apply more than usual to achieve the desired level of scent, it may be time to discard it. Properly stored cologne can last about five years, sometimes less.

Additionally, if you have had the cologne for a long time, it may simply be time to replace it. Cologne can last for about five years when stored properly, but it may spoil faster if exposed to heat, light, or humidity.

If you suspect that your cologne has turned sour due to storage in a hot, steamy bathroom, try moving it to a cooler, drier location and see if that improves the scent.

Cologne is old

If your cologne smells sour, it may be because it is old. Cologne, when stored properly, can last about five years—sometimes less. You’ll know it’s turned when it changes colour (usually getting darker), when it smells sour, or when you need to apply twice as much to achieve the same level of scent.

Some colognes can be stored for longer than five years and still smell fine, but this depends on how they are stored. Heat, humidity, and bright light will break down cologne faster than anything, usually making the top notes mustier and generally changing the composition of the scent through oxidation. Therefore, cologne should be stored in its original box in a cool, dry place, like a nightstand drawer, rather than in a steamy bathroom.

If you have had your cologne since high school, it is probably time to say goodbye.

Dry skin

According to perfumer Miléo, someone with dry skin will pull in the perfume's natural oils and make the smell dissipate faster. He adds that dry skin types weaken the scent from the bottle and should look for bolder, fuller, and more robust fragrances that are anchored with heavy base notes like sandalwood, oud, violet leaf, or vanilla.

Dr. Howe explains that the oxidation of fragrance is also heavily connected to the skin's pH level. The pH is a measure of the acid or base level of the skin environment. Skin that is either too acidic or too basic can cause a perfume to break down. The way in which your skin either eats the perfume (think: acidic or dry skin) or emphasizes the essential oils (think: more basic or oilier) in the fragrance will change the notes emphasized.

Other factors, such as body temperature or natural odor, can also alter how perfume wears on the body. Dr. Howe states that when we smell a perfume on ourselves, we are smelling the blended mixture of that perfume and our body scent.

Layering with other scents

One of the reasons your cologne might smell sour is that you're layering it with another, competing scent. To avoid this, you can try layering with other scents. Fragrance layering is the art of wearing two or more different fragrances together. This allows you to create a unique scent that is personalised to you.

• Choose complementary, contrasting, or linear scents that you are naturally drawn to.
• Start with a base layer of scented body wash or lotion to enhance the layers that follow.
• Prepare your skin with a moisturising body lotion to keep it hydrated and to lock in your scent.
• If layering multiple perfumes, spray the strongest scent first and then top up with lighter scents to avoid overpowering the more delicate notes.
• Add aromatic accents to the backs of your knees, the inner crease of your elbow, a scarf, or the ends of your hair.
• Layering doesn't always mean spritzing perfumes on top of each other. You can spray one scent on your neck and another on your wrists, for example.
• Layering different types of products, such as perfume spray, body oil, body powder, or body butter, can also help create a more persistent scent.
• Always incorporate a moisturiser as perfume has a hard time sticking to dry skin.
• Start with fragrances in the same olfactory group, such as pairing a rose dusting powder with a moonflower perfume oil.
• Use contrasting scents for originality, such as adding vanilla to a woody scent or citrus to a floral scent.

Remember, there are no set rules when it comes to layering fragrances. Experiment and enjoy the process of creating your own unique scent!

Skin chemistry

For instance, individuals with oily skin may find that sweet notes in a cologne become overwhelming and cloying. In contrast, citrus or fruity notes can be enhanced and more vibrant on oily skin. On the other hand, dry skin may require more substantial fragrances with a solid base to support the scent and make it last. Oriental and chypre fragrances, spices, and heavier blooms like tuberose work well on dry skin.

Additionally, the pH balance of the skin can also make a difference. Using a shower gel designed for sensitive skin can help maintain a balanced pH, ensuring the scent develops optimally on your skin.

Other factors, such as diet and hormones, can also come into play. According to The London Perfume Company, "edible perfumes," or herbs and spices, can modify how your cologne smells. Hormonal changes throughout your cycle can also impact your body temperature and perspiration, which in turn can affect how your cologne develops and projects.

Frequently asked questions