Do We Own Too Many Perfumes?

Here’s how to sustainably enjoy your fragrances.

Nobody knows exactly how many perfume bottles are sold every year, but according to Statista, the global fragrance market is projected to generate a revenue of more than US$62 billion this year, and by 2030 reach US$73 billion. That’s +18% growth in 5 years. The crazy thing is that this doesn’t even include all the artisan perfumes that are being sold. Suffice it to say, a lot of people around the world are enjoying their perfumes. And I’m guessing, like me, you are too.

But, do we own too many fragrances?

I put the question to ChatGPT…

Dive into any online rabbit hole - Reddit, Quora, ChatGPT - and you’ll get all kinds of different answers - none of them satisfying.

Go to Google and type in “latest fragrances” and thousands of brands pop up, each enticing you to buy, as if you can never have too many.

Instead of continually chasing what’s new, maybe the question we should really be asking is: Are we using up what we already have?

I don’t know how many perfumes you own, and wear regularly, but I want to share how I’ve been sustainably pruning my supply and shifting to a more purposeful mindset.

If you prefer to listen, this week on my podcast I share my tips for sustainably managing your perfumes and essential oils in more depth.

What follows below is a summary of that episode, however focused solely on perfumes.

Take Inventory

Before you think about how many new perfumes you want to buy, let’s begin by taking inventory of how many you already have. So, gather up all the perfumes you own (it’s fascinating to be reacquainted with bottles you haven’t thought about in years) and let’s determine what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of - spoiler alert (!) - there will be no throwing in the garbage can!

I want you to group your fragrances into 4 categories:

1. Regularly wear
2. Sometimes wear
3. Hardly wear
4. Never wear

Be brutally honest here. If every one of your fragrances is in the first two groups, I have to wonder, is that really true?

Maybe you bought a fragrance on impulse - you smelled it on a scent strip in a store and you loved it - only to realize that once you had it on your skin all day, it just wasn't for you.

OR maybe someone gifted you a perfume and it’s just not a scent you like - no hard feelings, scent is personal, right?.

Another possibility is that you’ve just outgrown the fragrance. You loved it for a period of time, but now you’ve moved on and still have a three-quarter full bottle sitting around.

Regularly Wear / Sometimes Wear Groups

The Keepers: The good news? The perfumes you sorted into the first two categories can go right back on your vanity—right where they belong.

But the rest, let’s talk about what you can do with those besides throwing them in the garbage.

Hardly Wear / Never Wear Groups

I know it’s tempting, and quicker, to simply throw these fragrances away. It’s what most people do, and that’s where the problem lies.

Most, if not all, perfumes you throw in the trash end up in one of two places: a landfill or in an incinerator. In either case they release harmful VOCs in the soil or air.

Here’s what you can do instead. Again we’re going to put them into groups.

Ask yourself how long you’ve had each fragrance - give it a best guess.

Then divide them into these 3 groups:

1. < 3 years

2. 3-5 years

3. > 5 years

Note: these groupings are flexible, so use whatever cutoff makes sense for your collection. While 3 years is a common shelf life for mixed-media perfumes, natural perfumes are different, and some fragrances use carrier oils like jojoba instead of alcohol. Storage conditions also play a big role.

Hot Tip: when you receive, or buy a new perfume, put a little sticker, or label, on the back with the month and year you bought it. It’s a marker in time, and a good reference - something that you’ll be happy you have later on.

Full Bottles < 3 Years and 3-5 Years Old

Ok, so once you’ve grouped them accordingly, what now?

Take your “newest” fragrances that you have no use for, specifically the bottles that are full (sprayed 1-2 times at most) and are in great condition, meaning stored well.

→ Rehome Them

Let’s find them a new home! You’ve got a few options here:

1. Donate

Give to an organization like Dress For Success which provides professional clothing to low-income women, or to a women's shelter like Refuge for Women.

Be sure to call them first and see if they take fragrances. Let them know they’re new(ish) and you want to help brighten someone’s day through scent.

2. Gift

Give freely to someone who enjoys fragrances by joining the Buy Nothing Project. It’s totally free to join and has a global network of over 44 countries.

3. Sell

If you do want to make a little money off of those perfectly fine perfumes, you could sell them on Ebay. People are always looking for interesting fragrances. And as they say, "one person's trash is another person's treasure".

Personally, I don’t recommend “rehoming” natural perfumes that are > 3 years old because they’re made of all-natural ingredients and generally break down more quickly. If you do, at least be totally transparent.

Full Bottles > 5 Years Old

Let’s assume they’re still well intact. They were stored well, at the right temperature in a dark, cool place. Then I think it’s potentially ok to rehome them, donate them, gift them, or sell them on Ebay. In fact, selling on Ebay is probably your best option, as there are a lot of perfume collectors who would probably love to add your perfumes to their collection. Just be honest about how old the perfume is.

Hot Tip: Swap perfumes with friends.Get together, have a little party, and do a fragrance swap. It’s really fun and beneficial for everyone.

Not Full - Hardly Worn/Never Worn

You most likely have a bunch of bottles that are at least ¼ used, if not more. In that case I don’t recommend rehoming them. We’re not going to throw them away either. What can you do?

Recycle:
Check in with your local recycling center. It’s different everywhere, so I can’t be specific, but what I do is bring them to a hazardous waste site designated by my recycling company and they dispose of the perfumes in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

EMPTY BOTTLES

If you have a completely empty perfume bottle with no liquid inside anymore, check with your local recycling center to see if they accept glass bottles with attached components.

Also, look for brand-specific recycling or refill programs. For instance, Le Labo offers refills at many of their boutiques.

And The Pact Collective works with a lot of big companies, like Sephora, to recycle empty perfume bottles and other beauty products. So check that out.

THE POWER OF BUYING LESS

Want to buy a new perfume? My personal rule is simple: buy small first. It helps avoid you ending up with a bunch of fragrances you’ll never wear. If you find something you like, start with a sample, a discovery set, or a travel-size bottle (many brands now offer 10ml options). It’s cheaper, gives you a chance to “live” with the scent first, and reduces waste if it turns out not to be a fit. If you fall in love with it? Then go big with confidence.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you’re a perfumer, or dabble in perfume, and you’re truly committed to sustainability, I highly recommend checking out the Coalition of Sustainable Perfumery. It’s a network of environmentally and socially conscious creators working to make the perfume industry more sustainable through resource sharing, collaboration, and accountability. Their vision is a fragrance world that delivers high-quality, safe products while upholding the highest standards of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope these tips help you think more sustainably about your perfumes. The next time you’re about to buy a perfume, pause and ask: Do I truly love this, or am I just craving something new?

Start small, then go big if it becomes a regular part of your routine. The most sustainable product is the one you actually use. You don’t have to be perfect, just a bit more intentional. Every bottle that’s rehomed, repurposed, or properly recycled is one less in a landfill.

Happy Earth Day and Happy Sense of Smell Day.