What to do with old perfume?

[annaj]

So, here's a question for the great minds of The Lounge.

I have a selection of bottles of perfume that I don't use anymore, either because they were gifts and I never really liked them, or because I went off them. They're all nice brands, but I don't feel like I could give them away, because about the first 10mls has been used. Also, they're old, maybe about five years old, so I don't know if they will have gone off.

So, what's the best thing to do? Just throw them out or empty them down the drain and recycle the bottles (is the environmental impact of ditching 500mls of perfume down the sink offset by recycling the bottles?) Or is there a clever third option I haven't thought of?

[Brendan]

Spray then on smelly people in the bus.

[daizie]

I use mine as air spray after someones had a crap :(

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm out of Laphroig so perhaps I could have them?

Googling the question doesn't result in any sage answers (use to perfume letters anyone?) so far

I wouldn't imagine it's any more harmful than any other chemicals which get used in the house and end up in the drains (washing machine, bleach etc)

[Brendan]

The use sage in the manufacture of some perfumes.

[giggirl]

Offer them to your girlfriends. Swapsies. One woman's Creed is another woman's Dior.

[HAL9000]

If you have an older petrol-driven motorcar, you could use them as a fuel additive - they're mostly ethanol based (100ml per full tank should be ok).

Alternatively, they could be mixed with an equal volume of water and used as screen wash.

Or, they can be used neat as windscreen de-icer.

[Brendan]

You could drink them to keep warm and save on heating.

[giggirl]

Like the lighter fuel in Withnail & I?

[Ladymuck]

HAL9000 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If you have an older petrol-driven motorcar, you

> could use them as a fuel additive - they're mostly

> ethanol based (100ml per full tank should be ok).

>

> Alternatively, they could be mixed with an equal

> volume of water and used as screen wash.

>

> Or, they can be used neat as windscreen de-icer.

Well that's novel and practical!

annaj, I know you said:

"... but I don't feel like I could give them away, because about the first 10mls has been used. Also, they're old, maybe about five years old, so I don't know if they will have gone off.",

but I'm sure that if you offered them for free in the "for sale..." section stating this, you would have no shortage of takers...try it...and see...otherwise, the cheap petrol thing sounds like a good idea!

[Brendan]

Exactly, but with a far superior bouquet.

[giggirl]

Essence of Petunia? Ponce.

[Brendan]

Who is Petunia Ponce?

[sanity girl]

Agree with giggirl - definitely offer to friends or swap. If you can be bothered there is this website where you can swap unwanted perfume and cosmetics Makeup alley. Or offer them for free on this forum or on freecycle/freegle. You'll definitely find takers one way or another!

[giggirl]

Actually I think Petunia Ponce is a great forum name. Might use it if I ever feel the need for an alias (who the fuck has time to have an alias?).

Px

[Ted Max]

Top the bottles up with a little water and get the Big Fiver to flog them from a cardboard box on Oxford Street.

Either that or play department stores: panel your face in make up and put a massive blow heater above the inside of your front door. Move your dressing table to the hall and put a white uniform on. Then every time someone comes to visit offer them a free sample in a tone that combines contempt, boredom and aggression.

[andycam]

Give it to the down and outs and alcohol fueled fellas who walk the streets at night. Make Dulwich the sweetest smelling place in the world for vagrants. lol

[annaj]

Whilst TedMax's suggestions are my favourites, I've stuck them in the offered section....

If no-one wants them I will have the most fragrant screen wash in town.

[computedshorty]

?

[annaj]

Hmmmm 43 views and no replies.

I think my first instincts were probably correct and my trash is not, in fact, anyone elses treasure :-$

[Ladymuck]

annaj Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hmmmm 43 views and no replies.

> I think my first instincts were probably correct

> and my trash is not, in fact, anyone elses

> treasure :-$

Patience...

[RosieH]

One question Anna - were they kept in their boxes in a dark drawer? If they've been exposed to sunlight, they will have gone off after a couple of years - people may still want them though...

[annaj]

They haven't been in sunlight. They weren't in their original boxes, but they have been stashed in a box, because I don't use them. I took them outside and tested them all earlier and they smell ok I think - the thing is, I'm not a big perfume fan (which is why I have so much of it unused) but they smelt, well, perfume-y to me.

[giggirl]

Annaj - is this becoming an Obsession?

[annaj]

Oh, very good giggirl...

Anyway, I stand corrected. Who knew? I will never thrown anything away again.