How can I reuse or recycle old aftershave/cologne?
We’ve had an email from Bala:
Can an aftershave which is nearly 3 years old be used as a car freshner??
This sent me down two research routes: 1) do aftershaves/colognes/perfumes expire? and 2) how to make a car air freshener. In answer to the first question, general not: they might lose their top notes or the scent distort in other ways after around five years but otherwise the alcohol will preserve it pretty well, especially if the bottle is pretty full (so there has been less exposure to the air). Some might separate slightly but at three years old, it should be fine.
As for making the freshner, Planet Green suggests a dangly scrap fabric/scrap cardboard/fabric sandwich, but I worry about the suggestion to soak the fabric with the scent – I would have though a few spritzes, refreshed regularly, would probably suffice in a closed car (a little scent goes a long way!).
Anyone got any ideas for making other types of freshner?
Or any other ideas for reusing or recycling old aftershave/cologne?
I had an air freshner “tree” that had long ago lost it’s signature scent. I added a few drops of peppermint essential Oil and it lasted for quite a long time. I keep the essential oil bottle in my car and when I want a refresher just add a few drops!
My son just finished Marine Corps boot camp, and he said they bought cheap colonge, and put it in the water they were using to clean. Sharing the barracks with 78 other young men, it had to help with the smell of all of those smelly feet!
Try the perfume/aftershave. If it smells like it should, it’s fine.
If it smells off, it’s off. Simple as that.
If it’s off, but it doesn’t smell way too weird, you could (depending on the scent) try it on an old car refreshner (those cardboard ones). If you want to make a refreshner from scratch, use some old fabric pieces, and fill it with (expired or not your favorite tasting ones are fine) coffee beans. They don’t need the perfume though.
I use old aftershave for cleaning off sticky label and tape residue, also great for removing permanent marker pen off non porous materials… If you misspell a title when writing on a dvdr or cdr disc, just spray a little of the old aftershave onto a cloth or tissue and wipe off the writing and re-write on the disc when dry.