How to Dispose of Perfume?

You have a few options if you have an old perfume you want to get rid of, but don’t dump perfume in the garbage or down the drain.

Why?

It may contain hazardous chemicals.

If the perfume is little-used, you may be able to sell or donate it. If not, you may be able to dispose of it using hazardous waste facilities.

If you have an empty perfume bottle to get rid of, you can recycle it. You can also use old bottles for decorative purposes.

How to Get Rid of Perfume

Not sure how to dispose of perfume? There are many different options.

The right one depends on whether the perfume bottle is empty or not. Here are a few suggestions.

How to Get Rid of Perfume That Isn’t Empty

It happens to the best of us. You buy a perfume that you think is your scent.

However, you later decide you don’t like it. You don’t have to toss it just yet.

Consider setting up a perfume swap with your friends. Someone else may have a perfume you like instead. You can then trade, ensuring everyone is happy.

Alternatively, if the bottle is barely touched, maybe you can sell it. Head to a website like eBay. You can also try selling at a yard sale or local event.

Some charities accept little-used perfumes. Project Beauty Share is a great example. They accept fragrances for women in need.

Of course, you should only pursue the above options if the perfume is good. Fragrances can expire! You may notice the scent changes or the liquid looks murky.

What can you do if none of the above options work out? Don’t stress. Try finding your local hazardous waste disposal supplier.

These services pick up goods like old household cleaners and paints. They dispose of them safely, ensuring zero environmental impact.

How to Get Rid of an Empty Perfume Bottle

If the perfume bottle is empty, you may want to keep it for other purposes. A pretty fragrance bottle can be used as a lovely vase for flowers, for example.

Some people also refill other substances into their old perfume bottles. You can put in essential oil, for example. This will keep your rooms smelling fresh.

You might also consider donating old perfume bottles. For example, schools may accept them to use for crafts projects.

Finally, if there is no other option, recycle the old bottle (assuming it’s glass). In this case, get rid of any non-glass components. The plastic atomizer isn’t recyclable, for example.

Next, rinse out the bottle. Finally, please put it in the appropriate recycling container for glass. This way, it won’t end up in a landfill.

Why You Should Never Throw Old Perfume in the Garbage

When you have an old perfume you don’t want, throwing it away seems easy. However, you shouldn’t just dump your fragrances in the trash. Why not?

Perfume contains chemicals that can be damaging to the environment.

If you put your perfume in the garbage, these substances can end up in the groundwater.

Contaminated groundwater can cause environmental issues. For example, it can interfere with the growth of plants.

Further, animals may get exposed to perfume in landfills. Drinking perfume can make them sick, causing gastrointestinal issues. Properly disposing of perfume helps protect wild animals.

Even if a perfume bottle is empty, you shouldn’t toss it in the trash. Glass bottles can break in the garbage. The shards can then end up hurting people or animals.

Further, there’s no need to toss glass into landfills. Glass bottles are recyclable. Look up your local municipality’s recycling program.

You’ll then know how to recycle glass properly.

Personal Uses for Old Perfume

If you have a perfume bottle with some fragrance left, don’t toss it. Even if you don’t like the scent to wear, it may have other purposes.

We already discussed options like trading with a friend or selling or donating the perfume. Here are some personal ways you can use the fragrance.

Freshen Up Your Rooms

You can use perfume as an air freshener in your home. Spritz it onto the couch, carpets, and curtains.

The entire space will smell great.

Enhance Your Car’s Atmosphere

Is your vehicle smelling a bit musty?

Keep an old perfume in the glove compartment. A quick spritz will work wonders.

Spruce Up Your Clothing Drawers

Keep your perfume on your dresser and spritz it into your clothing drawers.

Your apparel will smell nice and fresh when you put it on.

Spray Your Bedding

Nothing is more soothing than a pleasant aroma to fall asleep to.

Spritz your perfume on your pillowcase or blanket. You’ll drift off in a cloud of soothing scent.

Beat Bathroom Odors

The bathroom is a space that’s prone to odors.

Beat the stink by keeping a perfume bottle on hand. You can spritz whenever needed.

Enhance Your Lampshades

Perfume tends to diffuse with heat. Spray a bit on your lampshades.

When you turn on the light, the aroma will waft through the space.

Give Your Laundry a Boost

Take a cloth handkerchief and spray it with perfume.

Then, put it in with your next load of laundry. The clothing you wash should pick up the scent.

Make Your Bags Smell Great

Spritz your perfume on a cloth handkerchief.

Then, stash it in your favorite purse or piece of luggage. The bag and everything inside it will smell nice.

Upgrade Bath Time

If you like to take baths, add some perfume to the bathwater.

You’ll enjoy an aromatherapy experience. It’s like having your spa.

Frequently Asked Questions

The above guide covers loads of information.

To keep things simple, we’ve boiled down the most critical questions. Here is an FAQ on how to dispose of perfume.

Does Perfume Expire?

Yes, perfume can expire. You may notice that the scent changes. Alternatively, the liquid in the bottle may change colors or become murky.

When this happens, you have to dispose of the perfume.

Don’t try to sell or donate it. Instead, find your local hazardous waste disposal service to get rid of it.

Can I Throw Perfume in the Garbage?

It would be best if you never dumped old perfume in the trash. If it ends up in a landfill, it can contaminate groundwater, causing environmental damage.

Further, animals may be attracted to the perfume.

If they drink it, they can get sick. Old perfume contains chemicals and should be disposed of accordingly.

What Can I Do With Old Perfume?

If you have a perfume that you no longer use, you have a few options. You can swap it with a friend who likes the scent.

Alternatively, you can sell it on a website like eBay.

Some charities accept old perfumes. If the bottle is little-used, consider donating it to a charitable organization.

You may also be able to find other uses for your old perfume. For example, you can spritz it in your car. You might also spray it on furniture or curtains as a room freshener.

How Do I Dispose of Old Perfumes?

If there is no alternative use for your old perfume, you will have to dispose of it safely. Use a hazardous materials disposal service to get rid of it.

It would help if you never dumped perfume down the drain or in the garbage.

This is a chemical product, and the ingredients can harm the environment and animals.

What Should I Do With Empty Perfume Bottles?

Most perfume bottles are made of glass. You may be able to find other uses for empty bottles. For example, you could use the bottle as a vase.

If there is no other use for the bottle, you can recycle it.

Glass is recyclable. It’s safer to recycle the old bottle than to put it in the garbage. It’s also more environmentally friendly.

How Can I Recycle Old Perfume Bottles?

Before you dump the perfume bottle, rinse it out with water. Next, remove any components that aren’t recyclable.

For example, plastic or metal atomizer can’t be recycled.

Once this is done, you can recycle the perfume bottle. Check with your local municipality regarding recycling programs.

Conclusion

If you have a perfume you don’t want, you might be tempted to trash it. Please don’t go this route!

Perfume contains chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and animals.

Instead of tossing the perfume, see if you can find another use for it. You might donate it to a charity or sell it online. You could also swap scents with a friend.

Alternatively, you may find a use for the perfume yourself. For example, you can use it as a room freshener.

If these options don’t work, call a hazardous waste supplier to eliminate the perfume safely. This will avoid environmental damage.

If you only have an empty perfume bottle, you can recycle it. Glass bottles can be recycled. Just make sure to remove non-glass components and rinse them first.

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