# Can I reconstitute evaporated perfume? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215 "2015-08-07T04:32:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/1 "2015-08-07T04:32:34Z")
Today has been a terrible horrible awful no good very bad day. The least distressing thing that has happened is that my beloved bottle of L’Occitane Notres Fleurs Parfum de Cedre has, I discovered, evaporated into a layer of cloudy (but still liquid) sludge. This is not a surprise, because the cap is defective. What was a surprise is that the scent has been discontinued, and the single bottle available on eBay costs $195. Can I reconstitute the sludge? With what? Rubbing alcohol? Help. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/2 "2015-08-07T06:38:48Z")
No, perfume oils are also volatile. You’ll get something smelly, but nothing like the original scent. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/3 "2015-08-07T17:39:23Z")
Yeah, I’ve heard that perfume or cologne, even with a good lid, can change scent profile substantially over a period of years because of the fact that volatiles evaporate at different rates. That said, it might be worth putting a little rubbing alcohol in there and seeing if you like the smell of what’s left. It will not be the same scent as before, but it might still be enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/4 "2015-08-07T18:08:34Z")
Wouldn’t rubbing alcohol — which we call surgical spirit — smell mostly of rubbing alcohol ? Few would describe it as sensuous or erotically charged. At least to British people. Anyway, I looked up _L’Occitane Notres Fleurs Parfum de Cedre_ on something called Basenotes and on this page, among **[listed 125 scents](http://www.basenotes.net/fragrancedirectory/?house=100492&p=2)** made by L’Occitane — 125, Gawd help us — it indicates _**[Notre Flore Cedre / Cedar](http://www.basenotes.net/ID26128650.html)**_ is still in production: if it’s the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/5 "2015-08-07T18:12:45Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Wouldn’t rubbing alcohol — which we call surgical spirit — smell mostly of rubbing alcohol ? Few would describe it as sensuous or erotically charged. At least to British people. Most perfumes use alcohol as their main solvent, so I would expect it to do as much as possible to restore the original scent. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/6 "2015-08-07T18:28:31Z")
Well, cheap vodka would cost not much more and smell better. Ask for Crazy Pyotr down the third alley from the bus-station: he’ll do you a gallon for 5 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/7 "2015-08-07T19:50:42Z")
FWIW, [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume#Solvent_types) lists the main solvent as ethanol or an ethanol/water mixture. So go for grain neutral spirits (pure grain alcohol/Everclear) or, as **Claverhouse** suggests, high-proof (not necessarily cheap) vodka. Rubbing alcohol is methanol, which smells terrible. Bonus: you can use the leftover neutral spirits or vodka to make some nice homemade liqueurs–put in a bottle with sugar, water to dilute to a reasonable proof (40-80) and the flavoring ingredient (coffee beans, berries, herbs, etc) and let steep for a few months. Good for cocktails or milkshakes. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/8 "2015-08-07T20:05:39Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Wouldn’t rubbing alcohol — which we call surgical spirit — smell mostly of rubbing alcohol ? Few would describe it as sensuous or erotically charged. At least to British people. > Anyway, I looked up _L’Occitane Notres Fleurs Parfum de Cedre_ on something called Basenotes and on this page, among **[listed 125 scents](http://www.basenotes.net/fragrancedirectory/?house=100492&p=2)** made by L’Occitane — 125, Gawd help us — it indicates _**[Notre Flore Cedre / Cedar](http://www.basenotes.net/ID26128650.html)**_ is still in production: if it’s the same thing. I did come here asking for advice, right? No need to be snarky about it. You are right that the purest possible ethanol would smell less. As to the perfume being in production: Basenotes is out of date. L’Occitane stopped making it in 2010 and their own website clearly says it’s [not available](http://usa.loccitane.com/eau-de-parfum-cedre-discontinued,82,1,57244,262752.htm). Have more or less given it up. Ordered a sample of Serge Lutens Cedre last night. I’ve tried a few of their scents and found them intriguing but short-lived. We’ll see how this one stands up. > [@](#): > > Bonus: you can use the leftover neutral spirits or vodka to make some nice homemade liqueurs–put in a bottle with sugar, water to dilute to a reasonable proof (40-80) and the flavoring ingredient (coffee beans, berries, herbs, etc) and let steep for a few months. Good for cocktails or milkshakes. I certainly _wouldn’t_ have trouble using up leftover Everclear 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/9 "2015-08-07T20:17:58Z")
> [@RickG](#): > > Rubbing alcohol is methanol, which smells terrible. While we’re consulting [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol)… 🙂 While there are a number of formulations, it is typically between 70% and 99% ethanol. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reconstitute-evaporated-perfume/727215/10 "2015-08-07T20:38:58Z")
Nitpick continued: In the US, rubbing alcohol is usually isopropyl alcohol, not ethanol or methanol! Ethanol for topical medical uses (or solvent, or fuel) is instead called “denatured alcohol” or “methylated spirits”, and contains additives to make it taste and smell nasty. Either way, I’d recommend going with vodka or everclear instead of rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol.