Does Cologne Freeze?

Cologne doesn’t freeze near the typical freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius, 273 degrees Kelvin). Most types of cologne come with a minimum alcohol content of 80%. Their high ethanol content prevents fragrances from freezing at these temperatures.

The higher the alcohol content, the lower the freezing temperature of perfume is. Pure alcohol only freezes at temperatures of -173 Fahrenheit (-114 Celsius). Of course, most perfumes are made from a lot of alcohol mixed with essential oils. This makes freezing colognes an uncommon sight.

An estimate of the freezing temperature of most colognes is -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit). The freezing process would intensity down to -173 Fahrenheit.

The problem with calculating cologne freezing time

Cologne freezing time is almost impossible to accurately measure. This is because cologne rarely sits in a durable metal container as it ships in glass bottles. This means glass would freeze sooner than cologne, causing the perfume bottle to crack before the cologne freezes itself.

Glass is an amorphous solid. This means there’s no specific freezing point for glass, which stops us from accurately determining the fragrance freezing point. Amorphous materials such as glass only gradually harden or crystalize.

This process is called ‘glass transition’ and it encompasses all of the temperatures that eventually lead to the materials’ viscoelastic changes. For all we can say, this means we can’t be sure about how cologne glass bottles react under low or freezing temperatures.

It all depends on the glass and the entire process might be more influenced by the time under the negative temperature exposure than the negative temperature itself.

What our nearly scientific experiment tells us about perfume freezing

All of this is a scientific theory on freezing points of alcohol and of viscoelastic changes in glass. But what really happens with cologne if exposed to freezing temperatures?

To test this out, we chose one courageous cologne from our collection, Rasasi Daarej. The testing conditions were as follows.

• Left out in the snow overnight (about 9 hours)
• Continuous snowfall overnight
• Temperature when left outside – 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius)
• Temperature when checked in the morning – 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius)
• Lowest temperature during the night – 24.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius)

Under these conditions, our brave Daarej cologne successfully made it through the night without freezing.

As you can see from our pictures, the Rasasi Daarej cologne did not freeze.

This cologne made it solidly to the next day without its glass bottle even shattering.

Sure, the temperature wasn’t extreme. But it was still below freezing point.

After recovering the cologne from the deep snow, it was left to sit at room temperature indoors for about 1 hour. I sprayed the cologne on my wrist after an hour to discover it smell hasn’t changed a bit.

In conclusion, cologne doesn’t freeze close to the freezing point or slightly below freezing point. Its high ethanol content (used to dilute essential oils) keeps it safe even overnight and even when left outside directly in on the ground, in the snow.

Most of those seeking the experiment where skeptical about the outcome. As it turns out, this cologne wasn’t ready to freeze.

It’s heat that tends to impact cologne and essential oils more than freezing and this can be indeed one of the reasons why many great perfumes were packed in amber glasses that limit the amount of direct sunlight making its way to the liquid.

Does cold damage fragrances?

Cologne isn’t damaged by cold temperatures in most countries. You’d have to live in Yakutsk to see real freezing cologne issues. Even then, you’d still be able to use your cologne again once it gets by to a liquid state.

Will perfume freeze when left out in the car overnight?

It’s highly unlikely for cologne to freeze when left overnight in the car. Furthermore, you can even wear your favorite cologne more if you keep it in an area that is within easy reaches, such as in the car.

Will cologne be affected during transport in cold weather?

The real reason why people ask ‘does cologne freeze’ is for the low winter temperatures whenever they place an order online. With dropping temperatures and fragrances left out in the courier’s van overnight, many believe their perfumes would somehow be negatively impacted.

This is far from the truth and most perfumes are fine even when left out in the cold. You should worry more about your cologne being exposed to high temperatures instead.

Common freezing points	Temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius degrees
Water	32 degrees | 0 degrees
Alcohol	-173 |-114
Glass	Minimum -122 | minimum -80

 

FAQ

Does temperature affect cologne?

Only extreme temperature affects cologne. You should aim to store your favorite colognes at room temperature as this is the ideal scenario for all of its essential oils, synthetic oils, and alcohol content to work together.

Can you freeze perfume?

You can only freeze perfume with low alcohol content. Since most types of perfume come with a minimum alcohol content of 80%, you shouldn’t worry about freezing it. According to Whirpool, the ideal freezer temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or -18 degrees Celsius. This is still not enough for your perfume to freeze.

What is the ideal storage temperature for cologne?

Cologne needs to be stored at temperatures between 55 and 74 degrees (12 to 23 degrees Celsius) away from direct sunlight and other heat sources. All extreme changes in temperatures should be allowed to settle naturally.

If you bring your cologne indoors after staying outdoors in cold weather following delivery, you should allow accommodating to room temperature for 1-2 hours before spraying it on yourself.

Should cologne be refrigerated?

No perfume should be refrigerated or heated. Low temperatures will affect the perfume bottle before affecting your cologne. You risk having your cologne bottle shattered in the fridge and losing your perfume as a result. All perfumes should be stored at room temperature.