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Shelf life of Scent control products?

d_rek

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2014
2,495
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SELP Michigan
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SELP Michigan
Hi,

I know we have a few members here with chemistry backgrounds - question to those few:

What is the effective shelf life of scent control soaps, washes, sprays, etc?

I know some sprays are made with vegetable enzymes, which I would assume are more volatile and cause them to lose effectiveness over shorter periods of time.

But what about washes, soaps, etc? What are the shelf life on these items? I rarely go through a full bottle of soap or scent detergent in a season, so often have some left over from the previous. Should I consider these things a one-and-done? Or are they good for several seasons?

Thanks for your time

Regards,
d_rek
 

huck72412

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
SH Member
Nov 27, 2014
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Great question d-rek!! I'm left holding a little after each season as well and would rather not discard if its effectiveness isn't altered by time.
 

MCDM

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
Apr 18, 2014
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Connecticut
I am no chemist but like you guys I always have a little left over. I will never go past two seasons with a product and have not seen any ill effects.
 

Maustypsu

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2015
1,139
274
83
Soaps, washes and deodorant I have had for years and used them.
If I find that stuff on clearance I buy a bunch.

I bet I've used them 5 years old.

Sprays I always assumed they wore out earlier. Now, one of the chemists will probably tell me I have it backwards...

But I can say that if I use the soap and deodorant, even with a long walk, carrying a climber and then climbing up, hunting, climbing down and hiking out with climber - I don't smell myself. Not the same as a deer or even close. But I am sure if what I used was completely useless I would stink after warm weather hunts like this.
 

Maustypsu

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2015
1,139
274
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Found some facts. I just opened a box from 2014.

The deodorant says expires 5/17.

The bar soap says 7/18.

My bad eyes don't see anything that resembles an expiration date on the Spray bottles - which is what I'm most concerned about.
 

d_rek

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2014
2,495
2,143
113
SELP Michigan
LOCATION
SELP Michigan
Found some facts. I just opened a box from 2014.

The deodorant says expires 5/17.

The bar soap says 7/18.

My bad eyes don't see anything that resembles an expiration date on the Spray bottles - which is what I'm most concerned about.

I looked at all of my HS, scentlok, dead down wind, and wildlife research sprays, detergents, shampoo, soaps - EVERYTHING! - and could not find a single expiration date.