First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Sponge or soak the spot in cool water.
- Blot, don't rub or brush.
- Pretest removers on an inconspicuous area.
- Don't put the item in the dryer or iron it until the stain is gone.
A spritz of perfume that lands on a shirt, dress or jacket leaves more than a smell behind. Perfume has both water-soluble and oily parts, so a plain wash may leave a mark you only notice after the item dries. Fresh spots on sturdy cotton or synthetic usually lift in a single session, while older ones take several rounds.
Cologne stains on shirts and hoodies set faster than most people expect, so treat them soon after they land. Perfume stains on white shirts respond well to a prewash stain remover applied before the wash. Silk, wool and dry-clean-only pieces need a gentler approach, so check the label first.
7 items
What you'll need
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- Cool waterStarts the job so the stain doesn't set before you treat it.
- Liquid laundry detergentPretreats the spot and goes into each wash. (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarUsed for the warm soak. Use white only, not colored. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl or 90% denatured alcoholUsed for the sponge step. Choose one with no added color or fragrance. (opens Amazon)
- Absorbent pad or clean white clothLets you blot without spreading the stain, with a clean section each time. (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleach (optional)Only for white fabric that is safe for it, and only as the last step. (opens Amazon)
- Prewash stain remover spray (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
How to get perfume out of clothes
Step 1 of 7
Flush the spot with cool water
Sponge or soak the stain in cool water, working from the back of the fabric so you push the perfume out instead of deeper in. Blot gently rather than rubbing or brushing, because rubbing spreads the oily part into the fibers.
Tip. Don't wait for the stain to dry; a fresh spot is the easiest to lift.
Step 2 of 7
Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent
Work a liquid laundry detergent or prewash stain remover into the spot with your fingers, from both sides of the fabric. Let it sit on the spot while you gather what you need for the rest of the routine.
Careful. Check the detergent label for natural soap, bar soap or soap flakes; they set stains and make them much harder to remove.
Step 3 of 7
Launder at the hottest safe setting
Wash the item at the hottest temperature the care label allows. Look at the spot once the wash is done, and keep the item away from the dryer until the stain is completely gone.
Tip. If the mark is still faint, move on to the next step rather than drying it.
Step 4 of 715 minutes
Soak in warm water with vinegar
Soak the item in warm water with a little detergent and white vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinse it well. This comes after the first wash, so the vinegar works on what the detergent didn't lift.
Careful. Use white vinegar only; colored vinegar can leave a stain.
Step 5 of 7
Sponge the spot with rubbing alcohol
Pretest a hidden seam first, then dab rubbing alcohol onto the spot with an absorbent pad. Switch to a clean section of pad as it picks up stain, and flush the spot with water when you're done. Skip this step on silk, which needs the professional route described in the silk section below.
Careful. Don't use alcohol on acetate, triacetate, modacrylic or acrylic; it damages them.
Step 6 of 7
Rinse, then launder again
Rinse out all the vinegar and alcohol before you go on, since neither should be left in the fabric when the next step begins. Launder the item again at the hottest setting the care label allows.
Step 7 of 7
Use bleach last, on safe white fabric only
If the fabric is white and safe for chlorine bleach, mix 1/2 cup of bleach with 2 cups of water. Add it 5 to 6 minutes into the wash, after the vinegar and alcohol are fully rinsed out.
Careful. Don't use chlorine bleach on colored items that aren't colorfast.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for perfume
Choose a liquid laundry detergent or prewash stain remover labeled for enzymes or pretreating, and check that it contains no bar soap or soap flakes.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Perfume on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
With each rinse the spot should look paler and less oily, and the blotting cloth should pick up less perfume. Smell is usually the last thing to go, so judge the fabric once it's dry and the mark has gone. If the spot still looks crisp-edged and unchanged after a full wash and a detergent soak, treat it as set in and go to the old-stain section.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
White cotton and linen take the full routine well, so a perfume mark on a white shirt is usually the easiest version of this stain. Run the wash in the hottest water the label allows, and check the spot before anything goes near the dryer.
If a faint trace survives, chlorine bleach is the last resort, and only on fabric that the label says can take it. Rinse the item thoroughly with plain water before the bleach step, so the bleach only ever touches a clean item.
Colors and denim
Colored shirts and jeans follow the same routine, but chlorine bleach is only for fabric labeled safe for it, so most colored pieces should skip it. An oxygen bleach product is the gentler option, and only on colorfast fabric.
Test colorfastness by dampening a hidden seam and pressing a white cloth to it. If any dye transfers, stop there and repeat the detergent wash alone, because lost dye is much harder to restore than a faint perfume mark.
Silk, wool and delicates
Perfume on silk calls for a gentle hand, because wet silk chafes and light spots can be permanent. Blot with cool water, keep heat off the mark, and never use chlorine bleach on these fibers.
Wool needs the same restraint, since agitation can make it felt and shrink, so don't rub it. If a cool-water blot doesn't lift the mark, take the piece to a dry cleaner and point out that alcohol-based perfume can change silk's color permanently.
Dry-clean-only items
If the tag reads dry-clean only, soak up whatever you can with a clean white cloth and leave the rest to the cleaner. Water and detergent can harm these fabrics, so skip the home wash entirely.
Get the piece to the cleaner while the perfume is still fresh, and say it was perfume, not just a splash of water. Old marks are harder to lift, so every day you wait works against you.
Perfume oil and fragrance oil
Oil-based perfume and fragrance oil leave the oily part of the stain behind, which is why a plain wash so often misses it. Put the detergent pretreat on first and work it in with your fingers, then run the full set of steps rather than stopping after one wash. Don't skip the alcohol sponge just because the spot looks lighter.
Oil leaves a faint mark that can outlast the scent, so look closely at the spot after each wash. If any trace remains, go on to the next step instead of stopping early.
Acetate, triacetate, modacrylic and acrylic
These fabrics can't take the alcohol sponge, so skip that step completely and use the detergent pretreat, the vinegar soak and the wash instead. Test the pretreat on a hidden seam first, as you would for any new remover.
Use warm water rather than the hottest setting for these synthetics, because hot water isn't safe for them. Keep the item out of the dryer, especially if an oil stain is still in it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old perfume stains that have dried are harder to shift, but they often still come out with repeated treatment. Heat is what makes them worse, so keep the item out of the dryer and off the iron while any mark is left. Some stains respond slowly and need several rounds before they lift.
If the spot has already been through the dryer, it's harder to lift, but it's still worth treating. Repeat the vinegar soak and the alcohol sponge if the fabric can take them, then launder the item again. If the stain still shows, pour detergent onto it, let it sit for 20 minutes, and rewash in warm water before drying.
A faint mark can remain even after all of this, and that's a realistic outcome for an old perfume stain. Don't chase the last trace with harsher products, since that can damage the fabric before it removes the stain. If it's still visible, take the item to a professional cleaner and point out the perfume.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on perfume?
Most home remedies don't do much for perfume on their own. No home remedy replaces a proper wash, so skip any quick fix that promises to lift the stain without one. If a smell lingers after washing, the stain is probably still in the fabric, so wash again and keep the item out of the dryer.
Works2Helps2Skip2
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Vinegar
Vinegar is an acid, and acid mixed with bleach gives off toxic chlorine gas.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Vinegar
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
Chlorine bleach + Rubbing alcohol
Bleach and rubbing alcohol can form chloroform, which causes dizziness, nausea and loss of consciousness.
If they mix by accident: Stop and add nothing else; leave the area for fresh air, open windows and keep children and pets away; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if anyone has trouble breathing.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't count on one plain wash
Perfume has both water-soluble and oily parts, so a plain wash may leave a mark behind. Work through the full set of steps before you call the stain gone.
Don't reach for acetone or nail polish remover
Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve acetate, triacetate and modacrylic, so they can ruin a garment. Stick with the detergent and vinegar steps for those fabrics.
Don't skip the test on a hidden seam
Every remover on this routine can shift color, so test each one first on an inside seam or hem. Dampen a white cloth, press it to the test spot, and check for any dye transfer before the product goes on the stain.
Don't rub a silk garment while it's wet
Perfume on silk tempts you to scrub, but wet silk chafes easily and light spots on it can't be corrected. Blot gently with cool water and keep heat away until a cleaner has seen it.
Don't use rubbing alcohol on acetate or acrylic
Alcohol damages acetate, triacetate, modacrylic and acrylic, so the sponge step is off the table for those blends. If the label names one of them, stick to detergent and water and let a cleaner take the rest.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The scent is gone but a ring is still visible.
That is the oily part of the perfume. Move on to the vinegar soak and the rubbing alcohol steps, then launder again.
The garment is acetate or acrylic, so alcohol is out.
Repeat the pretreat, warm vinegar soak and detergent wait instead. Some stains respond slowly and need several rounds.
The stained item has already been through the dryer.
Work through the soak, alcohol and detergent-wait steps anyway, repeating them a few times. Heat-set marks may only lighten.
The stain is on a dry-clean-only garment.
Blot it with cool water only and take it to a cleaner, pointing out the perfume spill.
When to call a professional
Silk and dry-clean-only pieces belong with a professional cleaner soon after the spill, and it's worth pointing out exactly where the perfume landed. Tell them it's a perfume or cologne stain and which home products touched it, since alcohol can change silk's color for good.
Questions
Do perfume, cologne, or body spray stain clothes?
Yes, perfume, cologne and body spray can all leave a mark on clothes. Because they contain both water-soluble and oily parts, a plain wash may not remove it, so use the full routine above.
Does cologne stain clothes?
Yes, cologne can leave a mark on clothes, and it gets the same treatment as perfume. Start with cool water, use the detergent pretreat, and keep the item out of the dryer until the spot is gone.
How can I avoid perfume stains on clothes?
Let perfume dry completely before you get dressed, and take care when you spray it near your clothes. If a spot does land on fabric, treat it right away with cool water, since a fresh stain is the easiest to lift.
Can I use dish soap on a perfume stain instead of laundry detergent?
Dish soap can work as a quick spot pretreat, but laundry detergent is the better choice for clothes. Dish soap alone doesn't finish the job, so you still need the wash.
Why does my shirt still smell like perfume after washing?
A lingering smell usually means some of the stain is still in the fabric, so treat it like a stain rather than an odor. Wash again with the full routine, and keep the item out of the dryer until neither the smell nor a mark is left.
Is rubbing alcohol safe on clothes with perfume on them?
It works on many fabrics after a pretest, but it isn't safe on all of them. Keep it away from acetate, triacetate, modacrylic, acrylic and silk, and stick to the sponge method in the steps.
Can I use bleach on a perfume stain on white clothes?
Yes, if the white fabric is safe for chlorine bleach, and only after the vinegar and alcohol are rinsed out. Keep it off wool, silk and spandex.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.