Can Perfume Explode When Left in a Car?
2 Answers
Perfume left in a car under direct sunlight can explode. Generally, the safe operating temperature for standard perfumes is 45 degrees Celsius. During summer, the temperature inside a car can quickly rise to 50 degrees Celsius under the sun, severely affecting the safe use of perfume. If the glass bottle of the perfume has a convex lens-like shape, it can easily focus sunlight, igniting the alcohol inside the bottle and increasing the risk of explosion. Perfume contains alcohol and other soluble mixtures. Alcohol has volatile physical properties and is also flammable. In summer, higher temperatures and the light-focusing effect of the perfume bottle can accelerate alcohol evaporation. As the alcohol evaporates, it turns into gas, increasing in volume. However, since the volume of the perfume bottle remains unchanged, the pressure of the gas inside the bottle rises. If the evaporation hole of the perfume bottle is insufficient to allow the gas to escape smoothly, the bottle may explode. Besides perfume, flammable and explosive items, carbonated drinks, and bottled water should not be left in a car. If left inside, the high temperature in the car can cause the water to develop toxic substances, and drinking such water may lead to excessive toxins in the body.
Having worked in auto repair for over a decade, I've observed that placing perfumes in cars indeed poses safety hazards. The alcohol content in perfumes easily evaporates under high temperatures. If the bottle isn't properly sealed or the car's interior temperature soars above 60 degrees Celsius, accumulated vapor could ignite upon encountering a small flame from smoking, potentially causing a flash fire or minor explosion. Especially when parking under the sun in summer, perfume bottles on the dashboard may deform or crack. I recommend completely avoiding perfumes in cars and opting for safer alternatives like car air purifiers or solid fragrance discs instead. Remember, fire safety comes first—regularly inspect items in your car to prevent accidents. Don't underestimate this issue; there are accidental cases every year, and I've seen many burnt interiors during repairs. In short, safe driving starts with details—remove unnecessary risk sources.
