Put gloves on before touching anything, soak up the liquid with thick towels or paper towels, and use a stiff piece of card rather than your hands to gather the glass shards — perfume’s alcohol content also means you should ventilate the room straight away.

Step by Step

  • Ventilate the room immediately, since spilled perfume releases a lot of alcohol vapour in a small space
  • Put on gloves and, ideally, shoes if there’s a chance of small shards on the floor
  • Blot and soak up the liquid with old towels or kitchen roll before dealing with the glass
  • Use a stiff card or dustpan to gather visible shards rather than picking them up by hand
  • Go over the area with a damp cloth afterwards to catch any tiny fragments, and check bare feet don’t walk through the area until you’re sure it’s clear

Disposing of Everything Safely

Wrap broken glass well before putting it in the bin so it cannot cut anyone handling the rubbish later, and be aware that alcohol-soaked towels are mildly flammable — keep them away from any naked flame until they have fully dried out or been disposed of. Our guide to fixing common perfume mistakes, part of the complete guide to perfume, has more practical fixes like this.