There are many reasons why you would want to know how to open a cologne bottle. You might want to refill it or use it for another purpose. If you have ever tried to open a cologne bottle, you’ve seen how difficult it is. Don’t worry, it’s not impossible, you just need to learn how to open a cologne bottle.
How to Open a Cologne Bottle
Before we start, it is important to understand a cologne bottle before you try opening one. The majority of cologne bottles come with a spray topper. This can be problematic for anyone who wants to refill the same bottle or just open it for any other reason.
Understanding Cologne Bottles
Since the beginning of cologne bottles, the design of cologne bottles has been made in such a way you can’t open them easily. In most cases, a cologne bottle consists of glass with either attachable atomizers or screw tops.
Cologne bottles made using a simple screw top were easy to open without any tools. The ones made using attachable atomizers were more difficult to open. Currently, perfume bottles are made using a similar principle.
The idea was to ensure you are not able to open a cologne bottle should there be a need for refilling or recycling and encourage more purchases. However, most present-day colognes use beautiful bottles that some owners would like to refill or reuse for different purposes.
The Opening Process
Opening a cologne bottle should not be a hassle as long as you use the following processes. You will notice that you can remove the spray, nozzle, or atomizer easily when you use these steps. All you need is to make sure you get the right tools and items.
Items You Need
You need to get each of these items if you want to open a cologne bottle easily. If you cannot get them, make sure you get something that is similar or as close as possible to the items in the list below.
- A pocket knife
- Scissors
- Pliers
- A working surface
Step 1: Prepare the Perfume Bottle
Hold the perfume bottle upright and make sure you hold it with a tight grip. You should use one hand to do this to ensure your other hand is free. Try pulling straight up with your free hand on the nozzle, spray, or atomizer. You may need to use some effort.
If the bottle does not open, do not exert excessive force. You may end up breaking the bottle’s neck or damaging it.
Step 2: Remove the Encasing
At the neck of the cologne bottle, you are likely to come across a plastic encasing. You need to remove this using some of the tools mentioned above.
Study the encasing and look at the tools you have. Decide whether you will need to use the pocket knife or scissors to cut away the encasing. Since the part is plastic, this step should be easy.
Step 3: Remove the Metal Piece
In the majority of cologne bottles, you will find a metal piece adjoining the cologne’s bottleneck. This is the next item you need to remove.
The process is quite simple in most situations. Use the tip of your pocket knife, scissors, or similar tool. Insert the tip under the metal gently and try to pry it open. Use an up and away motion from the bottle. Make sure you do this all around the neck of the bottle.
Be careful when you are inserting the tip of your pocket knife or scissors. Exact pressure slowly as you gauge the best pressure to exert to insert the tip. This way, you will avoid breaking the cologne bottle’s neck.
Step 4: Finish Up
Now that you have fully released the metal piece from the base of the neck, you will need to remove it. At this point, you need to know if you need the screw removal pliers or lineman pliers. Some of the cologne bottles might not have this part.
To remove it, you just need to pull it straight up and it should come off the cologne bottle. Sometimes you may need to think of a different way since you can’t remove this part in some cologne bottles using the method provided.
Opening Modern Splash Cologne Bottles
Most modern splash bottles have a cap or stopper. If this is the bottle you wish to open, you may need a rubber band or towel to improve your grip on the cap. For example, using a towel will increase your grip making it easy to pull off the cap or stopper.
In some cases, the cap will not get loose. Do not struggle or try using tools to pry it open. Hold the cologne bottle under hot tap water. Usually, doing this for about a minute should be enough.
The change of temperature on the bottle will create a convulsion. The convulsion makes it easier to remove the cap.
An alternative is putting the cologne bottle in your fridge for about 20 minutes. This works as the principle above, using the decrease in temperature to create convulsion. You can also use a microwave oven as another option.
Place a damp towel in the microwave oven. Heat for about 10 seconds. Take the heated towel out of the microwave and wrap it around the cap or stopper. Let it sit for about five seconds. Now you should be able to comfortably open the cologne bottle.
Conclusion
Learning how to open a cologne bottle is easy as long as you have the right instructions and tools. Remember to be careful when you are using a glass cologne bottle. For instance, gauge the pressure you are applying. This should help you avoid cracking or breaking the bottle due to excessive pressure.
Make sure you also avoid excessive twisting or pulling. Use the modern splash cologne bottle options to open a cologne bottle with a cap. The methods ensure you remove the cap or topper without damaging the cologne bottle.