Broken Perfume Pump

Cause: The pump tops of many fragrance bottles have crimped collars to prevent leaks. If these are misassembled, the perfume won’t make it to the nozzle. Other possible culprits? A faulty pump spring or a pump that is poorly attached to the dip tube (that strawlike thing). “The dip tube can also come loose in the bottle,” says packaging executive Doug Virtue, “in which case there’s no way to reattach it.”

Cure: Instead of breaking the glass (not recommended), “return it to the store where you bought it,” says packaging developer Ray Garofano. Before buying, ask what the return policy is on faulty packaging.

Preventive Tip: Try a spritz before you buy (though that’s no guarantee your purchase won’t break later).