Aging & Shelf Life

There's no single scientific number for aging time. The type of perfume decides it, and this is what perfume houses do. Light perfumes (citrus, herbs, aquatic) need less time; perfumes with woods, resins, mosses, vanilla and tonka need longer so the base can marry with the alcohol.

Usual aging times

Simple formulaabout 2 weeks
Reasonable industry minimum3–4 weeks
Usual in the industry4–6 weeks
Classic perfumes (Frederic Malle)4–8 weeks
Woody/resinous/animalic & niche housesmonths, up to 6 months

Aging time for each of our perfumes

Iris & Lavender

45 days
Powdery woody

Iris, vetiver and cedarwood make a heavy base that needs time to soften and wrap the lavender.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Osama

30 days
Aquatic woody

A salty, fresh opening with green violet leaf and sage, so a month is enough. Only the smoky vetiver needs that much time.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Pineapple & Birch

45 days
Smoky fruity

Birch smoke, patchouli and musk need longer so the fruit doesn't overpower them.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Sayed

30 days
Spicy citrus

A fresh citrus scent, and bergamot is best fresh. 3–4 weeks is enough, and a month is within the usual range.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Oud & Rose

60 days
Oriental oud

Oud, frankincense and benzoin are heavy resins and woods, the kind the references say need the longest. Two months let the oud's edge calm down and blend with the rose and raspberry.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Ali

45 days
Citrus woody

Tonka, oak and myrrh make a warm base that needs time to come together with the cognac and cinnamon. The bitter orange, grapefruit and icy accord on top are best kept fresh, so 45 days is enough.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Tea & Citron

30 days
Citrus tea

The opening is citrus (citron and bergamot) and is best fresh. Black tea and guaiac need some time, and a month is within the usual 3–6 weeks.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

Cinnamon & Vanilla

45 days
Warm oriental

Vanilla, tonka and amber make a warm, dense base; longer aging makes it smooth and cohesive.

Best within 24 months of first use · Perfume page

How we age

  1. Glass bottles, sealed and filled to the top so there's as little air inside as possible.
  2. A dark place at a steady temperature below 25 °C.
  3. After aging: 24–48 hours in the fridge (0–5 °C), then filtering, so the perfume doesn't turn cloudy later.

Shelf life after first use

We state 24 months after first use. It's a conservative figure: our oils include citrus and lavender, which oxidise fastest, and we haven't run a lab stability test yet.

First-use date = the day aging ends. The 24 months start from the day you open the bottle.

Storage

Keep it away from sun and heat, don't leave it in the car, and close it well after each use. Studies found essential oils oxidise and go off from about 40 °C and perfume loses stability above 50 °C, and oxidised components (such as linalool) can cause skin allergies.

Sources

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