A well-made fragranced wardrobe sachet typically stays noticeably scented for around two to six months in a closed wardrobe, though this varies a lot depending on the fragrance concentration, the material it’s stored in, and how often the wardrobe door is opened and closed.

What affects how long a sachet lasts

Sachets work by slow, passive evaporation of fragrance oil absorbed into a dried filling, often lavender, wood chips, or a scented pouch of beads. A closed, undisturbed wardrobe traps the released scent, extending the perceived life of the sachet even as its actual fragrance content depletes gradually. Frequent opening lets scent escape faster and exposes the sachet to more air circulation, which speeds up evaporation of the fragrance itself.

Once a sachet noticeably stops giving off scent when you give it a gentle squeeze, it’s usually spent rather than simply “adjusted” to; a few drops of a compatible fragrance oil can sometimes refresh a natural-fibre sachet if you don’t want to replace it outright. Our home fragrance guide has more on keeping wardrobes and drawers pleasantly scented, and the complete guide to perfume covers fragrance longevity fundamentals. Refreshing sachets every few months, rather than waiting until you can’t smell them at all, keeps drawers and wardrobes consistently pleasant rather than only occasionally so. Giving a sachet a firm squeeze every couple of months is a simple, low-effort way to judge whether it’s still doing its job.