Keep samples and decants in a cool, dark place, minimise the air space inside each vial as the level drops, and use small glass containers rather than plastic — plastic can react with fragrance oils over time in a way glass simply does not.

Getting the Basics Right

  • Store in a cupboard or drawer away from direct light and temperature swings, rather than a bathroom shelf or windowsill
  • Use properly sealed glass vials, not reused plastic containers, since some fragrance oils can degrade certain plastics over months
  • Transfer to a smaller vial as the level drops if there is a lot of empty air space left in a larger sample bottle, since excess air speeds up oxidation
  • Label each sample with the name and the date you decanted it, so you can track how it is ageing

What to Expect Even With Good Storage

Samples and decants generally have a shorter realistic shelf life than a sealed full bottle, simply because they are opened and exposed to air more often relative to their size. Do not be surprised if a decant you have had for a couple of years has drifted slightly from how it smelled originally — that is normal ageing, not necessarily a storage mistake. Our guide to storing perfume, part of the complete guide to perfume, covers the fuller picture on keeping any fragrance in good condition.