It’s not uncommon to notice a favourite fragrance looking slightly different over time. What was once a clear perfume can develop a warmer, more amber or honeyed tone, which can be confusing, especially if the bottle isn’t that old. At first glance, it might seem like the scent has gone off. But in many cases, when sprayed, it still smells familiar, sometimes even a little richer or deeper than before.
This kind of change often raises questions. Is it still safe to use, or is it time to let it go? A quick scroll through TikTok shows that many people have had similar experiences. Viral videos often point to something called “maceration,” with claims that letting a perfume sit over time can actually enhance how it smells and how long it lasts.
While the concept has gained traction online, perfumers explain that maceration is a real and essential part of fragrance creation. However, it doesn’t quite work in the way it’s often described on social media.
What do “maceration” and “maturation” mean in perfumery?
“Maceration,” “maturation,” and the word “aging,” have been used interchangeably online, but they all have different meanings. Maceration and maturation are controlled manufacturing steps in perfumery, explains Gustavo Romero of Team of Two Perfumers and founder of the Fragrance Alliance Network, while the at-home process that content creators are touting online is simply aging. (More on that later.)
Let’s start at the beginning, when maturation produces the initial fragrance potion. In this stage of the scent-making process, raw fragrance oils are blended and left alone to age and amalgamate for about two to three weeks, says Bhushan Patel, a senior technical manager of scent at International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. Throughout this step, perfumers try different blends—they might add a little more depth with amber or brightness with citrus—until they’re happy with how the mixture smells.
@zaynah_zabib Fragrance maceration is the process of allowing a perfume to rest after it’s been blended, so the ingredients can fully meld and mature, enhancing the scent’s depth, balance, and longevity. #fragrancetok #maceration #fragrancemaceration #perfumetok #perfumesinnairobi #fragrancetiktok ♬ Dreamy Girl - Headphone Chill Girl
After that, the scent is macerated. “[Maceration] is not a DIY waiting period at home,” says Romero. This step of developing a perfume, he explains, occurs after a fragrance concentrate is diluted in alcohol. “The mixture [then] rests so the aromatic molecules fully dissolve, distribute evenly, and reach a stable equilibrium.”
Most perfumers consider maceration to be the most important step in perfumery, Romero continues, because it’s when the formula really comes together and smells like a finished fragrance. “It becomes more cohesive and rounded,” he explains. “Harsh edges soften and the composition smells more integrated.” It’s generally the final crucial step before a perfume is transferred to its packaging and readied for the shelves. “Both stages are about integration and stability, not transformation.”
Why did my perfume change color?
What some people are referring to online as maceration or maturation is actually aging. It’s a phenomenon that, Patel says, changes the character of a perfume “sometimes beautifully, sometimes not.”
Adds Romero, a perfume is finished and stable when it hits shelves. “That said, over time, a fragrance can shift,” he says. He explains that lighter elements usually found in the top, like citrus and peppery notes, are more prone to evaporation. After these top notes have faded slightly, the base notes, many of which naturally change color, become more pronounced, “which can make the base feel louder and create the illusion that the perfume has grown stronger.”
Now back to those content creators: Some are equating a deepening color to a longer-lasting, better-smelling perfume. One of the most prevalent examples on TikTok is Kayali Vanilla 28. A new bottle plucked from a Sephora shelf has a rich caramel color, but content creators are touting the scent after it has aged to a nearly black hue. The smell of the aged perfume has gone so viral that many people are convinced that bottles with darker juice do, in fact, smell deeper and stronger.
@kathleensmells You just gotta let your @Kayali Vanilla 28 sit a bit 🤪 #vanilla28 #maceration ♬ original sound - Kathleensmells
Gabriela Chelariu, principal perfumer at dsm-Firmenich and the nose behind Vanilla 28, says that’s simply not true; the color is due to the behavior of certain ingredients. Natural ingredients, as well as heavier, sweeter accords, are more reactive than other perfume materials. “Vanilla has always been an issue in perfumery because it changes color as it sits in the product,” she says. “Vanillin, which is the main molecule in vanilla, vanilla absolute, and vanilla bean, naturally gets darker.”
Whether you prefer this darker iteration is entirely up to you. In the case of Vanilla 28, the crowd went wild. As for my Dulce fragrance, I’m enjoying this deeper iteration and have been reaching for it more and more.
How to tell if your perfume has expired
A change in your perfume’s color does not indicate that it has expired, nor should you throw it out; our experts say your nose will be able to tell when a fragrance has spoiled. If it smells sour, vinegary, or has a metallic quality that it didn't have before, it’s time to toss it. Adds Romero, if you experience skin sensitivity like itchiness, redness, or another irritation, you should stop using it.
There’s no harm in intentionally aging your perfume, but Romero reminds us, color fluctuations don’t drastically change a fragrance or make it better: “Transformation stories are great for social media. The real mark of excellence is simpler: a fragrance that smells beautiful and stays that way.”
Originally published on Allure.
