Incense doesn’t have a traditional use by date like food or cosmetics. But it does lose scent over time. Storing your incense cones and sticks the right way can dramatically reduce natural evaporation and oxidation processes that cause them to lose scent, keeping them fresh, potent, and ready for aromatherapy whenever you need it. Below, we take a look at the science of incense scent and how to store it to retain maximum freshness.
Incense doesn’t spoil or have a use by date, so it doesn’t technically expire. But it does lose scent over time. When the scent starts to fade, it is still safe to burn, but it can prevent you from enjoying the full aromatherapy and spiritual benefits of your incense.
Incense sticks and cones can last years before the scent starts to fade, but once it does, it’s best to use them quickly to get the most aromatherapy benefits from them.
Scent particles are constantly interacting with the air. Over time, if you don’t store incense properly, you’ll notice the scent slowly disappearing Here are some of the most common reasons why:
Evaporation: Scent naturally wants to escape into the air. After all, that is what we want it to do eventually. And molecules from natural scent oils or fragrance are no exception. Over time, scent molecules quietly off-gas into the air, leaving a less potent scent behind. Delicate, fresh scents like citrus and floral incense lose their scent more quickly when stored incorrectly or left in the open air.
High humidity environments: Areas of high humidity cause dry incense to quickly absorb moisture from the air, speeding up evaporation and causing a faster loss of scent.
Exposure to direct sunlight: Both UV light and direct heat damage the molecular bonds holding together your favorite incense scents and fragrance oils.
Oxidation: Oxygen reacts with scent molecules over time and when you leave incense sticks and cones in the open air, these constant chemical reactions quickly cause your scent to fade, or even leave a musty or stale odor behind.
To retain as much scent in your incense as possible, store your sticks and cones using these handy tips:
Airtight containers: Keeping incense away from the air prevents it from losing scent prematurely or causing oxidation, where the scent molecules react with the oxygen in the air and can change the scent profile, making it smell musty or bland.
Store in glass or metal: Glass and metal do not interact with or absorb scent molecules like some plastic, paper, or cardboard options.
Keep away from sunlight: Dark drawers or cupboards without sunlight keep incense much more fresh and potent than leaving it out on the counter.
Read more: Incense to Bless Your House
If you store incense away from air, sunlight, and high humidity, it can retain high levels of scent for years without fading or starting to smell musty. This makes it easy to keep a go-to kit of your favorite scents on hand, ready for any aromatherapy emergency or last minute visitors. These 7 popular incense scents make a great starter kit for promoting better sleep, more relaxation, deeper focus, and better spiritual cleansing and connections.
The scent of a traditional rose garden with a romantic and whimsical twist. Rose Wild Berry Incense takes the classic and much-loved scent of rose incense and deepens it with hints of spice and guaiacwood. A great choice for emotional healing, energy work, and setting the scene for romance, this delicate blend supports better sleep, a peaceful mind, and self development.
Sweet, floral, and rejuvenating for the soul, Namaste Incense from Satya is the perfect partner for meditation, yoga, or finding alignment by relaxing at home. Creating a welcoming space that fosters connection, this spiritually-focused incense blend burns cleanly as the hand-rolled natural resins, oils, and flowers calm your mind and change your energy for the day.
Classic patchouli incense is a deeply relaxing floral experience that deepens meditation, masks odors, and adds a bohemian scent to any space. Wild Berry Patchouli Incense Cones blend notes of earthy musk, frangipani flowers, and a hint of outdoorsy cedarwood to traditional patchouli for a deeper, more grounded experience and longer-lasting scent.
Eucalyptus is a crisp and clean scent that promotes focus and mental clarity. A great way to boost motivation and creativity, this herbal incense from Satya also tackles tough smells in the home and clears out smoke and stubborn food smells with ease. Finish laundry day with a burst of freshness or sit down to study with the power of eucalyptus aromatherapy.
Looking for a welcoming and calm scent that smells like home? Prairie Sage Wild Berry Incense blends outdoorsy and herbal scents like grey oak, clary sage, and silver needle tea with softer notes of creamy sandalwood and warm vanilla for a comforting, yet clean-smelling incense to soothe your senses and reset your space.
Earthy, woody, and sweet, agarwood is a grounding and spiritual incense made with authentic vietnamese oud for a relaxing space that melts away stress. Known for promoting better sleep and creating a deeply relaxing environment, this heavy-duty aromatherapy incense is also used for cleansing energy and achieving deeper meditation and prayer.
Lavender is a calming scent, known for soothing worries and promoting better sleep. Wild Berry Lavender incense cones use a base of relaxing lavender, with added hints of lemon, geranium, and camphor to magnify your aromatherapy experience. Delicate and zen-like, lavender incense is a popular choice for freshening a space after cleaning or burning for energy cleansing and spiritual protection.
Read more: Best Coconut Candles and Fresheners for the Home
Incense doesn’t expire, but scent particles are always trying to escape into the air. Keeping incense sticks and cones in cool, airtight containers away from direct sunlight can dramatically increase the lifespan of your scent and make sure you have the right aromatherapy on-hand whenever you need it. Build an incense kit for every mood and occasion with long-lasting incense from Nothing But Scents. Our collection is always growing so that yours can too! Check it out today!
Incense does not have a use by date, but does lose scent over time when exposed to the air, sunlight, or humidity.
Correct storage can reduce evaporation and oxidization of incense. Store incense sticks and cones in an airtight container away from heat, humidity, and sunlight to retain maximum freshness and aromatherapy benefits.
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