Your Perfume Isn't Done Yet. Neither Are You.

A freshly made perfume is chemically unfinished. Maceration is the pre-bottling rest period — typically two to six weeks in sealed vats — where the alcohol and aromatic molecules stop fighting each other and start actually blending. Maturation is the slower, ongoing evolution that continues inside your sealed bottle over months. Most mass-market brands skipped maceration in the 80s to cut costs, which is a large part of why expensive niche perfumes smell qualitatively different. In India specifically, heat accelerates both processes — great for young, under-maturated bottles, destructive for older ones. Practical upshot: if a new perfume smells harsh,...

Feb 18, 20260 comments