It really dedpnes on the candle,what it is made of (soy, beeswax) and its configuration. I always buy my Christmas candles after the season and keep them until the next year. I've also purchased my favorite candles once they have been discontinued. If the candle is the jar type, they will literally keep the scent forever, if you keep them out of direct sunlight and keep the lid on tightly. For pillars, votives, tealights and dinner candles, the scent doesn't last as long when exposed to air. I recommend storing them out of direct sunlight in an air-tight plastic container somewhere that is cool and dry for the best results. I keep candles of the same scent in one container and just opened up some 2 year old vanilla pillars that smell the same as the day I bought them