A jar of oregano that sat open next to the stove is not the same product as the one you bought. Dried herbs lose volatile oils to light, air, and time. You can smell it before you can taste it.

The test: crush a pinch between your fingers and hold it to your nose. You should get a clean, plant-specific hit — not dust, not cardboard, not “kind of herby.” If you have to guess which herb it is, it’s already spent.

Three storage rules that actually matter:

• Opaque jar, tight lid. Skip the clear glass on the counter.

• Whole leaf lasts longer than powder. Grind when you cook.

• Buy amounts you’ll finish in two months, not a year.

That’s why we pack small and ship fast. $29 for a Stillpoint bundle, code LAUNCH for 20% off if you’re new.

If your current cabinet fails the crush test, replace it. Cooking with dead herbs is just adding brown flakes.