Maceration
A term used for a resting stage during perfume production. In extraction discussions, it can also refer to soaking aromatic material in a liquid or fat.
Maceration has more than one use in perfumery. In manufacturing, it commonly describes a resting stage for a blended perfume. IFF includes it between formulation and later testing in its account of perfume production.
Some brands disclose a schedule. Amouage lists six weeks of ageing for Decision 42, split into two weeks of maturation and four weeks of maceration. That is a production detail for this fragrance, rather than a waiting period a buyer needs to repeat at home.
In extraction, maceration can describe steeping aromatic material in fat or another liquid. This use is related to the infusion methods discussed under tincture and enfleurage. Check which process a source means when it uses the word.
For a finished bottle, follow the maker’s storage guidance. If you are comparing it with a tester or older sample, record the full version and compare on another day. A difference alone does not establish the cause, and leaving a bottle unused is not a reliable way to turn an unwanted scent into one you prefer.