Why We Don’t Filter Our Perfumes

In the world of mainstream fragrance, perfumes are almost always filtered. This process removes sediment, plant particles, and anything that could cause cloudiness—resulting in a crystal-clear, uniform appearance.

At Stardust & Stems, we choose not to filter our perfumes (though we do filter our tinctures). This is a conscious decision, rooted in our commitment to honoring the natural materials we work with and preserving the full character of each perfume.

What Is Filtration in Perfume?

Filtration is the process of removing particles and sediment from a perfume blend, often using fine mesh or industrial filters. It’s typically done after the perfume has macerated (rested) in bulk for several weeks to ensure clarity and consistency across large batches.

Why We Skip It

There’s nothing inherently wrong with filtering perfume—but skipping it has real benefits when working with botanical ingredients:

• Natural sediment is a sign of real plant material—resins, roots, fruits, and flowers that don’t always dissolve completely in oil or alcohol.

• Cloudiness adds richness and character to a perfume. These subtle infusions evolve beautifully on the skin and over time.

• Some of our perfumes use hand-strained tinctures—like London Fog, carried in a tincture of real black tea, and Strawberry Moon, carried in a tincture of strawberries. We filter those tinctures gently, but intentionally leave some trace of the original plant material behind.

Why This Matters for Small-Batch Perfumery

We’re a small operation—and proud of it. Unlike large perfume houses, we don’t macerate and filter giant batches of perfume at once. Instead:

• We allow each fragrance (or “mother bottle”) to rest and mature for weeks or months before bottling.

• When you order a perfume, we combine that rested fragrance concentrate with your chosen carrier (alcohol or jojoba oil) right then and there. Each bottle is hand-blended, fresh for you.

• Because we don’t mass-produce or homogenize our batches, small variations—including cloudiness, sediment, or plant specks—are natural and expected.

We believe the beauty of botanical perfumery lies in its living, evolving nature. Our unfiltered perfumes may not be pristine in appearance, but they’re full of depth, magic, and integrity.

What to Expect

• Shake before use—a gentle swirl blends the ingredients beautifully.

• Sediment is safe and natural—it won’t affect performance and may even enrich the scent over time.

• Each bottle is unique—a direct result of working with raw, natural materials.

If you’re curious about the materials we use or have questions about a specific perfume, you’re always welcome to reach out.

Learn more about our ingredients and process