The aroma should be immediate. Whole herbs and spices last longer than their ground counterparts. Use a small coffee grinder and grind your own spices. Store spices away from heat and light. Store spices in an airtight container.
Proper storage can prolong spice life.
Refrigerate spices such as red-colored spices, poppy or sesame seeds to keep them at their freshest. One last thing, vintage wine is good and vintage spices are not. There are three tricks you can do to keep it from clumping together. Use plenty of water, make sure the water is at a full boil and buy the good stuff. Add pasta gradually to the boiling water.