You can expect your opened container to remain good for at least twelve months. Beyond that, the general rule of thumb is if it looks and smells good, then it’s still good! However, keep in mind that as soon as you open any container of balm and use it, the life span countdown begins. And because we don’t use any chemical stabilizers, factors such as temperature, humidity and even the cleanliness of fingers/lips removing the balm can affect an open container’s life span. In addition, essential oils, which give a balm its pleasant aroma, will slowly but surely begin to evaporate from an open container.