I think that 4 to 6 months is the maximum shelf life for dried herbs and for spices that have already been ground. Shelf life does depend on storage, amount that they’ve be exposed to air (opening and closing) and with bulk spices how long they were sitting in the bin makes a big difference.

Store your spices/herbs where it is dark and cool as this will extend their life. The best storage containers are jars with tight fitting lids. Mason jars work very well for this. Also when you add a spice or herb to something on the stove don’t hold the container over the pot while you measure as this will allow steam/heat into the container (and you could accidentally dump too much in).

I don’t feel that bulk are as fresh a product unless the store has a very robust turnover. Those bulk spices may be cheaper but often you are starting out with a product that is more stale than the jars which are packed fresh and sealed/stored without air being directly exposed to their contents. Of course this is all dependent on how long the bulk has been sitting in the bin for and on whether they actually empty the bin before topping it up.

I don’t recommend storing dried herbs in the freezer. There is an exception to every rule though… you can throw fresh basil in the freezer for use in soups later but there will be a bit of flavor loss although it still has more punch than dried. If you buy fresh herbs from the grocery store and you have a bit that might go bad then put it in a glass of water on the window sill.  You can root some varieties very quickly and get a couple plants out of it.

Oh and if those ground spices are a little stale… don’t throw them out. Just toast them in a dry nonstick frypan and you’ll bring back much of the flavor. This doesn’t work for herbs though.

I try to use fresh cut herbs whenever possible and with spices I try to use whole spices and grind them as I need to. Of course with backcountry cooking this isn’t always practical, however, using dried herbs and ground spices that are still at their peak of flavor will make a difference in the taste of your meals.