Essential oils are liquids derived from the stems, leaves, bark, roots or flowers of plants. These oils are highly concentrated and are used in many ways, including for aromatherapy, as fragrances, as additive for soaps and lotions, and in massage therapy. Essential oils are volatile oils, meaning they evaporate in relatively low temperatures and are greatly affected by sunlight. Storing your essential oils properly will ensure you get the most use out of them.
Step 1
Store your essential oils in amber or cobalt blue colored bottles to protect the therapeutic properties of your oils. When stored in clear bottles, your oils are not protected from sunlight. Amber and cobalt bottles filter UV rays, protecting the volatile oils from deterioration. Avoid purchasing essential oils sold in plastic bottles. Over a period of time, these oils will eat away at the plastic, damaging the oil.
Step 2
Do not store your essential oils in bottles with rubber droppers in the caps. Pure essential oils are highly concentrated, and will turn the rubber dropper into a gummy substance, ruining the oil. Instead, use a tightly fitted screw cap and an orifice reducer. The orifice reducer is a small clear insert, placed inside the bottle opening. The insert has a tiny hole in the middle, which acts as a dropper, dispensing one drop of oil at a time.
Step 3
Store your essential oils in a cool, dark place away from heat and sunlight. Doing so will prolong the shelf life of the oils. If you have only a few bottles of oil, storing them in a closet would work just fine. If you have quite a few bottles, store the oils in a wooden storage box. Storage boxes protect your oils from variant temperatures and light exposure, as well as keeping your oils organized and in one place.
Step 4
Mark essential oil bottles with the date in which you opened the bottle. Doing so will help you keep track of the oil's shelf life. Most essential oils will last for years if stored properly. Essential oils will become thick, cloudy and smell more acidic when they have deteriorated. Citrus oils have a shorter shelf life, lasting about six to 12 months once opened. When your citrus oils become cloudy or begin to smell sweet, they have deteriorated.
Tips and Warnings
- Never use undiluted essential oils on your skin. Dilute essential oils with carrier oils.
- Keep essential oils away from children, as the oils can be dangerous if ingested. Essential oils are flammable. Keep them away from open flames or heat sources.
Things You'll Need
- Dark colored glass bottles
- Screw caps
- Storage boxes
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