Store Oils in Amber or Dark Glass Bottles
Amber glass bottles are ideal for storing all oils, most especially those that are fragile and have a shorter shelf life. Amber glass is the most affordable dark colored glass, but cobalt glass is beautiful and is known to be equally effective in blocking out damaging sunlight. From Nature With Love ships most smaller sizes of essential, vegetable and fragrance oils in amber glass bottles, but larger sizes of some oil types are shipped in plastic. This decision is intended to keep product and shipping costs reasonable. Larger glass bottles become costly and are more prone to breakage during transit. Since a large number of our clients use their oils up immediately after purchase, there is an added reason why it's not always necessary to ship vegetable oils, for example, in glass bottles. For oils that are shipped in plastic but that you intend to keep for a prolonged period of time, transfer the oils into dark glass bottles as promptly as possible.
Do Not Keep Bottles Partially Full
When a bottle of any type of oil is left only partially full, the oxygen that also lives inside the bottle reacts with the oil and begins to oxidize it. This process can cause vegetable oils to become rancid more quickly. For essential oils, oxidization can harm the fragile aromatic and therapeutic constituents of the oils. With fragrance and flavor oils, oxidization causes the volatile components to permanently separate (after this occurs, shaking the bottle does no good).
The empty space inside a bottle of oil is called the "headspace." You can prolong the shelf life of your oils by reducing this headspace. As an example, let's say that you have a 16 oz. bottle of orange essential oil that is only half full. You will prolong the shelf life of your orange essential oil by either transferring the oil into an 8 oz. bottle or by transferring it into two 4 oz. or four 2 oz. bottles. Transferring a larger quantity of oil into multiple smaller bottles helps you use only what you need later on.
Keep Bottle Caps Tight
Oxygen is an enemy to oils. Don't overly tighten your bottle caps as they could potentially break and allow oxygen in, but do always ensure that you keep all bottle caps screwed tightly onto each of your oils.
Store Oils Away from Direct Sunlight And Ideally In a Dark Location
Direct sunlight and UV rays are especially damaging to all oil types. Repeated exposure to any light source may be damaging to oils as well. Store your bottles in a room that does not receive much, if any direct sunlight. Ideally, store your bottles in a cabinet, container or boxes to protect them from all light sources.
Store Oils In a Dry, Cool Location
Store your oils in a room that is kept cool and dry.
Refrigeration
All oils can be refrigerated (not frozen!) if space permits, but it's not necessary for refrigerate stable vegetable oils, fragrance/flavor or essential oils. Vegetable oils can solidify at cold temperatures. The essential oils of Rose Otto, Aniseed, Star Anise and Fennel solidify when refrigerated. It is best to allow refrigerated oils to warm up to room temperature on your countertop for a few hours prior to using them.
Maintain the Integrity of Your Oils
Don't allow unsterilized items like your fingers, cotton balls or other items to come into direct contact with the oils you are storing. Instead, pour off the quantity that you need or measure it into a container and then work with that, leaving the integrity of the remaining oil intact.
Other Important Tips:
Keep a Record of the Date Purchased and the Expected Shelf Life for Each Oil
For convenience, write the date that you received the oil on the label using a permanent marker. Also jot down the shelf life of the particular oil. If you have a large grouping of oils, you can purchase small circular Avery-style labels at office supply stores. Adhere the circular label to the top of the bottle cap and jot down the name of the oil, the date received and shelf life of the oil.
Remember That Oils are Flammable
Essential oils, fragrance oils and flavor oils are flammable and should be kept away from hazardous situations.
Keep Oils Away from Children
Essential oils, flavor oils, fragrance oils and some vegetable oils can smell especially delicious to curious children. Keep all oils, even vegetable oils, out of the reach of children.
Dropper Topped Bottles
Avoid transferring undiluted essential oils to bottles that have droppers with rubber bulbs incorporated into the screw-top caps. Essential oils can turn the rubber bulb into gum and ruin the essential oil.
Shelf Life of Essential Oils
Below is a list that displays the typical shelf lives for essentials oils that are stored properly. When receiving new shipments of oils, we recommend recording the date of receipt and the shelf life on the label of each oil to help you keep track.
6 Months - 1 Year:
Neroli
1 Year:
Honey Absolute
Jasmine Auriculatum Absolute
Jasmine Sambac Absolute
Rose Damascena Absolute
Allspice
Angelica Root
Anise Seed
Basil
Bay (Pimenta racemosa)
Bergamot
Black Pepper
Black Spruce
Cajeput
Camphor
Cananga
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Cassia
Catnip
Cedarwood, Virginia
Chamomile, German
Chamomile, Roman
Cinnamon Bark
Cinnamon Leaf
Citronella Java
Clary Sage
Clovebud
Coriander
Cypress
Davana
Dill Seed
Elemi
Eucalyptus Citriodora
Eucalyptus Globulus
Eucalyptus Radiata
Fennel, Sweet
Fir, Balsam
Fir, Silver
Frankincense
Grapefruit Pink
Grapefruit, White
Gurjum Balsam
Helichrysum
Hemlock
Hyssop
Lavandin Abrialis
Lavandin
Lavandula Grosso
Lavandula Super
Lavender
Lavender, Spike
Lemon Myrtle
Lemon Tea Tree
Lemon, Cold Pressed
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime, Cold Pressed
Lime, Distilled
Litsea Cubeba
Mandarin
Mandarin, King
Marjoram, Sweet
Mullein
Niaouli
Orange, Sweet
Orange, Valencia
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Pine, Douglas
Pine, Jack
Pine Needle
Pine, Scotch
Ravensara
Rose Otto
Rosemary
Rosewood
Sage
Spearmint
Spikenard
Star Anise
Tangerine
Thyme, Red
Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Vetiver
White Spruce
Yarrow
Ylang Ylang Complete
Ylang Ylang Extra
Zdravetz
Vanilla Oleoresin
1-2 Years:
Amyris
Blue Chamomile
Geranium
Geranium, Rose
Ginger
Ginger, Fresh Sweet
Juniper Berry
Myrrh (Dark)
Myrrh
Nutmeg
Palmarosa
Saro
Yuzu
2 Years:
Cornmint
Cypress, Blue
Nerolina
Ravintsara
Rosalina
Rosemary, Verbenone
Tea Tree
Stable:
Patchouli
Sandalwood
