Storage Tips For Precious Aromatherapy Essential Oils
Aromatherapy essential oils are quite expensive. In fact, the rarer kinds of these oils can cost up to hundreds of dollars per vial. One of the reasons for this high cost is the difficulty of the extraction process. Also, the raw materials needed to produce the oils are not always easy to come by and are often found in very limited amounts.
Store Essential Oils In Dark Bottles
Aromatherapy Essential Oils
Therefore, if you plan on buying aromatherapy essential oils for whatever purpose, you should know how to store them properly so as to maximize their lifespan and avoid wasting such a precious commodity.
One of the basic rules to remember in storing aromatherapy essential oils is to always keep them in dark, glass bottles.
Clear glass bottles will not do, nor will dark plastic bottles, unless you will be using the oils quite fast and expect to finish it all up in a rather short amount of time. Sometimes, you might chance upon aromatherapy oils sold at a great discount because they are stored in plastic bottles.
You can take advantage of these bargains by all means, provided that you can be sure that the oils have not been in the plastic container for a very long time, and that you can immediately transfer them to dark glass bottles as soon as you get home.
If you plan on making your own blends of aromatherapy essential oils, you should always have a few spare bottles on hand. The best bottles to use are those that are tinted with black, dark brown, indigo or jade green.
Keeping your aromatherapy oils in dark glass bottles is not always enough to keep them protected. At the same time, you should also keep them away from direct light and heat. The ideal place for storing your aromatherapy oils is at a temperature of a little below 20° Celsius, and in a dark and dry room.
Average Shelf Life
When stored properly, aromatherapy essential oils should stay in good condition for up to two or three years. Certain types of oils have been known to last for up to 5 years. Still, if you are not planning to use too much of a particular oil, it may not be worth buying it in the first place. Instead, you may want to find some cheaper alternatives that you can use as a replacement.
