Many people buy essential oils for long-term use. With this in mind, it is important to keep their freshness and potency intact so that we can enjoy their benefits for a longer time.
In order to achieve this, we need to know their characteristics. This will help us to know how to store essential oils to preserve their aroma and healing powers. Here are some of the properties of popular essential oils and the most known ways of storing them:
1. Essential oils that are intended for individual use are most often sold in 5 ml, 10 ml and 15 ml vessels while their more expensive counterparts are contained in 2 ml and 1 dram or about 3.6 ml sizes.
Since these quantities are small, you won’t have a hard time consuming them before they can lose their therapeutic properties.
2. Most essential oils don’t turn stale, but some of them can oxidize and lose their therapeutic properties in due time. Citrus oils, for example, have an estimated useful life of six months.
On the other hand, some essential oils such as patchouli and sandalwood become more potent as they age.
3. Store essential oils in dark containers such as amber or cobalt blue bottles. These colored containers help to keep the oils protected from sunlight which causes their deterioration.
4. You should avoid buying essential oils that are contained in clear glass bottles because they don’t have the capability to protect the essential oil from the harmful rays of the sun.
5. Do not buy pure essential oils in plastic bottles. Pure essential oils can cause plastic to deteriorate and in a short period of time, it will be contaminated.
6. It is okay to buy essential oils that are contained in aluminum bottles. But you should see to it that these containers are lined.
7. Do not buy essential oils that are contained in bottles that are topped with a cap attached to a rubber dropper.
8. Rubber droppers and essential oils can’t stay together in one container. The essential oils can turn the rubber into gum and in turn spoil the purity of the essential oil.
9. Buy essential oils that are kept in dark glass bottles that contain an “orifice reducer.” An orifice reducer is a small object inserted in the neck of the bottle. It has a small opening that allows the essential oil to be dispensed in drops. Orifice reducers do not react to essential oils. Therefore, they cannot cause damage to it.
