Storing Essential Oils or Products with Essential Oils as a Key Ingredient

Products with essential oils must be stored correctly to limit spoilage and for the oils to obtain maximum therapeutic strength. Factors that cause spoilage are heat, moisture, exposure to light and presence of oxygen.

• Essential oils should be stored in brown or dark colored bottles away from light, heat and damp. Temperature should not exceed 65 Fahrenheit or 18 Centigrade.
• Tops should be tightly closed when not in use
• Store oils in a dry location. Moisture is one of the worse factors in deterioration.
• Always check oils for a cloudy appearance, which indicates moisture. Water may separate out and appears as a bead or bubble in the bottom of container. Oils that appear to contain water should be returned to the supplier.
• Products should always be stored out of reach of children.
• Essential oils with terpene- citrus, pine, juniper are susceptible to spoilage. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons, they absorb oxygen from the air. Oxidized oil compounds can cause irritation and sensitization
• Oils that have a high alcohol content like geranium are able to be stored for long periods as they are relatively stable.
• Essential oils that improve with age: vetiver, ylang ylang, patchouli
• Most oils can be stored in the refrigerator.