5 Things You Should Know About Storing Essential Oils

Here are some helpful tips for storing your essential oils so they keep their composure, and to keep everyone safe in your home:

1.  Essential oils can oxidize when exposed to oxygen, sunlight, and heat.  Oxidation is a process that can alter the aroma, viscosity, and therapeutic value of an essential oil.  To prevent oxidation, always remember to put the lid back on your essential oil, store your essential oils in a cool place such as the fridge, and be sure they are in an amber or cobalt blue glass bottle to prevent the sunlight from altering their constituents.

2.   Essential oils are flammable.  Each essential oils has its own flash point.  This is the temperature at which it will ignite.  Do not store your e.o.’s near or above the stove, wood stove, or fire place.

3.  Always recap your essential oils and keep clear of opening them in a room that has a lot of moisture.  This moisture can sneak into the bottles causing the essential oil to become cloudy, or you may even see water beads in your oil.  Bacteria love moisture, so moisture would certainly not be a welcomed friend in the bottle, regardless of if the essential oil has antibacterial properties or not.

4.  Keep all e.o.’s out of reach of children.  Essential oils are very concentrated and can be toxic if swallowed.  They can also cause skin irritation, increased risk for breathing troubles, asthma attacks, and seizures in babies and children with specific health profiles.

5.  Keep all e.o.’s out of reach of your furry friends too!  Reread all the precautions above for little's and then a few more as follows…  Dog’s love to use their sense of smell and if the essential oil is too strong, this may affect their favorite sense and mood!  Doesn’t a strong scent do the same to you?  Birds, small rodents, other animals, especially cats, also have a high caution with essential oils.

​Want to learn more?  Reach out from the contact page!
I look forward to hearing from you!  ~Jamie

References:
​https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/essential-oil-storage-tips
https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/ACH-News/General-News/Are-Essential-Oils-Safe-for-Children
https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/storing.asp
https://naha.org/assets/uploads/Animal_Aromatherapy_Safety_NAHA.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/health/do-essential-oils-expire#average-shelf-life