Essential Oils

Red_Doe

Can anyone please tell me if essential oils have a shelf life (I assume they do?) and if so, what it is?
Got a few bottles that have been stored in a cool dark place but are a couple of years old, some of them are full and it would be such a shame to waste them.

ceridwen

I guess it depends to some extent what you specifically want to use them for.

So - will it be for medicinal purposes or "make the place smell nice" purposes or .....?

I have some that are ages old too - and they're decent quality ones and stored in a specially made wooden aromatherapy box and I just tend to use as and when required and they still seem to "work" for whatever reason I'm using them for.

Will have a quick check and see what my books say about "shelf life"..

EDIT: Just checked book by Valerie Ann Worwood (ie her "The Fragrant Pharmacy" one) and she says that for "therapeutic use" purposes she thinks its about 2 years "though some would argue otherwise".

mardatha

Not an expert but think I once got told its about 18 months for the medicinal properties and a lot longer for the smelliness ones

LolaLemon

To be on the safe side, i'd just use around the house and not on/in the body.

Red_Doe

thanks guys, the only ones I'd use theraputically would be clove oil (the OH has toothache) and lavender sprinkled on pillowslips to encourage sleep. The rest will be used to scent rooms. Got some lovely Ylang Ylang amongst others, wish I could afford pure Rose oil though!
They are mainly Tisserand brand, which I was told were good?

Mojisola

When they start to go "off", they will smell a bit rancid. If they smell alright, I would still use them for making the house smell nice and on the pillow, etc.

I've kept Clove Oil for years - it's so strong that it doesn't ever seem to go off.

Red_Doe

Thanks Mojisola, they do still smell fine to me.

ab7

Citrus oils e.g lemon, bergamot only have a shelf life for therapeutic value of 6 months due to oxidisation, but you can use it in the burner just fine. Mojisola is right about the smell a rank oil will make its presence felt!
Remember to make sure with lavender on the pillow that you do only use a drop or two - its a little known fact that lavender is a sedative in small amount but a stimulant in large amounts :rotfl:then people wonder why they cant sleep!

Red_Doe

little known fact that lavender is a sedative in small amount but a stimulant in large amounts then people wonder why they cant sleep!

Yikes I didn't know that! It explains a lot though...I've been liberally sprinkling my pilowcases with it by the quarter bottle! *blush*

MrsMoo2U

Red_Doe wrote: »

Yikes I didn't know that! It explains a lot though...I've been liberally sprinkling my pilowcases with it by the quarter bottle! *blush*

The reason that I took a course in aromatherapy was because I used half a bottle in the bath when I was poorly with an abcess. Stood up to get out of the bath and collapsed. Went to the DR explained what had happened. He gave me a telling off. I suffer from low blood pressure anyway and lavender oil lowers blood pressure - hence the passing out! Oops. Joined a class and was amazed about all the different things you need to know about. Love the Fragrant Pharmacy book. So many lovely recipes in there but with good solid advice too.

I agree - use the oils for scenting the house. I use oil on scrumpled newspaper to rub over the windows after cleaning too, makes the house smell lovely when the sun shines.

If you cant afford Rose Oil have you thought about a blend or Geranium oil is quite flowery too for scenting the house.

ab7

Red_Doe wrote: »

Yikes I didn't know that! It explains a lot though...I've been liberally sprinkling my pilowcases with it by the quarter bottle! *blush*

dont worry about it.....Least you now know also to keep yourself awake, lol...and if its concentration you want, burn some rosemary. Not too late at night though, or you'll sit with a full brain whilst wanting to sleep.