A Guide To Essential Oils: Factors That Affect Shelf Life

essential oils

Most people rely heavily on their essential oils collection, as these little innovative concoctions help make life and health a little easier to invest in. They’re designed to help support the body’s state, in the most natural way possible. Such investments can be costly, however, which is why it’s vital to protect your bottles of essential oils.

Unfortunately, most people assume that pure essential oils do not expire, especially due to their natural extraction process and ingredients list. This is far from reality, because like most products, these bottles carry a finite shelf life. 

While essential oils do not go rancid like milk does, it’s important to remember that they can naturally go bad and deteriorate over time. Although there will be no process of moulding or any unpleasant transformations, these oils are still prone to oxidation, deterioration, and other processes that can potentially affect their effectiveness.

The question now stands—how do you prolong the life of your essential oils? Here are some factors you should consider:

Factor #1: Heat exposure

Essential oils are flammable in nature, so it’s important to keep them away from open flames, which includes stoves, candles, and even direct sunlight. Keeping them in the way could make them reach their flashpoints, which are temperatures that may end up igniting them. While this may not be true for other essential oils, bear in mind that constant exposure to heat can also deteriorate its properties. 

Factor #2: Oxygen levels

Oils exposed to oxygen are thrust into the process of oxidation, where they begin to fade and degrade. Here, the fragrance constituents will essentially break down, along with other essential qualities. Oxidation likely occurs when you leave their bottle cap open for long periods, causing it to become less effective. For this reason, it’s important to ensure that your bottles remain capped properly. 

Factor #3: Moisture 

Apart from oxygen, moisture can also enter your oil bottles when you leave them uncapped for too long. When moisture enters the bottles, your oils will begin to look cloudy and the interior will be riddled with water beads. This will further affect its natural ingredients, leaving you with a substance that can end up affecting your skin—in the worst possible way.

Factor #4: Light sources

If you place your essential oils in areas with too much exposure to sunlight, expect all the oil properties to be affected. Aroma and appearance will change, which can also affect its natural capacity to support your body’s health. For this reason, it’s important to only purchase essential oils in dark-coloured bottles, such as amber and dark blue. This prevents UV radiation from affecting the oil, but make sure to safely store them in cooler areas of your home. 

Investing In The Best Essential Oils 

Essential oils are amazing investments for your health, especially because they hold natural ingredients good for your body. You’ll need to protect such investments, however, and the only way to do so is to keep them away from harm—essentially all the factors listed above.

If you want your essential oils to last for longer, however, purchasing high-quality ones is the best route to take. Make sure to buy your essential oils from reputable suppliers, such as Anita’s Oil Essentials. 

We offer you the best essential oil supplies in Perth, all guaranteed to have a shelf life you can rely on. Order today!

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