Essential oils are an investment in your health and well-being. Learning the dos and don’ts of storing them is just one important way to protect your wellness investment and maximize their benefits.
Whether you’ve just jumped into essential oils or have a longtime collection you’ve been meaning to organize, these tips for properly storing your favorite products will keep your house happy and your health prioritized!
A tight lid prevents oxidation, air, or water from getting inside the bottle.
YL tip: The plastic fitment on the bottle allows the oil to escape one drop at a time and also helps keep air and water out. Be sure to leave it on the bottle!
Photo by Ashley Griffin
YL tip: Keep essential oils in a closet or drawer and avoid leaving them in your car. A good rule of thumb is to keep oils in a cool, dark place.
If you’re anything like us, you keep your favorite oils on hand wherever you go—your gym bag, your desk, and your purse. You can preserve your oils and store them safely while on the go by using a carrying case made especially for essential oils. Take the 30 essential oils carrying case with you wherever you go!
You love your oils and you’re not afraid to show it! Display them in your home with a stylish shelving unit along with a potted plant or chic decor. Be sure to keep them away from sunlight and enjoy an eye-pleasing display of your fave always-on-hand oils!
Need a little inspiration on how to display and organize your oils? Check out the photo submissions from Young Living members throughout this post!
Photo by Mackenzie Waldron
Have questions about storing your oils, keeping the quality consistent over time, and getting the most out of each little bottle? Here are some frequently asked questions:
Some essential oil lovers swear by putting their oils in the fridge. It isn’t so much the lower temperature that matters—oils do not need to be kept that cold—but the consistent climate. Your fridge stays the same temperature day and night, which helps preserve the oil. If you don’t want your oil to be cold when you use it, be sure to remove it about 1–2 hours before you’ll need it so the oil can return to room temperature. Once you’re finished using the oil, put it back in the fridge so it can return to a consistent temperature.
Putting essential oils in the freezer is perfectly safe. The consistent temperature and lack of light will help to preserve your oils. There are some oils—like Rose, Thyme, and others—that may have natural components that solidify or crystallize in the freezer. If your oils do this, simply allow them to thaw before you use them by keeping them at room temperature. Once you’re finished with them, return them to your freezer to store.
Photo by Frankie Gene
Essential oils are incredibly powerful, which means that many oils will dissolve plastic. For this reason, it’s recommended to keep oils in glass bottles or stainless-steel containers. Keep this in mind when you make essential oil-based DIYs like DIY body spray or facial toner.
You’ll notice that all Young Living essential oils come in amber bottles. That’s to protect them from light, which can alter their delicate composition. We recommend always storing your essential oils in dark or opaque bottles to preserve their quality.
Essential oils don’t expire in the traditional sense. When stored properly, essential oils can last for years. But because of a process called oxidation, which begins the moment you open your bottle and expose the oil to the air, oils will gradually change over time. Following the suggestions mentioned above—storing oils in dark bottles, keeping them out of the sun, and storing them at room or cool temperatures—will help prolong the lifespan of your oils. Read this article to learn more about essential oil oxidation and expiration.
Photo by Rachel Lynn Engen
Looking for more sparks of inspiration for how you can use your oils? Check out essential oils for travel (and other vacay must-haves) or how to create your own essential oil diffuser blends.
What’s your favorite way to store your essential oil collection?
Tell us in the comments!
View Comments
Wondering what the shelf life of orange, lemon, and other citrus oils are. I was told about a year
Hi Mary Jo, Great question. Young Living’s essential oils do not expire and will maintain their integrity, efficacy, and beneficial properties virtually indefinitely, provided they are stored properly in a dark-glass bottle, upright and tightly sealed, out of sunlight, and in cool temperatures. Thanks for stopping by!
I have a question! I take capsules for my Lymes disease and I use oregeno oil in them. I recently ordered them and I think I left it in my car on a hot day...I have still been using it and it smells really weird. Doesn't even really smell a whole lot like oregeno anymore. Should I be taking it? Will it harm me?
Can they be stored in the refrigerator?
Hi Glyna, We do not recommend storing essential oils in the refrigerator. Essential oils should be sealed tightly and stored upright in a cool, dark, dry location. Cool temperatures should be considered near room temperature at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You will also want to make sure that the oils are stored in a location where they will be kept safe from fluctuations in temperature. Thanks for stopping by with your question!
Hi Allison, UV exposure will cause the greatest damage to the constituents of the oils, and heat and light combined will affect them even more quickly. If the oil has been sitting in a hot car for a few hours, but the oil has not been directly exposed to UV light, the efficacy will not be compromised. Essential oils should be sealed tightly and stored upright in a cool, dark, dry location. Cool temperatures should be considered near room temperature at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You will also want to make sure that the oils are stored in a location where they will be kept safe from fluctuations in temperature. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello :)
i just wondering if i accidentally leaving few bottles oil out and having direct sun light on the essential oil for an hour ( i think )
will the oil turn bad? as i read those
" are directly exposed to UV light, the efficacy of the oils will be compromised."
what is that meaning of?
"Sunlight and other kinds of radiation can lower the frequency and compromise the potency"
Please let me know what kind more the information ?
will those oils turn bad? can not use it direct on the skin after been out direct to the Sun?
I am a bit confusing >_<
Hi Jan, UV exposure will cause the greatest damage to the constituents of the oils. The compounds within the essential oils may be lost due to evaporation when exposed to extreme heat and light. We would not be able to guarantee the efficacy of the essential oils as they have not been stored in a cool, dark environment. Essential oils should be sealed tightly and stored upright in a cool, dark, dry location. Cool temperatures should be considered near room temperature at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You will also want to make sure that the oils are stored in a location where they will be kept safe from fluctuations in temperature. Thanks for stopping by with your question!
I'm wondering how the oils are holding up during shipment in this extreme heat. I've had 3 shipments and I wonder if the oils composition has changed.
Hi SKL, Great question. UV exposure will cause the greatest damage to the constituents of the oils, and heat and light combined will affect them even more quickly. If a package is delivered and sitting on the porch or in a car for several hours (or even a few days), but the oils are not directly exposed to UV light, the efficacy of the oils will not be compromised. If the oil is hot, cool it before using. Thanks for stopping by!
I have an almost full 15 ml bottle of Oregano oil for I don't know how long - years, from when i was doing Raindrop Therapy regularly. It smells to me like Oregano oil should but since I would like to use it internally i'm wondering...what's the significance of storing it upright in this situation? It's been in a dark bottle in a drawer in a room temp space but not upright.
Hi Penelope, Great question. We recommend storing the oils in an upright position to prevent leaking or damage to the lid. As your Oregano oil has been stored in a dark, cool space it should be considered safe and effective for use. Thanks for stopping by!
I have found several of my kids splitting open at the top. I am wondering what I can do to prevent this? I hate to see my oils evaporating through the cracks in the white plastic lids.
Hi Sonya, Great question. The cracks in the essential oil bottle lids can be caused by turning the lid too much on the bottle and repeated flexing from opening and closing the oil bottle lids. Thanks for stopping by!
I have a question about the sample bottles - since they are plastic, how long can I store oils in them? Specifically wondering about lavender, citrus oils, and tea tree, but would appreciate info on general use as well.
Thanks!
Hi Jahnavi, Thanks for your question. The samples bottles Young Living® offers are made of glass and are perfect for making your own blends or storing oils to take on the go!
I have heard recently that essential oils should not be store by any electronics. I have looked in the reference book and a few other places but am not finding any more info. Can you help. Thanks
Hello Juliet, Great question. Essential oils can safely be in proximity to devices without any cause for concern. The therapeutic benefits of each essential oil are stable enough to withstand impulses emitted from electronic devices. Thanks for stopping by!
I have heard of people making premade capsules with their essential oils and then putting them in the freezer until they are ready to take them (to prevent from the capsule 'melting'). Is this ok to do? Like prepare on Sunday all the capsules you need for the week, put them in the freezer, and take them as needed during the week? Thanks!
Hi Jordan, When preparing the capsules you would want to prepare them as needed for that day or they will begin to dissolve. Freezing the capsules may cause them to potentially burst or break. Thanks for stopping by with your question!
I know this is almost a year old, so hopefully someone will answer...
I need a larger case to hold oils. I have two 30 count cases...and need to buy another one. Over half of the bottles that I have are 15ml. I need someone who has purchase Premium display case and the Large Aroma Kit soft case...and tell me if there is a way to put the 15ml in a 5ml spot. I know what the description says...but I need to know if anyone has tried. The 30 count case says only 5ml...but I get those 15 in there. Would like to know if I can do the same with the soft case.
Hi Heather, Thank you for your question. The Aroma Kit Soft Case-Burgundy is meant to only hold 5 ml bottles. However, our Premium Display Oil Case can hold 13 15-ml bottles as well as 124 5-ml bottles, 3 10-ml roll-on bottles and has 6 spaces for 5-ml bottles that have a child-resistant cap. Thanks for stopping by!