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
Does YL sell a case that will hold both the 5 ml and 15 ml bottles?
Yes, Lisa. The 10 Oil Cases, available in Green, Blue and Fuchsia, can hold both the 5 ml and 15 ml bottle sizes.
I never leave home without my 5ml oils from my original kit when I joined almost 2 yrs ago! I just refill the little bottles, it enables one to share when out and about as a need arises. I also keep a little iced cooler in my car in case I need to leave them in the car. Great to put left over lunch in too! Love my oils!
Love this idea, Kathy!
I have a YL case with the capacity to hold the 30 bottles. I also ordered a 36 case from Abundant Health. You have your choice of 3 different foam inserts. The one I have will fit 5,15 or 30 ml bottles. I have all my 15ml bottles in it & my roller bottles.
Love them. But I have to order another because both of these are full.
I was wondering about the quality of the oil after shipping in the hot summer months. It is nice to know that as long as it is not exposed to the UV rays, they should be fine. After receiving my oils, I try to keep them at home at room temperature, but I plan on investing in a carrying case soon to have them with me on the go.
Love my 30 bottle YL case!! What would be really nice is a case of the same style that would hold the 15ml bottles!! I like having separate cases for single oils and blends. Over 90% of the oils I order are for personal use, so a 30 bottle case for 15ml bottles would be nice for keeping them organized.
I have the 30 bottle case and the 15 ml bottles do fit in it as well. It does stretch the foam a little but it goes back to its old shape if you put a 5ml bottle in there
I don't have a favorite type of case, because I have a 30 oil case, 2- 10 oil cases and even a 16 oil soft . :-) And they are all full.... I'm already in need of another case. I will buy soon.. :-) Probably another blue 30 oil case. I keep all the oil blends that I have made by me, stored in purple frosted roller 10 ml bottles, with my sprays in blue frosted spray bottles carefully stored on a shelf in my bedroom in a very low lit area... :-) I love all my cases.. And DEFINATELY my Young Living Essential Oils.. Won't go with out them ever again... :-) Thank you, God Bless to all and Happy Oiling..
I love the 30 count soft sided travel bag, but would love to see a pocket on the inside or even the outside of the lid. I like to keep the info cards that are shipped with the oils to show to potential customers. However, now that I have more than a few they fall out all the time. I also carry the boxes of samplettes in my case that a pocket would make it more convenient.
I did see a nice bag that had pockets in it, but it wasn't a YL product with a YL logo......
I currently keep my oils in an Igloo lunch bag. It's about the size of a 6 pack of soda. It had a mesh pouch inside on the lid where I tend to keep notes and such. It also has a pocket on the outside where I keep some other materials. I have about 30+ oils in it of both the 5 & 15ml sizes as well as a dropper of carrier oil. I can also fit the EOPR in it. It keeps the oils at a nice temp and also in the dark. Works fine for me.
Here's my big question: Are the oils compromised when they go through the X-ray in my carry-on bag at the airport? I once asked to have them hand checked. They gladly complied but it meant that EVERYTHING I brought had to be searched, including ME! I've asked YL customer service about the X-ray issue but got the response that it has not been researched. I've also wondered if orders are X-rayed by parcel carriers. These precious oils are such an investment, it's a question that really needs to be researched.
Regarding the heat, I'd opt to pay the cost for an ice pack for parcel delivery, if that were available.
I agree with you Allison, an answer to that question is hard to come by and it is an important question. Hope we get one soon.
I use the tubes the oils are mailed in to transport them back and forth to work with me. I'm a massage therapist and I have a back pack I carry my sheets, oils and other essentials in. I think those card board tubes are great. They fit in my purse nicely too. I'm a big reuse, recycle type person though.
What a great idea. I'll start doing this instead of tossing them. Thanks.
I would like to know too! My upline says she does not put them through the x-ray machine! I wouldn't chance that for anything! I agree that there should be more information on this!
Hi Jennifer! It is unclear to what extent airport x-rays may or may not affect the properties of essential oils. If concerned, we would recommend alternate methods of sending your oils to your destination.