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!
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Hi Irene, As long as the oils lids are securely closed, and stored upright in a location that averages 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and does not fluctuate a lot in temperature, you should not need to store your Peppermint in a different location. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Lin Lee, We recommend following the proper dilution, and usage instructions listed on each label. You may mix or layer a single oil with a blend or mix a single oil with another single oil. However, mixing oil blends together may alter the benefits as well as the aroma. Mixing or layering 4 or less single essential oils should not cause an adverse reaction when used properly according to the label directions, barring individual sensitivities. You may also find our DIY Perfume With EO's blog helpful. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Tammy, If a package is delivered and sitting on the porch 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. Enjoy your oils, and thanks for stopping by!
Hi Janet! Great question. An essential oil cannot simply evaporate sitting on a shelf. Specific heat evaporation, or a material's tendency to vaporize under heat, only occurs when an essential oil has been subjected to its flash point, which varies with each essential oil. However, all essential oils will migrate or oxidize over time. Proper storage can help control this outcome. Essential oils should be sealed tightly and stored upright in a cool, dark, dry location free from temperature fluctuation. Cool temperatures should be considered near room temperature at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If your bathroom temperature fluctuates a lot, often, it may not be the best location for long term storage. Thanks for stopping by!
The plastic caps for the amber sample bottles are very difficult to keep on. They keep popping off. Is there a trick to keep them on?
Hi Heather! If the oils get cold, or even frozen, it will not harm the constituents in the oils. However, we don't recommend freezing as a long term storage. You will want to make sure that the oils are stored in a location where they will be kept safe from fluctuations in temperature over time. Great question, thanks for stopping by!
Hey, so technically if we add in a drop of peppermint vitality into our hot tea, will it lose its potentcy? Since the heat might affect the chemical composition and all?
Hi Nina! Adding Peppermint Vitality after the brewing is complete and removed from the heat should not affect the constituents. Thanks for stopping by!
Can you spray paint your glass bottle with UV Protective paint to keep the Essential Oil contents protected?
Hi Christine, our essential oils are bottled in amber glass. Amber protects the bottle's contents from UV rays. Essential oils should be sealed tightly and stored upright in a cool, dark, dry location free from temperature fluctuation. We have not tested UV paint to know if it would be okay to use. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi. I was wondering if I could store my essential oils in a Humidor Cigar Box (And NOT using the humidifier inside the box)?
Hello Amy, 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. You will want to determine if your box meets these requirements. Thanks for stopping by!
Currently I have my oils in a makeup bag and have noticed that my thieves lid has cracked at the top - is it possible because it was laying on its side? Should they only be in an upright position? I have had my oils like this for nearly 2 years and have never had this problem before 😩
Hello Trenna, 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!