How Long Do They Keep & What to Do with Expired Essential Oils

There are five items in my life that I will spend money on (yes, I am about to get personal). Normally,  dear reader, I am ultra-frugal... except when it comes to a good cup of coffee, hardcover books, quality dark chocolate, pantry jars and finally, essential oils (no, call me crazy but you won't find diamonds and jewels on this eccentric list). Essential oils are a huge part of our medicine cabinet! How many times in the middle of the night I am searching for the right oil to help that certain weird ailment and how many times I am rewarded with help. They are a big blessing to us and I have invested a pretty penny into them. It would only make sense to know how to store them properly and how long do these "medicinal jewels" really last? The answer to the last question has not been easy to find.

The conservative time that the medicinal value of an essential oil decreases appears to be at about 2 - 3 years (and these dates are broad as some claim they will last up to 5 years and some claim forever!). However, there are some exceptions:



~ Citrus oils are believed to have a shelf life of 6-12 months and should actually be stored in the refrigerator.

~ On the other hand, the "thicker" oils like vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli seem to enhance with age.

According to doTERRA (which is where I purchase my essential oils and I do realize they sell them so the information may be biased):

"All doTERRA essential oils that are approved for internal use are required to contain a printed expiration date on their packaging. doTERRA cannot guarantee the oils after this date because essential oils naturally lose some of their potency over time. However, essential oils are very stable. We are currently conducting shelf life testing and have found no problems even after 5-10 years. Properly stored essential oils will maintain their potency for a long time!"

  ~ doTERRA Everyday

"The oils should be kept in brown or dark-colored bottles away from light, heat, and dampness. Keep the tops tightly closed when not in use."

~ Valerie Ann Worwood ~ The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

For optimal storage of essential oils, keep them in a cool, dark and dry location with the caps firmly in place. Keep them out of direct sunlight as heat, light and oxygen will destroy their medicinal properties.

It was 15 years ago, for our first child, for our home birth, that I purchased our first set of essential oils. They were from Young Living and I splurged as this was to be my natural medication during  (what was to be, a long, long, long!) labor. Now, staring at the leftover bottles which I haven't the heart to throw away, one wonders, what can you do with "expired" bottles of essential oils?

"The therapeutic life of essential oils is about two years, although some would argue that they last longer than this. Certainly their antibiotic and other properties can still be utilized in nonbody methods such as air fresheners, kitchen surface wipes, perfumes, or celebratory and gift purposes, when their aromas are a crucial aspect of their use."

~ Valerie Ann Worwood ~ The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Unlike vegetable oils that go rancid, an essential oil is different as it is not technically an oil but the essence of the plant. It will simply lose strength (deteriorate and/or oxidize) and is therefore still safe to use in many areas (and may still retain some of the beneficial properties as a bonus). Here are some things you can do with your expired oils so that you don't have that unfortunate feeling of wastefulness (because sometimes in life, it is all about the aroma!):

• Use it in your homemade cleaners for the wonderful aromatherapy.
• Use it in your homemade fabric softeners.
• Add it into homemade potpourris to freshen up the scent.
• Use them in your candle making adventures (just make sure the wax cools a bit before adding).
• Once an unscented candle is lit, add a few drops to the oily reservoir for additional scent.
• Add it into handmade soaps.
• Use it in room sprays (approx. 1 cup water, 10 drops of essential oil, 2 tsp. of vodka).
• Add a few drops onto a cotton ball and place in your drawers for a lovely scent.
• Add a few drops to stationary when sending a letter.
• Use them for traditional aromatherapy by inhaling the aroma (such as lavender to calm).
• Place them in diffusers for a lovely scented home.
• Add the seasonal scents to your firewood before burning for a luxurious fire.
• Add them into homemade bath salts (1 cup of epsom salt to 10 drops of oil, mix and use).

Be careful to store your older oils in a separate location to make sure you use them for the utilitarian purposes we shared. Keep your current fresh supply of oils in another safe location as part of your family medicine chest.

These are our most favorite essential oils. Perhaps I will share how we use them in a future post?

What are your favorite oil "flavors" and what other ways would you use the "expired" oils?

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Gleanings: web source 1, web source 2, web source 3, web source 4, web source 5, web source 6.