How To Store Essential Oils Correctly: 10 Tips to Protect Your Collection
Quality essential oils aren’t cheap, and once they degrade, no amount of careful blending will bring them back. The key to preventing premature degradation is knowing how to store essential oils correctly.
The good news is that proper essential oil storage is straightforward.
This guide covers everything you need to know about storing essential oils. We take a look at the correct types of bottles to use for storage and the best storage conditions. We also discuss how to store heat-sensitive oils and track shelf life, and what small habits to build to protect your collection over the long term.
Quick reference: the three rules of essential oil storage
These three fundamental principles of essential oil storage are non-negotiable:
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight can break down the molecular structure of essential oils and alter their chemical composition, leading to degradation.
- Minimize Oxygen Exposure: Oxidation can degrade essential oils. Close the bottle caps tightly when not in use to prevent unnecessary exposure to air.
- Maintain Stable Temperatures: Extreme temperature fluctuations can affect the quality of essential oils. Store them at a consistent temperature, ideally room temperature, to avoid premature degradation.
Storing essential oils in dark amber or cobalt bottles and placing them in a cool, dark place will prevent these three main causes of degradation.
Here’s a more detailed discussion on how to store essential oils the right way.
Table of Contents
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1. Always Use Dark-Colored Glass Bottles to Store Essential Oils
Take a look at any reputable aromatherapy brand, and the one thing that stands out is that their essential oils will always come packed in amber or cobalt blue glass bottles.
That’s not a stylistic choice. The glass bottle and its dark color are intentional choices made specifically to protect the contents.
Bottles used to store essential oils must meet two very specific requirements:
- They must be made of glass
- They must be dark colored
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts. Plastic, rubber, and metal all interact with the potent compounds in the oil, causing the container to degrade and the oil to become contaminated. Glass is the only container material that won’t react with concentrated essential oils.
Dark-colored glass adds a second layer of protection by blocking UV light, which can break down the volatile compounds that give an oil its character.
When you buy a quality oil, it will arrive in the right type of bottle. When you’re making your own blends or decanting into smaller containers for travel, the rule to remember is to always transfer into a clean, dry, dark glass bottle, never plastic.
2. Store Bottles in a Cool, Dark Place
Dark glass helps, but it isn’t a complete barrier against light or temperature fluctuation. Where you store your oils matters as much as what you store them in.
A cool, dark spot, such as a drawer, a closed cabinet, or a shelf away from windows, is ideal.
What to avoid is just as important.
Avoid storing essential oils in these places:
- Window sills or shelves near windows (direct sunlight, temperature swings)
- Bathroom cabinets (heat and humidity from showers accelerate degradation)
- Kitchen counters or shelves near the stove (heat exposure)
- Car glove boxes or anywhere that gets hot in summer
Humidity is worth a specific mention here. Essential oils don’t mix with water, but repeated exposure to steam and moisture, such as in the bathroom or in the kitchen near the cooking range, can get into cap threads and affect the integrity of the seal over time.
A bedroom drawer or dedicated storage box in a cool room is a much better home for your collection.
3. Use a Dedicated Storage Box or Organizer
As your collection grows, a dedicated storage box becomes less of a luxury and more of a practical necessity. Bottles left loose in a drawer knock against each other, fall over, and are harder to identify quickly.
Essential oil storage boxes are designed with individual compartments that keep bottles upright, separated, and protected. Look for something that keeps the bottles away from light when closed, fits your bottle sizes (5ml, 10ml, and 15ml are the most common), and is easy to wipe clean if a bottle ever leaks.
Wood, lined cases, and aluminum organizers all work well. The material matters less than whether it keeps your collection organized and protected.
4. Refrigerate Heat-Sensitive Oils if Necessary
Most essential oils store well at a consistent room temperature. If your home stays reasonably cool, a drawer or cabinet is all you need.
But if you live in a warm climate, don’t have air conditioning, or experience very hot summers, refrigeration can help extend the shelf life of certain oils that are particularly sensitive to heat.
The oils most likely to benefit from refrigeration are:
- Citrus oils: Lemon, lime, bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin, orange, tangerine
- Floral absolutes: Rose, neroli, jasmine
- Carrier oils and any pre-made dilutions containing these oils
If you do refrigerate your oils, seal the bottle tightly before placing it in the fridge.
When you take the bottle out, let it come to room temperature before opening. Condensation inside the bottle is worth avoiding.
Some oils may go slightly cloudy when cold; this is normal and temporary, and the oil will return to its usual appearance as it warms.
Note on carrier oils: Carrier oils also benefit from cool storage, especially those high in polyunsaturated fats like rosehip or hemp seed oil. If your carrier oils smell rancid or sour, they’ve oxidized and should be replaced.
5. Remove Droppers and Pipettes After Use
Most essential oil bottles come with a small plastic orifice reducer – the insert that controls the drip – rather than a rubber dropper. This usually works well for controlling the number of drops you add to your diffuser or blend.
If you use a separate pipette or dropper for blending essential oils, remove it before sealing the bottle for storage.
Leaving a rubber dropper in contact with the oil for extended periods can cause both the dropper and the oil to degrade. The tip of the dropper reacts with the concentrated compounds in the oil, which can introduce contamination.
For storage, always replace the dropper with the original screw-on cap.
6. Use a Separate Dropper or Pipette for Each Oil
Even a trace amount of one oil transferred into another via a shared dropper can affect the blend’s purity. If you blend regularly, dedicate a dropper or pipette to each oil, or wash thoroughly with soap and warm water, and allow to dry completely between uses.
For most home aromatherapy use, the orifice reducer does the job cleanly without any cross-contamination risk. You only need a separate dropper when you’re working on something that requires more precise control over drop size.
7. Close Bottle Caps Immediately After Use
It’s tempting to leave a frequently used bottle open while you’re working on a recipe or blend, but even a few minutes of unnecessary air exposure adds up over time.
Oxygen causes oxidation, which gradually alters the chemical composition of an oil and can make it more likely to cause skin irritation with topical use.
The habit is simple: open, use, close. Tighten the cap properly each time rather than just resting it on top. Over time this single step makes a meaningful difference to how long your oils stay at their best.
8. Label Homemade Blends Clearly
Single oils from a reputable brand will always be labelled with the botanical name, country of origin, and batch information. When you make your own blends or transfer oils into smaller bottles, it’s on you to retain that information.
At minimum, label every bottle you fill with: the oil or blend name, the dilution percentage (for topical blends), the carrier oil used, and the date you made it.
Waterproof labels or a strip of clear tape over a paper label will prevent smudging if the bottle gets oily.
It sounds like extra effort, but unlabeled bottles are all too easy to mix up. And with some oils being significantly more potent or skin-sensitizing than others, it’s a habit worth building from the start.
9. Track Purchase Dates and Shelf Life
Essential oils don’t come with a reliable best-before date on the bottle, and even when they do, it’s based on estimated shelf life from production, not from when you opened it.
The most useful thing you can do is write the purchase date (or opening date) on the bottle when you get it.
Shelf life varies considerably between oil types:
- Citrus oils tend to have the shortest shelf life of around 1 to 2 years. This is because the compounds that give them their bright, fresh scent are the first to oxidize.
- Most single oils, including lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus, have shelf lives ranging from 2 to 3 years.
- Floral absolutes such as rose, jasmine, and neroli also have shelf lives of about 2 to 3 years.
- At the other end of the scale, resinous and woody oils like sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver can last 4 to 8 years and often deepen and improve with age.
Get more details on the shelf lives of different essential oils.
Signs that an oil has oxidized or degraded:
- The aroma smells noticeably different – flat, sour, or sharp in an unpleasant way
- The color has changed significantly
- The consistency has thickened
If in doubt, it’s worth replacing the oil rather than continuing to use it, especially for topical applications.
What to do with oils that are past their best
Oils that are past peak but not visibly degraded or rancid can often be repurposed for cleaning or freshening — a few drops in a DIY surface spray or on a cotton pad in a bin, for example. Oils that smell noticeably “off” should be disposed of: absorb small amounts onto a paper towel or kitty litter before putting them in the bin, rather than pouring them down the drain.
10. Keep Essential Oils Out of Reach of Children and Pets
As with any concentrated household product, essential oils should be stored out of reach of children and pets, on a high shelf, in a locked cabinet, or in a storage box that closes securely.
Children and pets are more sensitive to essential oils than adults, and accidental ingestion or skin contact with undiluted oil can cause a reaction. Treat storage the same way you would any other product in the home that’s not intended for unsupervised use.
If accidental ingestion or significant skin exposure occurs, contact your local Poison Control or emergency services.
A note on pets
Cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils and should not be exposed to most oils, even through diffusion in an enclosed space. If you have cats, always ensure good ventilation and the ability for them to leave the room when you’re diffusing. Consult your vet if you’re unsure.
This detailed essential oil safety guide covers 10 simple rules to keep in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oil Storage
Can I store essential oils in plastic bottles?
No. Essential oils should always be stored in glass. The potent compounds in concentrated essential oils can interact with plastic over time, causing the container to degrade and potentially contaminating the oil. Dark amber or cobalt blue glass is ideal because it also blocks UV light. If you need to transfer an essential oil into a smaller bottle for travel, use a small dark glass bottle rather than a plastic one.
Do essential oils need to be refrigerated?
Most oils store well at a stable room temperature and don’t need to be refrigerated. The exception is if you live somewhere very warm or don’t have air conditioning, in which case, keeping heat-sensitive oils like citrus oils and floral absolutes in the fridge can extend their life.
Is it okay to store essential oils in the bathroom?
It’s one of the less ideal spots, mainly because of humidity and temperature fluctuation. Showers create steam, which over time can get into cap threads and affect the seal, and the temperature in a bathroom swings more than in a cool bedroom or cupboard. A drawer in a cool room, a bedroom cabinet, or a dedicated storage box away from windows is a much better option.
What’s the best way to store a large collection?
A dedicated essential oil storage box or organizer with individual compartments is the best option. It keeps bottles upright, separated, and protected. It also makes finding the oil you want much faster. Wood, lined fabric cases, and aluminum storage boxes all work well. The main things to look for are compartments that fit your bottle sizes and a lid that closes to keep light out.
Can I store essential oil blends the same way as single oils?
Yes, with one extra consideration: blends that contain carrier oil will have the shelf life of whichever ingredient expires soonest, usually the carrier oil rather than the essential oils themselves. Carrier oils typically last 1 to 2 years, and some (like rosehip) have an even shorter window. Labelling your blends with the date you made them makes it easy to keep track.
Learning to Store Essential Oils Correctly Helps Them Last Longer
The right bottle, a cool dark spot, closed caps, and a few labels — most of what protects your essential oils doesn’t cost anything extra or take more than a moment. The collection you store well will still smell exactly as it should a year from now. That’s worth a little attention.
If you’re just getting started with essential oils, the essential oil safety guide covers the broader principles of safe use alongside these storage habits.
