What is the shelf life of essential oils and how should they be stored?
The optimum shelf life of an essential oil is approximately one year. After this time they lose some of their potency. How quickly this occurs depends on the specific oil and how it is stored. They should be kept in dark bottles (to protect them from ultra violet light), away from heat, preferably in a cool dark space. Some essential oils’ scents will change regardless of how they are stored. The scents do not go bad or turn rancid they simply lose their subtlety. Although some choose to refrigerate their oils, this is not necessary (except rose) and can be disadvantageous because some essential oils are solid at low temperatures.
