Avoid contact of essential oils with the skin as they can cause irritation. Using latex gloves and wearing protective glasses is recommended when handling essential oils. Essential oils must never be used internally. For application to the skin, dilute the essential oil with a good quality carrier oil e.g. jojoba, almond or olive oil. 3% essential oil with 97% carrier oil is a safe ratio.
Store Away from Heat, Moisture, and Light: Essential oils should only be sold and stored in dark glass containers, and should be kept away from heat, moisture, and light, as exposure will degrade the oils. Keep the bottles tightly closed when not in use, and avoid touching the inside of the lid or the reducer top when using the oils. Store the bottles in a cool, dry, dark place, out of children’s reach.
Essential oils can often be purchased as blends of several essential oils. The advantage if it is a blend of pure essential oils is that you can save from having to buy every essential oil individually. The disadvantage is that you have no control over the blend by not mixing it yourself nor can you reliably mix the blend with other oils.
Although essential oils do not become rancid, they can oxidize, deteriorate and lose their beneficial therapeutic properties over time. Oils such as the citrus oils will oxidize and begin to lose their aroma and therapeutic properties in as little as six months. Not all essential oils diminish in quality as time passes. Essential oils such as patchouli and sandalwood mature with age. All essential oils, however, will benefit from proper storage and handling.
Store in a dark place and in dark bottles to minimize light sensitivity, Store in glass bottles as essential oils can react with and break down plastic (and therefore contaminate themselves), Avoid extreme temperatures – essential oils are flammable, When possible, keep bottles filled up to avoid excessive air exposure.
Essential oils are volatile liquids after opening the bottle. Deterioration of essential oils can occur when exposed to heat, light, and air. To delay this process always keep your oils in dark glass bottles (blue or brown is best), in a cool dark place. Always decant larger quantities of oils into 15 ml or smaller bottles so that you can minimise the exposure to air. Essential Oils should be stored under 30 degrees which are essential unstable. Citrus oils are especially vulnerable and often will only have a shelf life of between 6 to 12 months.
Temperature — After you buy your essential oils, you will need to not only store the oils in an acceptable dark glass bottle, but you will also want to store the bottle in a cool, dark place that is not susceptible to humidity. Instead, find a place, such as a closet, where you can keep your oils. If you have several bottles of essential oils, consider a wooden holder or box that you can store all of your oils together in one place. Remember that high temperatures can ruin your essential oils very quickly.