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Old Essential Oils
How to Use Up Those Old and Aging Essential Oils
Within this article, all volatile
oils including essential oils, absolutes and CO2s are collectively
referred to as "essential oils."
Over time, essential oils can oxidize
and gradually lose their therapeutic value. The aroma of essential
oils also can change over time.
If an oil smells really weak or dramatically
different after a period of time, it's best to dispose of it and
not try to find a suitable use for it.
Essential oils that have aged and
no longer possess the fresh, full aroma that it used to have are
no longer considered therapeutic. Avoid using such oils in any aromatherapy
products or application that will come into direct contact with
your skin. Old oils should also be avoided in room sprays and diffusion
applications where people and pets can directly inhale the volatile
components of the oil.
Not all essential oils age poorly.
Patchouli and sandalwood are two examples of oils that can mature
beautifully with age. See the Essential
Oil Shelf Life article for guidelines on the life span of essential
oils.
If you can tell that an aging essential
oil smells weak but still aromatically pleasant, there are a few
ways that you can still get some value out of that aging oil:
Homemade Aromatherapy Dryer Sheets
Follow AromaWeb's Dryer
Sheet Recipe with your older clear essential oils.
Fabric Softener Additive
Add several drops of a clear essential
oil to a Vinegar Fabric
Softener Recipe or add it to your commercial fabric softener.
Do not allow undiluted essential oils to directly come into contact
with your clothing.
Drain Freshener
Add 1-2 drops of your aging essential
oil to a stale/smelly drain to help disinfect and eliminate the
odor. Do not pour more than 1-2 drops down your drain as essential
oils can harm water supplies. See the Essential Oil Disposal article
for more information.
Trash Receptacle Freshener
Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the bottom of your trash liner
to help eliminate odors and detract insects and rodents. Peppermint
is especially helpful in detracting rodents.
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